http://[URIS id=5592] I woke up Christmas morning and nothing was under the tree. I was sad. The year was a good one, and I thought I had been especially nice to the Wine Goddess, my wife Mary Lee, and that I would be rewarded with a bit more than her immeasurable love and compassion. God […]
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‘Tis the season for tiny bubbles and elegant French Champagne
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 […]
Seven ‘smart buys’ on premium California Cabernet Sauvignon
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 […]
Big value, bold taste in these rich Washington State reds
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 […]
Coquille Blanc 2017: Carol Shelton’s stunning white for red wine lovers
Carol Shelton is known as California’s “Queen of Zinfandel”, the creator of lush, savory single-vineyard cult reds with whimsical names like Wild Thing, Rockpile Reserve, Karma, Munga and Pizazz that usually sell out upon release. And yet the Paso Robles winemaker, who launched her own winery 19 years ago in an industrial park, has crafted […]
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 […]
