Wines

Like many things, with wine, it pays to do your homework. Learning what top producers make wines that are more affordable can often mean great taste for a lot less green. There are far too many to list here, but here are some of my favorite bottles by top flight producers that are [...]

Part two of the summer wine special. I want to write a little about a wine that does not get much play. That is, this wine is much less well known than most white wines out there, and I think it stands up to a ton of different dishes and is exceptionally easy [...]

A group of us got together to honor Marc Hanes for his final wine geek dinner in New York City. Marc Hanes befriended me when I was doing a tasting at Chelsea Wine Vault back in the day when I was a schnook for Touton and he invited me to my first wine dinner in New York shortly after. That was when Hanes was a big swinger and he brought '95 Clos St Hune to that dinner and it was my first Clos St.

When I am asked what wines go with different foods or with different seasons I usually respond with something along the lines of: DRINK THE WINES YOU LIKE WITH THE FOODS YOU LIKE Of course, drinking Cabernet or Chardonnay with everything is pretty boring and there are tons of fantastic wines out there to try.  Here are [...]

The best sweet wines are made in one of two ways. One way is to dehydrate the grapes and reduce their water content and concentrate the sugars. A second way is to boost the alcohol as is done to make fortified wines such as Port and Sherry. The following is background on the these types [...]

MENTAL STATUS: "Grouchy". Yeah, I know my post is extra early. But I had the WORST night sleep last night. Coughed and hacked all night and woke up with a headache. Somebody--please-- shoot me now.I'm living on very little sleep--as you can tell from above. Cough medicine is not working--plus I hate to suppress it since it is a productive cough after all. I've even tried taking Benadryl to knock m

When I received an invitation to attend a wine dinner in New York earlier this week, the details were a bit fuzzy. Allusions were made to a group of renegade natural winemakers from Italy, conducting a fringe event in conjunction with the annual Fancy Food Show. They had contacted Terence Hughes, who was in attendance on behalf of his preeminent Italian wine and culture blog, Mondosapore, and his

More than 1 000 wines from 240 different brands have been entered in the past eleven years and last year a record number of 148 wines from 110 different brands were entered. The Pinotage Association has amended some of the rules for the 2008 competition. The required minimum volume of the wines entered to be available [...]

Having a creative lull when it comes to blog title posts. After 500+ sometimes "Two White Wines & a Red Wine" will do.Started off with the 2002 Georg Mosbacher Ungeheuer Forst Grosses Gewachs and it was a mean wine. Bitter, astringent, acrid. Like eating orange skin. This was painful to drink. All acid and minerals and not balanced. The nose misleads you as it is very pretty with citrus, lime blos

Piedmont had sent 67 wines and was therefore the region represented the most, followed by Tuscany that had sent 60 wines for competition. The gold medals for the best organic wines were given to four manufacturers: San Zeno of Fasoli Colognola ai Colli (Veneto), Villa Guani of the brothers Rovero of Asti (Piedmont), L’Autentica of the cellars of Notaio die Maschito (Basilicata), and Col di Pietr

Had some friends over last night and had three compelling white wines.The first was the 2006 Wittman Morstein Riesling which was the fascinating wine it always is. The 2006 seemed like Clos des Briords meets the sacred terroir of that great strip in the Rheinhessen (Dalsheim-Florsheim) of which Morstein is one of many great vineyards. Kirchspiel and Hubacker to name some other great sites are also

Red wine is being widely touted for its health benefits, but not all red wines may act the same according to researchers at the University of Hertfordshire. Dr Richard Hoffman and his Erasmus student, Conny Johansson are using the University’s new chemistry laboratories to test a random selection of red wines to determine their levels of [...]

This has been a busy week already, and it's only Tuesday! But I wanted to share some incredible news, maybe not relevant to me per se as I rep only French wines, but very important to those who love Italian wines: in the wake of a wine-faking scandal in Italy that saw Brunello di Montalcino-labelled bottles being filled with everything from cheap Italian to cheaper Algerian to cheapest who-knows-

Had some co-workers over and killed a lot of great bottles. One TCA casualty but otherwise everything was wonderful. Started off with some of the the 2006 Mathern Niderhauser Kertz Kabinett "vom porphyr" which showed lovely thick 2006 fruit with some cassis, apricot and lime zest on the nose. Not showing much complexity over the two day period it was open but it will come with age. A shame Mathern

With the heat in NYC these past few days, it's been tough trying to think of things to cook. Who wants to make anything over a flame when it's 98F outside? So a fellow New Yorker and I decided to make some cool dishes to fight the heat. He dropped by last night despite the oppressive warmth, his hands full of grocery bags. Over the course of the next 2 hours, he proceeded to make a delicious fresh

The Whites Tangent 2006 Pinot Gris, Edna Valley (California) $11.99 A rather unique bottling from the Central Coast. The price is great and the wine is rather perfect antidote for sweltering. Tangerine and coconut in a vibrant package. Offers impressive intensity coupled with a light framework. The pricing is about 30% lower in PA than elsewhere. Rolf Binder [...]

1 Masi Tupungato Passo Doble ‘06 £7.99 A blend of Argentinian malbec and Italian corvina grapes might sound odd, but the result is stunning: a powerful mouthful of rich black fruits, liquorice and a long finish. 2 Domaine de la Janasse Terre de Bussière ‘06 £7.49 A real bargain, from a producer renowned for top-of-the-range Chateâuneuf-du-Pape in the [...]

Don’t forget that tomorrow is ROAR’s annual fun-fest under the big tent across from CellarXV, Woofs Wines and Felines. We’ll all be enjoying spectacular wines from around the world, delicious food and great music… all in support of ROAR (that’s the Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue) and their terrific programs that serve so [...]

PAINSTAKINGLY PREPARED Marin Wines 2005 Vintage Pey-Marin Vineyards “Trois Filles” Pinot Noir Marin County, CA Jonathan and Susan Pey, owners of Marin Wines in western Marin County, have produced their own wine labels since 2005, and are in the process of becoming a certified organic winery. With years of experience (Jonathan with wineries like Domâine Louis Jadot and Penfolds, [...]

Many new wine drinkers have a decidedly sweet tooth, having been raised on coke, candy and chocolate as their ‘normal sweetness level’. On the other hand, red wines are known for their health benefits - and also for their tannic, non-sweet flavors. Many new wine drinkers therefore seek a red wine that is as sweet [...]

Yes, it's true, and what perfect timing too! What a great 100th post, or at least I think so. Then again, I am terribly biased, as you can imagine. After months of hard work and negotiations, the first of several orders has landed in the US. The wines should be available within a week or two from my customer, the Wine Library, based in Springfield, NJ. Just in time, I might add, for the July

Friends and I headed out to Bistro on the Brandywine for dinner a few nights ago. Taking advantage of their BYOB policy, which continues in spite of the recent approval of their liquor license, we carried along a few bottles with a view to ensuring enough versatility to suit the restaurant’s French bistro influenced menu.Cheverny, Le Petit Chambord (François Cazin) 2006François Cazin’s low-

Alois Lageder Dolomiti Pinot Grigio 2006 (about $14) Like most producers in the northern Italian Alps of Alto Adige, pacesetter Alois Lageder www.aloislageder.eu buys some grapes from smaller growers. But he has differentiated himself in the wine biz by focusing on using natural methods to cultivate the land—and by gradually convincing others to “go green.” This particular [...]

Madame Monet had post some beautiful colorful pictures of Moroccan tagines and Moroccan Wines, what the Moroccan foods in your eyes ? or Mouth?a haChicken Tagine with Sweet Red Bell Pepper and Green Olives Here are two tagines (Moroccan stews) that are every bit as mouth-watering as they look. I ate them with whole-wheat bread. Chicken Tagine with Carrots and Green Olives - Side Salad of Tomato

Our psychology is terribly easy to trick. We’re actually pretty good at it ourselvesIn each and every day of our lives we are bombarded with psychological tricks and quirks which have one goal: Make us spend more.Advertisements take many forms and influence us both at a conscious and a subconscious level. However, every now and then a consumer research appears. It’s always rare, small and hard

"Choosing a good wine you enjoy can be complicated enough, but finding wine you enjoy that’s under ten dollars can be frustrating. Top Tenz is here to help. The next time you feel like having a nice bottle of wine but you only have $10 to spend here is a list you can trust."[via top tenz]

What it doesVinivino is an online community for wine lovers looking to expand their palate and in general, share their wine opinions with other similar-minded people. Anyone can write reviews of their recently tasted wines and each user also has their own personal cellar where they can put wines that they love, or ones that [...]

It has been a relaxing Memorial Day Weekend and I had some absolutely killer wines that probably helped in the relaxation.Started off with the best bottle yet of the 2004 George Breuer "Terre Montosa" which is young vines from some of his best vineyards including Berg Schlossberg and Nonnenberg. It is a wonderfully minerally and very concentrated wine with a grippy-like texture. The aromas run to

Regardless of whether a wine tastes sweet or dry, just about every wine contains a small amount of unfermented sugar, measured in grams per liter of wine. The sugar comes from the grape juice, which is transformed from a sweet juice as the grapes are crushed, or pressed, to a nearly dry juice during the process [...]

Wine and food make every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, and every day more civilized. As in any attempt at sophistication, however, there is art in matching food and wine, which Singapore will showcase at the 2008 World Gourmet Summit. It used to be that white wine is paired with fish and chicken, and red wine is partnered with meat and game. The rule, however, is no longer cast in st

World-beating winemaker Michael Fragos sees his South Australian vineyards as the perfect spot to grow grapes -- the soil, climate and afternoon sea breeze are all ideal.The only problem is the lack of water in one of the country's driest states, a hurdle that he and other McLaren Vale vignerons have overcome by using treated waste water to irrigate the deep green vines.A visit to the area is test

The term sparkling wine refers to wine that has been carbonated.In Spain, this version of sparkling wine is known as Cava and in Italy it is known as Prosecco.The first step in the process is to make your white wine somewhat more acidic.The next step is to add in the yeast and the sugar.The acidity of the wine will give it a texture that is more flavorful and overall crisper.Read more An Introdu

When skin contact is used to create Rosi wine you will need to determine how long you wish to leave the skins of the grapes in contact with the juice because this will determine the color of the wine.If you are looking for a way to expand the types of wine that you produce there are several reasons to consider including a good Rosi as part of your wine repertoire.Read more Making Rose Wines at-r

WineBible.com is one of the most informative sites on wines I have ever found. What originally drew my attention to their website is the fact that they sell Virgin Wines. I have always admired Sir Richard Branson. Not only is he the founder of Virgin Records and Virgin Airlines, he also created Virgin Mobile. I've had cell phone service with Virgin Mobile for years and absolutely love their servic

Rob and I are very proud announce that we will be the exclusive real estate sponsors for ROAR’s (Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue) 6th Annual Woofs Wines & Felines event on June 7, 2008. This exciting and fun wine tasting extravaganza is one of Ridgefield’s most successful fund raising events. It’s held every year under [...]

First Special photos country of LuxembourgThe Luxembourg National DietA typical Luxembourg BarLuxembourg Babes(mellow and spicy)Gambling, Golf and more links ...Casino 2000 LuxembourgLuxembourg GolfLuxembourg - 2000 Year Wine TraditionSeeing the Luxembourg Moselle vineyards for the first time can only be described as a shock.There is a 2000-year-old tradition of wine making here, and immaculate and beautiful vineyards climb breathtaking slopes from the flower-filled villages that dot the wine route.How come then, that the wines of Luxembourg are such a secret? The answer is that Luxembourg has - so far at least - felt no pressure to export. Almost half a million people live here, and happily consume the bulk of production.And yet many wine makers that I spoke to are painfully aware of th

Even after 17 consecutive years of consumption growth for red wine in the United States, Americans still prefer whites: Americans are expected to buy 120 million 9-liter cases in 2007. That figure narrowly beats out reds, a projected 118 million cases sold by year-end. Blush and rosé wines lag far behind, at only 31 million [...]

To make your wines sweet is not a hard process at all but rather a deceptively simple and straight forward process. But, because there always seems to be a few questionable recipes or ideas flying around the net for making a sweet wine, lets go over some of the basics. Hopefully this will clear up [...]

At the southern tip of Africa, where two mighty oceans meet in the shadow of landmark Table Mountain, lies the finest Cape in the world. Known locally as the Mother City, Cape Town is the gateway to the South Africa wine lands and one of the great wine capitols of the world. Here the cultures [...]

Wine has been a popular drink to serve with meals for centuries but many people get confused as to which wine goes best with what type of meal. To make matters worse, there’s more to wine than just red and white, there are many different varieties of wine to choose from as well. Here’s [...]

If you ask any group of wine enthusiasts what they think of dessert wines, you are likely to get mixed reactions. Some wine drinkers wouldn’t think of “insulting” their palate with sweet or fortified wines, while others wouldn’t dare end a meal without a delightful wine. As with many things in the wonderful world of [...]

Some wine lovers and experts consider the 1997 vintage as "the last myth of the 1900s". Twelve of the best labels from the 1997 vintage were signaled out for distinction last week at the 42nd Vinitaly, the Italian Wine and Spirits Trade Fair in Verona. Top wine buyers and importers, wine investment fund managers, collectors, Italian Guides (Gambero Rosso, Ais, Espresso, Maroni and Veronelli ), as well as influential wine magazine editors and critics (Wine Spectator, Decanter, Falstaff, Parker) paid homage at a horizontal tasting of the prestigious vintage. According to wine experts at Vinitaly, the twelve bottles are by now only available on the collector's market—with an overall value estimated at mor

***This week’s theme: Dessert in your glass (but not dessert wine)*** Sometimes, I confuse people with my themes, as when I compared the wines to ice cream flavors. But if you use your imagination a little…I’ll take you to some crazy places! Complimentary Tasting 2006 Cote du Bone Blanc, Chateau la Paws $14 Dive into peach trifle [...]

Dessert wines tend to be rich, sweet, and higher in alcohol than conventional wines, and are traditionally served in small, dainty glasses. As the name suggests, dessert wines are usually served with dessert, and there are a number of varieties which have different levels of sweetness, flavor, and texture in the mouth. When selecting dessert [...]

Australia is a beautiful country, from the feisty city of Melbourne to the coastal regions of Perth. It has an awesome landscape, and is not only famous for its kangaroos and cricket, but something more tasteful - wine. Their lifestyle contains a lot of drinking of wine, be it at a business meeting or just for pleasure. It is country that thrives on the pulse of the outdoors. Most Australians are into frequent camping and other activities. And wine is associated with this lifestyle of theirs. They have a lot of wine festivals which are a big hit with tourists and visitors. Another feather in their hat is they have been known to be the first ones to invent the wine cask.The first vine was brought by European settlers in 1788 and was produced in and around Sydney. The boom happened between 1

If you're a fan of rose wine, check out Morrell Wine's sale on a selection of 2006 rose wines. They are also offering 10 percent off all their Kosher wines. Go to MorrellWine.com to start shopping.

Because of these concerns, some people have seen no choice but to give up their beloved wine altogether. They do not know that alternatives exist.  At the FinestWine.com, we sale quality dry white wines and other wine varieties using only organically grown grapes. This means that our grapes are produced in their [...]

As many of you know I have been a fervent supporter of Lars Carlberg and his portfolio under the moniker Mosel Wine Merchant. From Clemens Busch's brilliantly naturally-made, wild yeast fermented Rieslings to Beate Knebel's beautiful and fleshy yet nervously mineral Rieslings from Winningen to Stefan Steinmetz's stunningly pure Rieslings from Brauneberg and other small plots within the Middle Mosel to Stein's aristocratic and filligreed Riesling's there is not a dud that in that portfolio. Yes that is a long sentence but I am excited about these wines and even more excited that all of these producers will be at Chambers Street Wines pouring this Thursday April 17th from 4-7 pm at 160 Chambers Street. Also in attendance will be Gernot Kollman who consults and makes the wines at Knebel. He i

I’m a little late in posting this one. Sorry! It will change again on Friday. Complimentary Tasting 2006 Roussanne, Fess Parker Vineyard, Santa Barbara $25 Take a sip of this tropical smoothie with pineapples, lychees, mandarin oranges, and honeysuckle 2005 Zinfandel, Aparicio Vineyard, Amador County $25 A lone fig tree surrounded by an orchard of abundant cherries, and further beyond [...]

Had some fun wines the other night at the home base with some of my co-workers from CSW and things showed very well less one bottle of corked wine. It was a fun relaxed night and nothing like the madness that ensued when I had two people with strong personalties over and fisticuffs almost happened. Granted one person was way more to blame than another but still that is not how I want to spend a relaxing Sunday evening drinking wine. With apologies to VLM who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I take complete responsibility for inviting the other party over. I thought great conversation would happen. It did not. Well thank goodness I know other people who are less argumentative and they were an absolute pleasure being my guests.We started off with a corked bottle of the 2002 Ant

Southern Italy offers price-conscious wine lovers an astonishing array of superb bargains for $25 or less, often made from indigenous grapes that were largely unknown to consumers several years ago. My colleague Antonio Galloni reports that southern Italy offers a wide assortment of wines, with a veritable kaleidoscope of grape varieties and styles. Despite the weak dollar, this region is still a treasure trove for great deals.

The Korea Herald: Regina Walton's Expat Interviews - Schulte's wines fill a void in SeoulWhile Seoul might not be New York City or London, it does have many interesting activities and events. Some of the more worthy of note are wine tasting events put on by Dan Schulte, CEO of Pieroth Wines, Korea.Considering that I use wine tasting events to prove that Seoul is moving up in the culture ranks, imagine my excitement when I heard that there was a new wine bar in Seoul. Imagine my additional excitement when I heard that this wine bar was operated by none other than Dan Schulte and his associates at Pieroth Wines."It's just one of those things that you happen to be in the right place in the right time," said Schulte on how he found the position with Pieroth Wines.After working in Japan for two

The Korea Herald: Regina Walton's Expat Interviews - Schulte's wines fill a void in SeoulWhile Seoul might not be New York City or London, it does have many interesting activities and events. Some of the more worthy of note are wine tasting events put on by Dan Schulte, CEO of Pieroth Wines, Korea.Considering that I use wine tasting events to prove that Seoul is moving up in the culture ranks, imagine my excitement when I heard that there was a new wine bar in Seoul. Imagine my additional excitement when I heard that this wine bar was operated by none other than Dan Schulte and his associates at Pieroth Wines."It's just one of those things that you happen to be in the right place in the right time," said Schulte on how he found the position with Pieroth Wines.After working in Japan for two

The following is a list of wines that I have tasted recently and for which I felt proud of having splashed too much money on (random order):Falkenstein Riesling 2006 DOC SüdTirol Val VenostaL'Aventure Optimus 2000 Stephan Vineyard Paso Robles CaliforniaRosso dei Notri 2004 IGT Toscana Az. Agricola Tua RitaAmayna Chardonnay 2003 Viña Garcés Silva Valle San Antonio Leyda ChileAmayna Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Barrell Fermented Viña Garcés Silva Valle San Antonio Leyda ChileFrancis Coppola Diamond Collection Silver Label Pinot Noir 2006Good luck everybody.

The following is a list of wines that I have tasted recently and for which I felt proud of having splashed too much money on (random order):Falkenstein Riesling 2006 DOC SüdTirol Val VenostaL'Aventure Optimus 2000 Stephan Vineyard Paso Robles CaliforniaRosso dei Notri 2004 IGT Toscana Az. Agricola Tua RitaAmayna Chardonnay 2003 Viña Garcés Silva Valle San Antonio Leyda ChileAmayna Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Barrell Fermented Viña Garcés Silva Valle San Antonio Leyda ChileFrancis Coppola Diamond Collection Silver Label Pinot Noir 2006Good luck everybody.

Paarl is situated just over fifty km from Cape Town and the superb wines are so popular that Paarl Tourism is booming with international and local wine lovers. The vineyards of Paarl are distributed across three main types of soil. In the area along the Berg River they are grown in sandy soils of Table Mountain sandstone origin - while in the town of Paarl and the surrounding lands they are planted on granitic soils. The third soil type is of Malmesbury shale origin and the vineyards planted in the north-east grow mainly in this kind of soil. Simonsvlei wine estate Set against the foothills of the magnificent Simonsberg Mountains, this estate has been honoured at the highest levels for the quality of their wines. The Paarl area is renowned for its high quality Shiraz wines and even though

Yep, that’s wines at Salento, not wines from Salento. When eating at home most nights, casually that is, I always try to select a wine that will match well with the meal but don’t usually quibble over the cultural origins of the dish vis-à-vis the denomination of the wine. When going out to eat at a spot with a specific culinary focus, French or Italian for example, I tend to be a stickler for selecting wines from the same country, even right down to a specific region, to match. When dining at Philadelphia restaurant Salento recently, the choice should have been easy – wines from Salento itself, the heel of the Italian boot. In hindsight, wines from Tuscany and Le Marche down, especially reds from Salento and reds and whites from Campania, would have been perfectly suitable give

This time around, we are going only about ten miles away from last week’s Italian wine Barolo. That’s right we are going a bit closer to the sea with Barbaresco – the Nebbiolo-based wine that is often lighter and easier to drink than Barolo. In this case, 2001 Cuscina Surio is a great example. It’s more [...]

The star so far on InterWined’s trip around Italian wine is without doubt the 2003 Barolo San Biagio. Classed as a Piemont wine (from Piedmont, NorthWest Italy), this wine is made from the Nebbiolo grape. I recommend visiting Barolo San Biagio, only because the winery’s tasting note is so different from mine; a testament to [...]

Charity Wines is rolling out four new labels that recognize baseball heroes and help raise funds for charities.Ernie Banks 512 Chardonnay, a 2006 California chardonnay, benefits the Ernie Banks Live Above & Beyond Foundation, which works to eliminate prejudice, support programs that enhance neighborhoods and relieve discrimination among various age groups and races.Eddie Murray 504 Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2006 California cabernet sauvignon, raises funds to support the Baltimore Community Foundation, which makes grants to a number of charitable organizations including schools for at risk children.Mike Schmidt 548 Zinfandel, a California zinfandel, benefits The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which is working to find a cure for cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the

Wynns Coonawarra Estate has announced an exclusive distribution agreement with Matthew Clark and its sister company Wine Studio. Simon Brook, business controller for the on-trade at Foster’s EMEA, said: “We are very pleased to announce this agreement with Matthew Clark. "Regionality in Australia is becoming increasingly important in the trade and Wynns Coonawarra Estate is a key part of our Australian regional strategy.”

First published in hardback in 2002, followed by a revised and updated soft cover edition in 2005, Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy, by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch, has quickly become fairly widely regarded as the new core text on Italian wine. For me, it takes over that crown, though with less technical detail and clarity, from Burton Anderson’s now out of print (and very expensive) The Wine Atlas of Italy. It also borrows on the personal, subjective charms of Victor Hazan’s classic (and inexplicably inexpensive) Italian Wine. It does both while also filling all of the expected roles of a survey book – for that’s essentially what it is – and establishing its own peculiar sense of objectivity.One of the primary reasons I jumped at the chance to host this first

The old general rules - red with red meat, white with poultry and fish - still apply, but there are exceptions, qualifications, nuances of intensity, tartness, dryness. Wine can alter the taste of food, food the taste of wine. Food and wine should enhance each other, not fight each other or cancel each other out.Wine does not go well with chocolate, citrus, vinegar, artichokes, peppers, sweet corn, barbecue sauce, ketchup. If you do serve wine with these foods, make it a rosé, Gamay, or Zinfandel. Here are few suggestions:Fish: Shellfish: Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis, Chardonnay, white Burgundy, Muscadet, Soave, sparkling wines.Smoked fish and fish soup: Sauvignon Blanc.Oysters: Chablis, MuscadetLight fish: dry Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Sancerre, and white Burgundy.Fish dishes

Tom Hyland, a Chicago-based writer and educator on Italian wine, has launched a Web site called Learn Italian Wines. The site is still in the works, but you can get some idea of how it will develop. The focus is on the top wine producers throughout Italy. (Currently, he's focusing on makers of Barolo.) "I believe this will be as thorough a site on Italian wines as you'll find (once it's complete, whenever that is!)," Hyland writes in announcing the site. "Hope you like it. I welcome any feedback."

Pattaya, Thailand – The Bass Phillip Winemaker’s Gala Dinner, recently hosted by the Royal Cliff Wine Club, Asia's leading wine club, featured some of the finest red wines from Australia. Organised in the award-winning Grill Room & Wine Cellar, Royal Cliff Beach Hotel, the event presented the Wine Club members with a rare opportunity of an ultimate wining and dining indulgence featuring SIX red wines complemented by an excellently matching multi-course gourmet menu crafted by the culinary experts of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort.

Italy can pose a challenge to wine lovers who want to move beyond the familiar Chianti, Soave, prosecco and Asti. With 20 regions and some 2,000 wine grape varietals, it's hard to know where to start. Add to this a four-tiered quality control system that doesn't always guarantee quality and unfamiliar names on the labels, and it's enough to make you return to the well-known charms of California wine.

The Marshall Family Wines 2006 Barry's Blend California Pinot Noir is made from grapes from Russian River Valley and Mendocino, and was aged in French oak prior to bottling.The color in the glass is dark ruby red and slightly cloudy. The nose shows dusty berries of cherry and raspberry, earth, and floral notes. On the palate medium to full bodied, with a meaty quality, cherry, dark raspberry, earthiness, and spice. Good acidity and young, green tannins on the relatively long finish. This Pinot Noir can be found at Wine-Searcher.com from $19.95 or at the winery's website for $25. This pinot has a slightly different style than I prefer. The more fruit forward tend to be my favorites but this was certainly not a bad bottle at all. For $20 I would say it's a good value, although I would most l

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we travel to the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York for six wines perfect for holiday meals.From the full disclosure desk: I work for Eric Mower and Associates, a marketing communications agency (www.mower.com). We developed a program for the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance called the FLWA Vintners' Roundtable. This virtual tasting is conducted via conference call, linking winemakers and food and beverage journalists. I recently played host to a FLWA Vintners' Roundtable attended by several drinks journalists, including Sean Ludford, Bill Dowd, David Falchek, Cynthia Sin-Yi Cheng and Michael Cervin. You can check out their reports as they appear to measure the objectivity of my tasting notes.The Finger Lakes region is best known for its riesling, which regularly takes home medals from various competitons. But the region has plantings from a wide array of

I was a little delayed in posting this one, what with all the good times and decorations going on…. but you can still come by and taste these wines for a couple days before I change the menu again. Complimentary Tasting Whites 2006 Marsanne, Preston Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley $25 Bobbing for Fuji apples… and pears… and hazelnuts until you're distracted by the scent of honeydew and honeysuckle 2006 Côte du Bone Blanc, Château la Paws $14 Like an endearing mutt who wins your heart, this blend charms you with peaches, cream, vanilla, and orange blossoms Reds (more…)

The renamed top list was released a few days ago:The first place was for Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 (15,3º alchool) which got a score 98 with the price of $US.However the most scored wine is Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2001 with a score 100. This wine placed at 13th penalised I thionk by the price $175.You can see here the list (pdf link)O famoso ranking da Wine Spectator's foi divulgado há dias. O primeiro lugar é ocupado por Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 que obteve um score de 98 pontos e tem um preço de 80 dólares.Todavia o vinho com mais alta pontuação - 100 o máximo - é o Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2001. Classificou-se, porém, apenas no 13º. posto penalizado, ao que julgamos, pelo preço 175 dólares. Merece ainda destaque com uma pontuação de 99 o Krug Brut Champagne 1996 que ocupa o 10º. lugar e que é altamente recomendado para o Natal se estiver disposto a dispender 250 dól

While answering some comments lately I decided to address the issue of Texas wines. Thanks to David for bringing this up (though TX wineries may not be thanking him!). I’ve recently relocated and don’t live in TX anymore. Yet, even when I lived there I didn’t drink much TX wine. IMHO, Texas Hills Vineyards was the only one making anything close to comparable in wines I’m used to drinking in terms of reliability and taste. However, the main problem with TX wines is the cost of TX wines! It’s rather discouraging that these inferior wines are $5-$6 more per bottle than most CA wines that are better in almost every facet. Once the TX wineries get the pricing thing figured out they can begin to lure more wine drinkers to their wine, particularly, locals. Incidentally, as I recall, Texas Hills Vineyards also grows Lavender, which my wife was very impressed with. Now, having said all that TX wines are head and shoulders above any CO wines I’ve tast

A couple of weeks ago we attended the Lisbon Wine & Food Show with the gang from Adegga. Not only did we have a great time, but also got to try some really incredible Portuguese wines. As expected, there were wines from all over the country, varying in taste and budgets. What impressed me the most was the diversity of the Portuguese wines -Vinho verdes, whites, reds all the way through ports, madeiras, etc. The selection of Portuguese wines is truly dynamic, impressive and makes me proud. So, it’s really a shame that formidable wines like these are not better known outside the county. The most popular Portuguese wine I remember in my travels abroad has consistently been Mateus Rose, although a nice commercial wine, it’s a pale comparison to the serious contenders we have nationally. Like Marias da Malhadinha, Palacio da Brejoeira, Cortes de Cima Reserva, Marques de Borba Reserva - these are pure heaven, and just a few of the many hundreds of Portuguese reds. (more…)

Chardonnay wine is named for the Chardonnay grapes that are used to create it. These grapes originated in the Burgundy and Champagne regions of France but have adapted well to conditions all over the world. The ease of growing Chardonnay grapes have helped them to spread to many parts of the world. Chardonnay grapes are now grown throughout Europe as well as the US, Australia and South Africa. Chardonnay grapes are a green grape with a very thin skin. It was created by crossing two types of grapes, the Pinot and Croatian Blanc. While the Pinot and Croatian Blanc grapes are now extinct, Chardonnay grapes continue to grow hardily in many locations. The resulting juice is fermented and aged in oak barrels to bring out the Chardonnay’s distinctive vanilla flavor. Chardonnay doesn’t age as much as red wines but still produces a delicious wine that remains popular throughout the world. Chardonnay is known as a non-aroma type of wine which is why oak works so well in the fermen

Here is the tasting menu for this week. I’ll most likely change it Friday. Complimentary Tasting Whites 2006 Chardonnay, Rust Ridge Vineyard, Napa Valley $25 The first sniff will resonate walking through a creamery , but the first taste is more like a stroll through an orchard of lime , apple , and pear trees 2006 Viognier, Kathy’s Cuvée, Appellation Series $18 Throw a lei around your neck and fill your glass… Liquefied apricots, pineapples, mango, peaches, and a dash of honey Reds 2005 Zinfandel, North Coast, Appellation Series $18 A trip to the cooler climes of northern California: Share a slice of tart cherry pie or a ripe plum tart after watching whales all day 2005 Zinfandel, Carla’s Vineyard, San Francisco Bay $25 Taste the telltale vanilla and cherries we love so much in our SF Bay wines, while cinnamon-sandalwood incense smolders on the table 2005 Syrah, Rominger Vineyard, Yolo County $25 An exotic meal of smoked duck coated in a tamarind and wild mushroom crus

Amazing Clubs has a club called Wine of the Month Club, also known as Amazing Wine Club, which allows you to receive two bottles of hand crafted, premium wines each month when you register. This Wine club currently allows you to choose between red and/or white wine, and as a member you will be able to receive special discounts if you need more than your monthly two bottles. Each month they choose the wines by sampling dozens of different types of wines from all over the world.  They take their favorites from these choices and use those to deliver to their customers.  To find out more information on how to become a Wine of the Month Club member, go to www.amazingwineclub.com.

Washington state’s emergence as a world-class wine region is well recognized by the professional wine world but this message hasn't quite reached all wine enthusiasts. This will change as the quality of Washington wines continues its upward trajectory and the number of wineries in the state increases beyond the current 500 or more in operation today. For wine enthusiasts not yet acquainted with the wines of Washington, this is an excellent time to discover the multitude of different varietals and styles of wine crafted in the state.The quality is superb and values are excellent. Washington wines regularly win top awards in national and international wine competitions and many of these are priced well below their counterparts from premium California wineries. As the value of the U.s. dollar continues to fall, Washington wines offer a compelling alternative to European wines from France, Germany, and Italy. Washington is the second largest wine producer in the U.S. after California. A

Catalog Guide Review : The wine guide catalog is for the wine connoisseur or any wine lover who wants to know more about Spanish wines and their origins . The guide has 120 full color pages with an incredible amount of useful tips , and info on the wines from Spain, also has maps, gorgeous photographs - the wine guide is free and is offered by Trade Commission of Spain in New York City .

And the weekly wine menu update: Complimentary Tasting White & Rosé 2006 Chardonnay, Rust Ridge Vineyard, Napa Valley $25 While decadently buttery cream fills the nose, this wine is tricky in that the taste is more minerality, green apple, and tart pear 2005 Rosé, North Coast, Appellation Series $6 (amazingly low final price!) Fire up the grill for these bright cherries, raspberries, and strawberries that interlock with rhubarb and lemon Reds 2005 Mourvedre, San Francisco Bay, Appellation Series $18 Subdue your caffeine fix with the coffee that leaps out of the glass, along with cocoa, smoke, plums, blueberry and ample acidity 2005 Zinfandel, Harris Kratka, Alexander Valley $35 Taste why the judges gave this “Best Zinfandel of the Show”… well-balanced raspberry, cherry, vanilla, cinnamon, and chestnut collide 2005 Syrah, England Shaw, Solano County $35 This one calls to mind a garden freshly tilled, root veggies upturned alongside a basket of blackberries and pepperco

There is no need for me to mention the enormous popularity this branch  of home wine-making enjoys, or that countless thousands of people all  over the world embark with tremendous enthusiasm each summer upon  turning wild fruits and surplus garden fruits into wines fit to grace the  tables of a banqueting hall. Just let me say that, no matter how advanced  methods become and how easily obtainable special ingredients for wine  making are, there will always be in the hearts of everyone a place for the  true country wines, for they have that indefinable ’something’ which sets  them apart from all others, a uniqueness that cannot be found in any other  wine either commercial or home produced. The methods I use myself are described here, and although they are the  simplest and the surest ever evolved, it is necessary to point out the  complications that arise if these methods are not used. Years ago-and, I am very sorry to say, even today-many thousands of  unfortun

Indeed, Cunard is continuing the classic traditions of grand ocean cruising with the Queen Victoria and her magnificent offerings of the elegant restautrants, champagne bars, and of course the world famous Queens Room, the focal point of many nostalgic afternoon teas. Steeped in history, Cunard’s past showcases what to expect from the Queen Victoria in the future. Cunard firsts include the first transatlantic departures, the firt in 1840. Cunard showcased the first gym and health center way back in 1911. Cunard also held, and still holds, the record for the largest passenger ship ever built. And Cunard Line was the first to offer 3 world cruises at the same time. I expect the Queen Victoria will continue the tradition of carrying Royalty, statesmen, musicians, journalists, world explorers, and the stars of stage and screen like her sisters, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Mary 2. In maintaining it’s reputation for food and service, the Queen Victoria offers thes

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we head to California for some sparkling wine.It has been 20 years since Mumm Napa was established. Anyone interested in good quality sparkling wine at a reasonable price can toast this milestone. Mumm Napa produces a very nice range of sparkling wines that are drinkable and offer individual flavor ranges that hit a variety of delicious notes. I recently had the chance to sample a few different styles.Mumm Napa Blanc de Noirs ($20): Nice salmon pink color and plenty of ripe fruit. There is a lacing of raspberry in this sparkler that makes it quite interesting. A great value in a California sparkler.Mumm Napa Cuvee M ($20): Gold with hints of peach and apricot in a relaxed flavor profile. The slightly sweet edge to this wine offers a faint hint of honey.Mumm Napa Brut Prestige ($20): Golden color, crisp peach and floral notes. Finishes with a whisp of citru

Summer is a great time for white wine. There are many different types of white wine for every occasion. Here are some of our favorites!Chardonnay – This white wine is not only first alphabetically, but is also first in popularity worldwide. It’s pleasant and somewhat fruity flavor make it easy to pair with many types of food. These grapes are also used to make champagne or sparkling wines.Chenin Blanc – A dry white wine, which was once extremely popular, but now has fallen in popularity as Chardonnay has become more common. This wine can have a very strong aroma.Gewurztraminer – This white may be the toughest to spell or pronounce, but fortunately, it’s much easier to drink. The long name stems from it’s German roots and the word “gewurz” meaning spicy.Pinot Blanc – This full-bodied white wine is also called Weissburgunder or Klevner in parts of Europe. It is made from grapes that were cloned after the Pinot Gris.Pinot Grigio – This white wine is actually made from

Last Saturday we went to a wine tasting at our local wine store, featuring M2 Wines. I was not familiar with this winery and excited to try something new. Chris Matheny, owner and winemaker, did all the pouring and was very informative and loved to talk about his passion, and wine in general. Needless to say, I had a great time. Chris Matheny and Layne MontgomeryM2 Wines got it's name from the first letter in two gentlemen last name, Layne Montgomery and Chris Matheny. The two of them met in 1999 and in 2000 they started making wine as amateurs. In 2004 it was time to go commercial and since 2006 they have their own winery in Lodi. M2 does not own their own vineyards but buys grapes from premium vineyards throughout California. That way they can source the different varietals from the areas where they express the best characteristics.Chris explained to me that their goal as winemakers are to intervene as little as possible to let the vineyards and grapes express themselves in the wine

Buenos dias! Welcome to Spain, where lunch lasts two hours, the food is Mediterranean, the wine is flavorful and the art of conversation is alive and well. The Tapeña Wines Tapas Challenge tests your savvy skills in the way of all things Spanish. Answer some fun questions about the beloved Tapas tradition to receive some attractive skewers for your own tapas party. Did we mention they’re free! http://www.tapenawines.com/tapas-challenge.html

By Bowe Packer There are many people who love drinking a glass of vino for social occasions with their food and because they just like the taste of wine. Of course we can identify many other reasons for a glass of wine, but these are the two most well known reasons to talk about. Many of these people would prefer to have a red wine or a white wine. Still others will drink sweet wines or dry wines. While all of these people will merrily enjoy the taste of their wine, many of them will have no idea if they are truly drinking the proper variety. Today, wine comes in many varieties and tastes. How do we know which one is the one we would like? As there are so many different brands of wine that you can purchase it pays to have an idea of the types of vino that you like. It can become very expensive trying out all different kinds of wine to find the one that is right for you. However, if this has become a social piece of your life, well then, don’t give it up. While there are assort

By Bowe Packer There might have been times when you’ve had cheese with your wine, but have you ever had cheese tasting wine? I know, some of you are probably saying to yourself - “what?”. Have you ever truly tasted the unique flavors of the wine that are brought about as a consequence of having cheese with the vino? If you’ve never been to a vino tasting then there’s a good chance that you’ve never thought about it before this. These events are truly an experience. One that you can learn a great deal and have tons of fun, that is if you are into wine. That doesn’t mean you need to disregard it completely though. After having cheese tasting wine and identifying its many unparalleled flavors will have an added dimension for you to enjoy. For the knowledgeable person selecting a good wine that complements the cheese or vice versa, is not a problem. This situation changes when you’re absolutely new to the way that wines taste. To help with

Wine Tasting in Michigan Wineries Where Exceptional Wines Are Produced There are people who love the experience of being able to taste a wine before they decide whether they want to buy that wine. For these people going to a winery and being able participate in wine tasting is the only way to see if a [...]

Sampling Great Wines at the Temecula Wine Tasting Tour in Los Angles Wine is a favorite with many people and the experience of seeing wine grapes growing in rows for many miles is something that few people will ever forget. There are a number of regions in the world where you can see wine grapes growing [...]

The Great Lakes Great Wine Competition was held recently for wineries in Ontario and the seven states bordering the Great Lakes. One of the leading Finger Lakes wineries, Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars landed the most golds with six, including a double gold for its Cabernet Sauvignon. The double gold and gold winners included:Double Gold: Black Star Farms Arcturos Fortified Raspberry NVBlack Star Farms Leorie Vineyard Merlot/Cabernet Franc 2004Chalet Debonne Vidal Ice Wine 2005Dr. Konstantin Frank Cabernet Sauvignon 2005Ferrante Vidal Ice Wine 2005Oliver Winery Creekbend Vineyard Late Harvest Vignoles 2005Wagner Semi-Dry Riesling 2006Gold:IllinoisPomona Winery Fortified Blueberry NVIndianaOliver Winery Creekbend Vineyards Vidal Ice WineOliver Winery Creekbend Vineyards TraminetteMichiganBel Lago Auxerrois 2006Black Star Farms Arcturos Blanc de Blanc 2004Black Star Farms Arcturos Cabernet Franc 2005Black Star Farms Arcturos Pinot Gris 2005Chateau Grand Traverse Semi-Dry Ries