Worried about sulfites in wines? An Argentinian winery with a long history of organic farming is trying to put those fears to rest. Domaine Bousquet of Mendoza is producing three all-organic red wines under its Virgen label that contain “no added sulfites” – except for those sulfites that are “naturally occurring.” The 2019 vintage wines […]
Must Try
Landmark Vineyards ‘Lorenzo’ Chardonnay: Four elegant vintages for the ages
I never gave much thought to drinking aged Chardonnay made in California, believing that French vintners from Burgundy had a monopoly on the terroir and grapes conducive to crafting such outstanding, long-lived whites. The good news is I was wrong – and happily so. In early August, I was among a dozen wine and food […]
Summer Delight: Ram’s Gate Chardonnay with my homemade lobster salad roll
If you are unfamiliar with Ram’s Gate Winery, a small-lot, premium wine producer located north of San Francisco in Sonoma’s Carneros appellation, don’t be alarmed. I was too until several weeks ago. That’s when I sampled bottles of their introductory Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. My first reaction was to repeat the refrain from Neil Diamond’s […]
There’s star power behind Frank Family Vineyards’ Napa Valley wines
Rich Frank had the money and Hollywood connections to launch his own winery in 1992, but it was no guarantee of success in the big-time Napa Valley market. Fortunately, Frank’s knowledge of and passion for wine, expert business sense, and close-knit family talent were the most valuable assets in the overall equation. The former president […]
Artesa Winery: Lights, cameras, action and fabulous Chardonnay
Artesa Winery is small winery in Napa Valley that makes artisanal wines, principally small-batch Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albarino and Tempranillo. The wines are very good and sometimes hard to obtain, although some have trickled into New Hampshire State Liquor & Wine Outlets. Artesa and its wines were featured in the recent movie “Wine […]
Grillo – clean, crisp, tasty – is the go-to white wine for seafood and Lent
For Christians all across the globe, especially Roman Catholics, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a very sacred season leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. For Catholics, this is known as the 40 days of Lent when abstinence, or fasting, from meat is observed on Wednesdays and […]
Valpolicella della Amarone Classico is a wine to cherish special moments
Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico is not a wine that you’d likely choose to drink every day. First, it’s expensive compared to other Italian wines. Second, it is a powerful, opulent, dry red that is best served during prized moments of reflection or as the piece de resistance to a spectacular, substantive meal (osso buco or […]
Making a ‘V’-line for vibrant, vivacious – and even vegan – Viognier
“V” is for Viognier, a “noble” white grape of France’s Rhone Valley that depends on warm, sunny climates to bring out its best features. Condreiu, located on the right bank of the Rhone River, is famous for its exclusive production of Viognier wines that tend to be medium- to full-bodied, perfumey, fruity, and dry. The […]
Winemaker Craig McAllister keeps it cool and unique at La Crema
The first Pinot Noir I can ever remember tasting was made by La Crema. So when I had a chance to interview Craig McAllister, La Crema’s head winemaker, I jumped at it. We met for lunch last month at The Crown Tavern in downtown Manchester during New Hampshire Wine Week. McAllister brought along several wines, […]
Wine of the Day (2-6-2020): Ca’ Maioli Lugana White
To taste the wonder of Ca’ Maiol Lugana white wine, you must first understand the beautiful place from which it comes. Desenzano del Garda is a small town in Lombardy, located on the southwestern shore of Lake Garda. It is a popular resort community offering beaches and boating on Italy’s largest lake and sweeping distant […]