High-elevation Malbec? I never knew it made a difference – that is until I tasted several wines from Bodega Colome` located in the Salata region, high in the Calchaqui Valley mountains of northwestern Argentina. The winery’s four estate, sustainably farmed vineyards start at 5,700 feet above sea level and rise at different levels to nearly […]
Uncategorized
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 […]
‘Garagistes’ rule the day at Big River Winery’s 2020 Grape Crush
[URIS id=6418] The 10th annual Big River Winery Grape Crush was another exuberant event, hosted once again by Big River Lodge owners and veteran vintners Jason and Lynn Arabian at their sprawling grounds in West Greenwich, R.I. “Garagistes” (a French term referring to a group of winemakers who made wine out of their garage) and […]
Gerard Bertrand’s Art De Vivre wines bring the ancient Languedoc – and lavender -to life
Gerard Bertrand wines from the Languedoc and Roussillon regions in southern France are always interesting, well crafted and satisfying. They are also unpretentious. What I mean is that you don’t have to know France’s complex and convoluted wine classification system to enjoy Bertrand’s easy-drinking reds and whites. Two of my GB favorites fall under the […]
Three splendid dry, Douro red wines that take the “port” out of Portugual
Casa Ferreirinha, founded in 1851, has a long and accomplished wine-making history in Portugal’s Douro region. It was the first family-owned company and the first to be headed by a woman – Dona` Antonia Adelaide Ferreira. Called “Ferreirinha” by the locals (translation “the little Ferreira lady”), Dona` Antonia expanded the winery’s estates, added to its […]
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 […]
Casa Ferreirinha: A virtual wine tasting from Douro region
Pasqua Family wines tell a love story about Italy with every sip
The Pasqua Family of Verona has a simple philosophy when it comes to winemaking: Put passion and quality into every bottle produced. It also helps that Pasqua’s portfolio of seven wines highlights native grapes – Garganega, Trebbiano di Laguna, Corvina, etc. – and unique terroirs that bring special distinction to the Veneto region. The Pasquas […]
Italy’s Dolomiti wines give rise to Alto Adige’s growing popularity
Besides tasting very good, Italian wines usually have an interesting tell to story. One can learn a lot about Italy’s culture, history and traditions just by reading the bottle label and then following up with an Internet search on the winemaker, the winery, and the region. Often overlooked are wines from Italy’s northernmost wine-growing regions […]