Good tidings from the Pacific Northwest: Washington States wines have flourished over the past two vintages – 2016 and 2017 – and are showing remarkable value for the quality produced. Big, bold, elegant red wines have excelled under extremely hot weather conditions, showing that vintners in the Columbia River Valley and eastern Walla Walla Valley […]
General Wine
Ten questions – and 5 famous quotes – to test your wine and vine ‘IQ’
It’s Thanksgiving week and despite all the hustle and bustle around the house, it’s time to take a break. So sit down in a favorite chair, pour a glass of bubbly, and take this wine “IQ” quiz whose sole purpose is to educate and amuse. (Each correct answer is worth 10 points. Award yourself a […]
What am I pouring on Thanksgiving? Sparkling wine and Zinfandel
I believe all holidays must be celebrated with sparkling wine and Thanksgiving is no exception. In fact, it is America’s only true traditional holiday . So here’s what I am bringing to the table. A bottle of La Crema Brut Sparkling Rose` for the family greeting and a Willm Brut Rose` Sparkling (Cremant d’Alsace) to […]
Need a wine for Thanksgiving dinner? Here are 30 outstanding values to feast on
The 2019 Thanksgiving Wine List, based on the selections of five industry experts and educators, is a fabulous guide to plan your holiday meal. It matches the textures and tastes of quality, affordable wines with the flavorful food of a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings. food. Here are 30 great buys for your […]
Browsing for wine? Here are six for the weekend shopping cart
If you’re looking for wines this weekend, here are some specials to put in the basket. Delas Viognier Pays D’OC 2017, $9.99 – A nice Rhone Valley white that comes across more refined than the price suggests. Filled with apricot, peach, and honeysuckle flavors, this 100 percent Viognier sees only steel tank fermentation and yet […]
Singing the praise of Sannio’s Aglianico and Falanghina wines
Campania’s powerhouse red grape Aglianico is often described as the “Barolo of southern Italy,” prompting winemaker Libero Rillo to take a qualified – and prideful – exception: “We, in Benevento, hear that often and politely correct it. ‘No’, we say, ‘Barolo is the Aglianico of the North.’ ” Rillo’s point was well taken at a […]
What’s wrong with Chardonnay? Nothing. It’s wonderful all over the world
The “ABC” movement – Anything But Chardonnay – began benignly several years ago in an effort to build consumer awareness about other grape varietals made into wine and worth experiencing. In 2008, Laura Holmes Haddad wrote a book under the “ABC” title that offered a world of discovery into unfamiliar red and white grapes. It […]
What’s a Tussock Jumper? Global wines that leap in taste and value
The Tussock Jumper “winery” doesn’t own a vineyard or a production facility, yet the French-based company has built a portfolio of 24 wines from 11 wine-growing regions to become a seemingly overnight sensation. Basically, Tussock Jumper can provide a global portfolio under one roof, making it an attractive consumer option to purchase diverse terroir-driven wines […]
A new ‘Freakshow’ blockbuster? Try Michael David Winery’s ‘flirty’ Chardonnay
When the Phillips brothers – David and Michael – sold the popular Seven Deadly Zins brand to The Wine Group, no one really expected Michael David Winery (MDW) to rest on its laurels and untold millions. The brothers, who launched the winery in 1984 from an old hay barn in Lodi, are known for their […]
‘Freakshow’ tasting is one you don’t want to miss at WineConneXtion
You don’t want to miss Saturday’s free, open-to-the-public winetasting event at the Wine ConneXtion in Norther Andover, where David Phillips, co-owner of the Michael David Winery in Lodi (CA) will be on hand to pour his popular Freakshow wines. The Phillips’ family has been cultivating grapes and making wine for six generations. Michael and his […]
