The Pinotage red grape and wine are unique to South Africa. Pinotage is also one of the least understood — and appreciated — wines in the world, and for good reason. Early vintages of Pinotage, created in 1925 as a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, were not very good. Critics complained of its poor […]

Bruno Cottini is a fourth-generation family winemaker at Agricola Cottini, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I knew from the first time my father sat me down in a tractor I would be doing this,” said Cottini, 33. “I love working with my family, in the fields, turning the grapes into wine. Even […]

Cool September evenings are geared for grilling steaks, sausages and burgers on the grill and washing them down with big, hearty red wines. The best values this time of year are the Cabernet Sauvignons, Old Vine Zinfandels and Malbecs, which produce juicy, savory flavors that bring out the best in grilled fare. Over the Labor […]

The calendar says summer is over, but it doesn’t mean you should put away your summer palate. There are still plenty of wonderfully warm and cozy September and October days ahead, so don’t put away the cool sipping rosés and white wines just yet. Recently, the Mill City Oenophiles Club held its monthly wine-tasting seminar […]

You won’t find Leg X wine on any store shelves or online distributors. It’s a special red Zinfandel crafted by my twin brother John in his Providence, R.I., garage. This is his sixth vintage. Most every Italian, Greek and Portuguese family I know of has a winemaker dangling in the family tree. John is the […]

I’ve tasted quite a few Sauvignon Blancs in my wine exploration, and few have captured my imagination like Animo Heritage Sauvignon Blanc from Michael Mondavi Family Estate in Napa Valley. It’s a premium white, costing $65 a bottle, and only 132 cases were produced in 2015. I prefer less expensive bottlings, simply because I know […]

If you are looking for two fun wines for your next summer deck party, I recommend my two new Italian companions — “Rubio” of Il Bastardo Sangiovese di Toscana and “Blanca” of La Bastarda Pinot Grigio Terre di Siciliana. Both 2015 wines are expressive, food friendly and sell for $9 or less at most wine […]

Michael Kuenzler is walking around with a big smile on his face these days, and who can blame him? Last December, the owner of Four Oaks Restaurant in Dracut made a big bet on Drew Bledsoe’s 2014 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon becoming one of the best premium wines of the year. He purchased a dozen cases […]

Ten days ago, I was attending a lavish banquet at Chateau Kirwan in Margaux, where we dined on beef tenderloin and shrimp and drank the estate’s silky smooth 1995 Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux. Now I’m back at work. I am not depressed. Instead, I’m looking forward to my next trip with the Wine Goddess, wherever […]