My wife’s complaint rang stingingly in my ear. It was a fair criticism. I had just poured her another of my experimental bottle purchases and it was quite disappointing. For months I had failed to bring home a wine that impressed her Tuscany-leaning palate. Given that I occasionally write and incessantly talk about Italian wine, …
Last week E&J Gallo consummated their deal to purchase a bunch of cheap wine brands from fellow booze titan, Constellation Brands. Gallo paid about $800 million for some lower-end brands like Wild Horse and Arbor Mist as well for as some mid-priced grocery store labels such as Estancia. Estancia’s Pinots and Cabs go for about …
I spend a lot of time thinking about why I am drawn to Italian wine, food, and culture in a world of abundant choices. I never get a comprehensive answer. But I do get little glimpses from wines I taste, people I meet, and sometimes the meals I eat. SAOR Italian Food opened its …
If you drink Italian wine, or frankly if you drink white wine at all, you are well-acquainted with Pinot Grigio. The Italians took a noble grape called Pinot Gris out of Alsace, France and turned it into an international star. Like any well-marketed global superstar, the wine often has more style than substance. White wines made from …
Do people even use the term Blogroll anymore? I am so late to this blogging thing that I’m not sure what to call it. Anyway, we all start somewhere in our wine journey. This post is dedicated to the individuals who inspired me to take wine seriously and learn as much as I can. I …
You walk into your local wine shop in the late April heat. You want a fresh white wine with some complexity. But still has to drink easily. This is for the warm afternoons on the patio. It should go with spring and summer fare but also stand on its own. As usual, you end …
I have wondered lately how my feelings about the wines of Italy would change if I had never been lucky enough to visit. How much of my love for those wines is tied up in my memories? The COVID-19 crisis affecting Italy right now is especially cruel. Their economy, so dependent on tourism, will certainly …
My phone rang the other day and a good friend was on the other end along with his 2 year old daughter. He said, “I just opened a bottle of Chinon and this kid already has a nose for wine. She said the wine smells like flowers.” I’m not sure flowery is the right tasting …
I believe that wine is inherently subjective and difficult to quantify. Therefore, I am skeptical of formal wine courses and certifications. However, I am trying to write honestly about the subject of Italian wine. I’m also always interested in meeting people who irrationally care about wine. I figured a course would be a place to …
Wine is the translation of weather, climate, and time into a bottle. A single sip can transport a drinker to a specific plot of land at a specific moment in history. Great wine is also alive, changing from year-to-year in the bottle, moment-to-moment in the glass. I cannot substantiate any of the previous statements with …