Chardonnay is the most popular and widely grown white grape variety in the world. It can be grown successfully in a variety of different climates, from cool through hot, so can be found…
What does “value” mean? Some may interpret this to mean “inexpensive”, but that isn’t entirely accurate. Value is a combination of both price and quality. A wine that is a great value may…
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is literally translated as Noble Wine of Montepulciano, and historically lived up to its name as a favorite amongst influential Kings, Popes, and Presidents. Even Thomas Jefferson fell under…
Halloween is right around the corner and there are plenty of wines at your local wine shop with labels that work perfectly for the season. Here are some wines that pair with creep-tastic…
Albarino may be Spain’s most famous white wine, but there is an often overlooked varietal that may just deserve the title of Spain’s best white wine. Verdejo is not many people’s first choice…
These days it seems like every sports, television, film and music celebrity is trying to sell their own wine, tequila, gin, [fill in the blank alcohol]. It can be hard to know who…
The first time someone asked me at one of my wine tasting events why blends were lower quality than single varietal wines, I was taken by surprise. It never occurred to me at…
At times you will see a wine label boasting the term, “Old Vines” or in France, “vieilles vignes”. It promptly begs a number of questions: How old is “old”? Does it mean the…
Aglianico (pronounced “alli-yawn-nico”) is the best red wine from Italy that you’ve probably never heard of. For the past several decades, wine critics and therefore wine consumers have almost exclusively favored the wines…
Walla Walla, WA and Napa Valley, CA are separated by 750 miles, a completely different climate and a resulting distinctly different wine style. I find that Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla sits somewhere…
What is that disgusting blob of gunk you sometimes find floating at the bottom of your bottle of vinegar? It is actually a by-product of the process that turns wine into vinegar, and…
Have a wine question? Send me an email! What are Wine Legs? Wine Legs, also called Wine Tears, are a fun quality to observe in your wine glass, but what do they really…
Bugey is a wine I love to include in my in-person tasting events, as either a starter or a finisher. It fills both spots nicely – bubbles to celebrate the start of an…
When I took my wine exam this past May, I was required to complete a blind tasting of 12 wines organized into four flights of three wines each. The goal of the first…
Although Txakolina looks like a terribly difficult name to pronounce, it is actually quite easy, and kind of fun to say – “chah-kuh-leena.” But what the heck is it?! Txakolina is a low…
The weather is getting colder and more dreary, which is driving me indoors and under a comfy blanket in front of my TV. (I am so NOT a cold-weather person!). If you’re looking…
To-Kalon (pronounced toe-kah-lon) is one of the most historic, famous and disputed names in Napa Valley history. Is it a vineyard? Is it a brand? Some of the Valley’s most prestigious personalities –…
When you see “Grand Cru” on the label of a bottle of Saint-Émilion wine, what does that really mean? I’ll give you a hint – it’s not the same as the Cru system…
I was at my local farmer’s market this past weekend and there was a mushroom vendor selling a variety of fungi, some of which looked like they came from another planet! I simply…
Ingredients 8 cups canned chicken stock 1 ounce package of dried porcini mushrooms 1/2 stick unsalted butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 chopped onions 1lb of chopped mushrooms of your choice (e.g., shitake,…
What’s rarer than a cheerful teenager? A winemaker in Napa Valley that doesn’t produce any Cabernet Sauvignon! Meet Lang & Reed, a rare breed of Napa winery that focuses on the other Cabernet…
A few weeks ago I Coravined a glass of the 2019 Mullineaux Quartz Chenin Blanc ‘Leliefontein’ from Swartland, South Africa in preparation for my WSET Diploma tasting exam to meet the “high quality…
It’s like deja vu all over again. In October 2017 we all watched in helpless horror as wildfires tore through northern California’s wine country, threatening lives, property and vineyards. In total, the fires…
This week – July 20-26, 2020 – we are celebrating the 3rd annual National Prosecco Week! So pop a cork on your favorite bottle of Prosecco, pour yourself a glass of that cold,…
You might think that all bubbles are created equal, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are actually six different ways of producing sparkling wines that result in wines with different…
A few days ago, I posted about orange wines, which are produced using a natural, ancestral process, and have gained significantly in popularity. Yet, did you know that blue wine is now one…
Orange wine has generated a lot of buzz in the last few years and is very popular with the natural wine community, but what is it and is it any good? Well, that…
In a nutshell: Fruity and smooth, not heavily oaked, with flavors of plum, blackberry and a chocolatey finish. Where it is primarily grown: Argentina Cahors, France Also Known As: Cahors (in France) Fun…
Easter Sunday is fast approaching. Sadly, we won’t be able to share the holiday with extended family and friends this year. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t splurge a little on a nice …
In a nutshell: An incredibly versatile grape that can produce delicious white wines in a wide range of styles – dry and lean, rich and aromatic, sweet and luscious, and bubbly sparklers. Where…
We find ourselves in a surreal, almost science fiction-like dystopian world right now, where businesses are shuttered, schools are closed, grocery store shelves are empty and we’re being told to stay home or…
In a nutshell: Produces an intensely aromatic white wine with notes of exotic spices and rose petals that is often made off-dry. Where it is primarily grown: Germany Alsace, France Wine Styles: Dry…
In a nutshell: Produces fruity off-dry late harvest wines and sweet dessert wines called Icewine Drink young Where it is primarily grown: Canada New York State Sweden Wine Styles: Off-dry to sweet dessert…
If you are a non-denominational wine drinker, you may choose to drink crisp and fruity Sauvignon Blancs and pretty-in-pink Provence Rosés during the dog days of summer. Then as soon as the first…
In a nutshell: Produces big, rich, dark colored, tannic red wines Where is it grown: Portugal Wine Styles: Dry red wine, often blended with other varieties, but sometimes a single varietal Port Wine…
There are many amazing wine regions throughout the world, which means I have plenty of vacation ideas on my bucket list. However, I find myself returning to California over and over again. The…
President Trump is really annoyed with France and is lashing out at them in a way that will hurt all wine-drinking Americans. So what did France do to draw such ire? France has…
The holidays are a time for celebration, and celebrations are a time for drinking…and eating! If you are still trying to figure out what wines are best to serve with your holiday meals,…
Are you looking for some unique wine-related holiday gift ideas for that wine lover in your life? Well, look no further. Here are a few of my favorite things that I’m certain you…
Wine is the consummate holiday gift for just about anyone on your adult holiday gift list. There are excellent options at all price ranges – $15 bottles for a Secret Santa gift, $30…
Tis the season for parties with families, friends, neighbors and co-workers! There is no better and more festive time to gather together those closest to you to celebrate, unwind and be merry. Yet…
It may seem somewhat obvious that the difference between red and white wine is the color. Although that is true to some extent, the differences go much deeper, both in the vineyard and…
The holiday season is a time of revelry, celebration and most of all, gluttony! There is nothing more heart-warming than gathering around the holiday table with family and friends to enjoy an enormous…
As much as we might try, it’s not always possible to finish an entire bottle of wine in one sitting, or even over the course of a few days. Maybe you opened a…
We’re only a few short days away from my favorite Fall holiday! Halloween holds a special place in my heart because my birthday is only two days before, and I grew up throwing…
Halloween is right around the corner and I have the perfect spooky wine recommendations for that creep-tastic costume party, trick-or-treating with the neighborhood parents, or just relaxing like the dead at home. …
The air is crisp, the leaves are turning to blazing oranges and reds, and the scent of pumpkin spice latte is on the air. It can only mean one thing. It’s time to…
My first CELEBRITY WINE THROWDOWN was a rousing success!!! I hosted the event in my wine cellar, serving eight curated celebrity wines. I paired the wines (2 rosés, 2 sauvignon blancs, 2 cabernet…
Tasting wine was a mystery to me for a very long time. I was in awe of people who could take a quick sniff and pick out dozens of aromas, or take a…
It’s easy to find yourself lost, confused or intimidated by all of the lingo in the wine world. Tasting notes can sometimes feel impossible to decipher, and use descriptions that make it difficult…
Believe it or not, every state in this country grows grapes and makes wine. In my home state of New Jersey there are over 50 wineries, with quite a few of those within…
Many people in the Unites States still equate a screw cap on wine with low quality, which is why the traditional cork is still the most prevalent wine closure device in the market….
The world of smart phone apps can be incredibly valuable, but also stunningly overwhelming. With millions of apps to choose from, most of us probably rely on word-of-mouth recommendations or the latest hot…
This recipe is filled with umami flavors! Umami is the “fifth flavor” in addition to sweet, salty, sour and bitter. It is that earthy, savory flavor you find in monosodium glutamate (MSG) –…
In this post, I will attempt to answer some of the most common questions people have about storing wine. If you have any questions about wine, send them to me and they may…
As consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about environmental sustainability, health and food sources, a market is emerging around organic, biodynamic and natural wines. However, these terms can be confusing and difficult to differentiate,…
Back to School time can either drive you to drink from the stress of trying to get kids up and out early, dealing with massive amounts of homework, frenemy drama, and constantly rushing…
