The passion and energy of wine
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 […]
“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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Wine consumption in the United States declined slightly in 2019 for the first time in 25 years. Two categories, however, showed increased sales: sparkling wine and rose`. Americans love their bubblies and for good reason. We party. We celebrate. We romance. And we spend money on premium sparkling wines. Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) offers the […]
In the northern heart of Sicily, about 150 miles south of Palermo, sits Tenuta Regaleali, one of five wine-estates owned by the Tasca d’Almerita family. It’s an island oasis defined by six green hills that gently rise and fall from a peak of 2,500 feet, creating sloping vineyards and valley fields of olive trees and […]
True or False: Chile annually exports more wine to world markets than does the United States. The answer is true and, quite frankly, amazing. At the close of 2018 Chile ranked No. 5 with $2 billion in global exports, according to a recent Wine Advisor report. The U.S. was No. 6 at $1.4 billion. (France […]
Here are two of my wine resolutions for 2020: First, to explore more of the world’s unique grapes and wines and, second, to be more willing to drink wine from a can. As to the former, climate change is impacting the wine industry from California to Croatia. Places previously ignored on the wine map are […]
Is it Champagne or sparkling wine? It’s a common question I get from wine drinkers this time of year. Karen MacNeil provides the simplest answer in her classic book, The Wine Bible: “Champagne is aromatically, texturally, and in terms of flavor, one of the most distinct wines in the world. It comes from only one […]
Selecting a top-notch Sauvignon for the holidays shouldn’t bust your budget.There are many exciting U.S. wines on the market, especially from California where cab is king. But as we often do around the holidays, the tendency is to splurge and overspend. I hope the following selections help you to resist that temptation – and keep […]
