The passion and energy of wine
What is the largest and most visited winery in the United States? It’s the Biltmore Estate Winery in Asheville, N.C. Surprised? I was. Then I visited the Biltmore Estate, toured its impressive 450-room “house”, ate lunch in the Stable Café, and tasted the locally made wines. The 8,000-acre estate is an architectural and environmental shrine […]
The meal was simple and superb – mussels, shrimp, spaghetti, and spicy pasta sauce sprinkled with parmesan cheese. The Wine Goddess, my wife Mary Lee, cooked it in 15 minutes, about the time it takes me to shave in the morning. The WG never ceases to amaze me. After a long day of looking at […]
Mention the name Allegrini and two things quickly come to mind: voluptuous Valpolicella and lovely Verona, an enchanting place not far from Venice where the romantic story of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet attracts thousands of visitors each year. But there is another “V” word […]
Craig Gandolf’s got a new and exciting position as National Sales Director for #CynthiaHurleyFrenchWines of West Newton, and he’s looking forward to someday expanding the import company’s select portfolio to include a few quality Spanish brands. Gandolf’s not shooting in the dark; for nearly two decades he was the director of Jorge Ordonez Selections, the […]
Washington State wines are no longer a secret to savvy sommeliers. So why aren’t more bottlings from the majestic Pacific Northwest showing up on restaurant wine lists? I made this point to a group of 10 friends while hosting a tasting of some of my best Washington State club member wines from the 2013 vintage. […]
I tagged along with the Wine Goddess (my wife Mary Lee) on her recent Costco shopping excursion when I saw this gem in the wine section: Kirkland Signature Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2016. She said she was buying salmon for dinner, so I went ahead and put this bottle in her cart. I’m glad I […]
, IWS If you’re thinking of doing something new and exciting in a the new year, why not go on an adventurous food and wine tour – and from home. Sound interesting? It’s fabulous. It’s also less expensive than going on a wine cruise. Books, bottles and a Belgian feast. Those were three ingredients […]
It’s great to be back and the new year promises to be very exciting in the wine world. A majority of the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riservas, now aged for more than 60 months, should be coming to market as well as other long-lived wines that will be sold to consumers for the first time. […]
Is that former NBA Hall of Fame great Isiah Thomas now wearing the Cheurlin Champagne polo jersey? Yes, it is. And why not? Thomas, 57, is no stranger to the French bubbly – even if in an odd way. For years during his illustrious career with the Detroit Pistons (1981-94), Thomas said he enjoyed his […]
Wine makes a great gift for the holidays, and how you present it can make a significant statement to the recipient. Do you want to be regarded highly? Do you want to become a special friend? Do you want to firm up a so-so relationship? There’s nothing wrong with giving someone a bottle of wine. […]
