In a little more than a week, I’ll be heading out on my annual trip to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to take in the horse races, visit a few favorite restaurants, and greet old acquaintances. This year, because of the election season, I won’t be going with my regular group of horseracing buddies for this weekend’s […]

Several weeks ago a woman who recognized me as “the wine guy” tapped me on the shoulder in a CVS store and asked if I had ever tried wine in a box. I replied that I hadn’t. She seemed disappointed. She said she was at a beach party when the hosts brought out a box […]

The Lowell Folk Festival is this weekend (July 25-27) and thousands of visitors will descend on the city for a good time. Someone asked me what wine I would suggest for a festival party on the patio deck or backyard lawn. A few cool choices popped into my head. If it’s red that you prefer, […]

I’m back from a 10-day trip to the Great Northwest in which the Wine Goddess and I logged more than 1,100 miles visiting 18 wine-tasting rooms and six vineyards in Oregon and Washington State. Lewis and Clark we weren’t. Martin and Lewis — as in Dean and Jerry — was more like it. When the […]

In keeping with the patriotic spirit, here are my two Fourth of July wine selections: Federalist Zinfandel 2011, $17 — What better way to celebrate the nation’s birth than with a wine paying homage to Alexander Hamilton, a great Founding Father who was General George Washington’s most trusted military aide and a leading author of […]

I’ve always been impressed by Caymus Vineyards, owned by the Wagner family, which produces two of the best Cabernet Sauvignons on the continent. One is labeled “Napa Valley” and the other is the premium “Special Selection,” both of which wine experts have rated 90 points or better for 15 consecutive years. The fruit is sourced […]

Father’s Day is Sunday so why not surprise Dad with a special gift of his favorite Scotch, Irish whiskey, Bourbon or wine? On Saturday, at Andover Classic Wines in the Shawsheen Plaza off Route 28 in Andover, Manager Andrea DiFiore and her capable assistants, Maggie Griset and Chris Whitaker, will be pouring a top-notch selection […]

There are several big events coming up this weekend and next for wine explorers, starting with Saturday’s rosé tastings from 3-5 p.m. at Andover Classic Wines in the Shawsheen Plaza. Manager Andrea DiFiore always has a nice selection of the newest and fascinating wines from California, France and Italy, so you don’t want to miss […]

When it comes to wine, Giuseppe Sportelli describes Puglia as a “philosophy, a landscape, a testing place, an experience.” Located in southeastern Italy, Puglia is a hot, sun-swept region which forms the famous high-heel on the “boot of Italy”. Its landscape is mostly flat terrain. Sea breezes blow over the land from three sides — […]