Just imagine a bunch of women hanging out, drinking wine and discussing the different aromas and bouquet they detect. Then, of course, they would start discussing what food would pair the best with the wine. I’ve seen this happen again and again, and it doesn’t matter if they’re in a formal wine tasting or a…
When visiting new locations, nothing is more rewarding or fascinating than exploring regions that may be off the beaten path or require a bit of travel time out of the city. There is just something alluring about losing oneself in the local landscape, people and culture and experiencing the country first hand. The challenge is…
Wine is inexorably linked to special, festive occasions, relaxation, and to a certain extent, decadence. The imagery and symbolism of sipping a glass of wine can elevate a simple travel narrative into a sensory experience. For this reason, travel writers should seriously consider slipping a mention, sidebar or descriptive paragraph about wine into their articles….
With the holiday season upon us, one can’t help to think about what to give the person who has everything. Of course, wine is a great answer to this perplexing question. When I give wine as a gift, I try to think out of the ordinary and choose something like Port, Prosecco, Moscato d’Asti or…
Chianti, Chianti Classico and Super-Tuscan wines are all produced from the same varietal of grape, Sangiovese, which is grown in the Tuscany region of Italy. During the twentieth century, the Chianti producers focused on capturing market share and not producing quality wine, thus tarnishing the Chianti name. Chianti became associated with low prices and low…
If my kids needed a quick buck, I would give them a dollar for every 1st growth Bordeaux Château they can name; Lafite-Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion and Mouton-Rothschild. Why? Well, the Sommelier in me hopes that one day they might have the opportunity to try one of these aristocratic wines and I wouldn’t want them…
There’s just something inviting about a Bordeaux blend. Maybe it’s the rich, full-bodied, hefty sensation of blackberry and black cherry flavors with notes of spices, chocolate and vanilla. It might be the way they complement dishes that contain game, venison or pheasant. There’s no doubt that a Bordeaux blend is the classic example of a…
One of the most uncertain things for wine professional, restaurateurs or wine lovers is whether or not decanting wine is necessary. Will decanting release the aromatic components of the wine or will it increase the deterioration or oxidation process? I want to present a few thoughts about decanting from Emile Peynaud, “the man” (Director and…
There’s no doubt in my mind that wine fermented in oak barrels has a very different and distinct flavor than wine fermented in stainless steel. The phenolic material from an oak barrel ultimately imparts a variety of flavors depending on the growing region of the trees, tightness or width of the wood grain and toasting…
The French wine growing region of Champagne is often perceived as one specific area which produces some awesome spritzy wine. However, if you look a little closer you will notice that the region of Champagne is actually made up of five distinctive sub-regions which possess their own unique characteristics and soil types. The irony of…
