Blog
10 Spooky Wines for Hallo-wine!
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. #1. Shinas Estate, $18 Shinas Estate in...
5 Seasonal Wines for Fall
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 put away the light and refreshing, strawberry scented rosés in favor of fuller-bodied, more seasonally...
Celebrity Wine Throwdown: Vol. 1
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 sauvignons, and two red blends) and competed them head-to-head in a...
How to Taste Wine in 3 Steps
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 tiny sip and know exactly what wine was in their glass. It seemed like a magician's trick, some sort of sleight of hand...
10 Common Wine Terms De-coded
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 to really understand the wine, like this one: "Well seasoned oak...
New Jersey Wine Is On The Rise
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 easy driving distance of me. However, the last time I actually tasted a New Jersey wine was at least...
Wine Closures: Cork vs. Screw Cap
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. However, screw caps can now be found on more than 35% of bottles on the market. You may...
My 5 Favorite Wine Apps
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 thing to determine what we are going to download. It's no...
Recipe: Pappardelle with Scallops
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) - think miso soup, cooked mushrooms and soy sauce. Umami is not an easy flavor...
6 Most Common Wine Storage Questions
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 appear in a future blog post! 1. Do I need a cellar or wine fridge to collect wine? No. The...
Organic v. Biodynamic v. Natural Wines – What’s the difference?!
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, so I will attempt to...
Back to School Wines
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 kids to multiple sports and activities. Or it can be a cause to raise your glass...