Elegant Crémant de Bourgogne Served with Lobster Two Ways #Winophiles
French Winophiles Prep for the Upcoming Holidays with Crémant As we near the end-of-year holidays, we have many opportunities for celebrations, gifts and even an occasional quiet evening at home. When it comes time to celebrate with French wine, Champagne comes to mind first, but who can afford a bottle of Champagne at every one … Continue reading
Paetra “K” Riesling with Chipotle Smoked Pork
Wines for Smoky, Spicy Foods Spicy foods can be tricky for wine pairing. Spicy foods make big, tannic reds taste even more alcoholic and tannic than they already are; so, no. My favorite wines in this situation are highly acidic white wines with a bit of residual sugar. In short, German (style) Rieslings. The lively … Continue reading
Comparing Washington and California Merlot over Dinner #MerlotMe
Does It Matter Where Your Merlot is Grown? When it comes to Merlot, my personal favorites are from the Right Bank in Bordeaux. During our annual October month-long #MerlotMe celebration, I sample a variety of Merlot wines from California and Washington (master post is here). Generalizations are always difficult as there are plenty of counter … Continue reading
Exploring the Toe of Italy’s Boot with Cirò Rosso #ItalianFWT
ItalianFWT Returns to Calabria This is our 2nd virtual trip to Calabria with the Italian Food, Wine and Travel Group. My first post with an introduction to the region is here. On this trip, I’m enjoying a key wine and a couple of foods typical of Calabria. While there are several DOC regions in Calabria, … Continue reading
Scare Up Some Tawny Porto for Halloween
Over 21 Halloween Fun October 31 is upon us, and many of us will be handing out candy to costumed kids in an American tradition. I don’t hear about many tricks, like soaped windows anymore, but why risk it? Whether you have kids yourself, or even if you just have a big bowl of candy … Continue reading
Bonterra Shows the Way with Affordable Organic/Biodynamic Wine
Is Affordable Organic Wine an Oxymoron? I associate organic agriculture / viticulture as being better for workers and better for the health of the property, but it comes at higher cost due to more labor to produce a given amount of food/grapes/wine. Many younger consumers I know are interested in a sustainable approach in the … Continue reading
Riedel Performance Wine Glass Seminar
The Riedel Wine Glass Seminar The Riedel family has been in the glass business a long time, since 1678 to be exact. They have also been through many ups and downs, including losing everything during World War II. Still, they recovered and never lost their commitment to glass. In 1973 Georg Riedel introduced the Sommelier … Continue reading
Lirac: Wine from the Wrong Side of the Tracks #Winophiles
The Urban Dictionary tells us the “wrong side of the tracks” is the poor, seedy, low-rent part of a town or city. In the Southern Rhone, the Cru Villages with the most fame are all on the Left Bank (east side) of the Rhone river. The Right Bank (west side) seems to be the … Continue reading
The French #Winophiles are Off to Lirac in the Côtes du Rhône
It’s October and We’re Exploring Lirac in the Côtes du Rhône Our French Winophiles are exploring (virtually) the Lirac appellation, the southernmost named village in the Côtes du Rhône this month. While it is located just across the Rhône river from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it remains one of the lesser known “under-the-radar” Côtes du Rhône Villages. Let’s change … Continue reading
Perfect Fall Pairing with Dow’s LBV Porto 2012
Welcome Fall with a Campfire and Porto As summer comes to a close, sunset is earlier, evenings are cooler, and a campfire is most welcome. It’s still nice enough to spend time outdoors in the evening, perhaps with a sweater by the fire. Perfect pairing? A glass of Port. There are two main styles of … Continue reading
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