For the past five years I’ve written a column suggesting my top wine recommendations for the Easter and Passover holiday celebrations. Traditionally, the column is released a week before the holiday, which this year falls on Sunday, April 4. Well, recently I tasted a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir that is just too good to […]
Must Try
Craving something savory and special? Try Stags’ Leap Petite Sirah
Looking for a new wine to add to your spring beverage list? Stags’ Leap Winery’s Petite Sirah (SRP $47, abv. 14.1%) is the right choice, especially with Easter celebrations on the horizon. Petite Sirah is NOT Syrah, It is a distinct varietal that was created by a botanist – Francois Durif – in Montpelier, France […]
Waterkloof’s ‘honest’ Circumstance wines rooted in the earth, wind and chemical-free vines
All across the globe the talk is about clean and renewable energy in order to save the planet. What about clean and renewable vineyards that produce no-chemical, all-organic wines from sustainable farming methods? They are sweeping the globe much to the delight of like-minded consumers. Like screwcaps on bottles, wine drinkers are very adaptable. Quality, […]
Three delicious ways to enjoy terrific Spanish Tempranillo
Tempranillo is one of Spain’s noble red grapes – like Cabernet Sauvignon is to California – and famous for its great versatility with all kinds of food whether used in a blend or as a 100 percent varietal. And since Spanish wines represent great value for quality and price, Tempranillo is worth getting to know. […]
Bousquet’s Virgen organic red wines take a natural approach to reduce sulfites, preserve freshness (and maybe even help eliminate headaches!)
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 […]
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 […]
