Where’s Jeff?
The final Stretch – WSET DIPLOMA Julie here, Jeff’s wife. I don’t write much for Jeff’s blog, but Jeff is a bit tied up for the next few weeks. He’s preparing for the final of six tests for the WSET Diploma certification. And while I don’t know much about wine, I can give you a … Continue reading
Under the Radar in Croatia with Franc Arman Teran #WinePW
Under the Radar in Europe with Wine Pairing WeekendThis month, our Wine Pairing Weekend group is exploring under-the-radar wine regions in Europe. Wines from classic regions like France and Italy are well understood by many wine drinkers, but Georgia? Romania? Moldova? Take a look further down in this post to a whole list of links … Continue reading
Willamette Valley Wines – Affordable Oregon with Union Wine Co.
Union Wine CompanyThe mission at Union Wine Company is to show that Oregon wines can be both affordable and high quality. We recently had the opportunity to sample a variety of their wines to see for ourselves how successful they have been. We also tried to look into a few details as to how they … Continue reading
A Different Take on Castilla y León #WorldWineTravel
World Wine Travel Visits Castilla y LeónMarch brings our group to the Castilla y León region of Spain. Not quite as well known as Rioja, but well established wine regions include Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, and Bierzo. Our group will have lots to explore! I’ll be taking a slightly different tack, looking for winemakers … Continue reading
A Reluctant Look at French Grapes Outside of France #Winophiles
My French Grapes Outside of France Rant Our French Winophiles are exploring French Grapes outside of France this month. I was fully prepared to just skip this month as I’m firmly in the camp of “Does the world really need ANOTHER source of Cabernet Sauvignon?” The “big six” French grapes – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, … Continue reading
Pair the Wine to the Diner with L’Ecole No.41
Lose the Preconceived Notions for Wine Pairing Does red wine always go with steak, white wine with fish? What if you don’t like red wine? Oloroso Sherry is the best pairing for barbecued ribs with a sweet/spicy sauce, but have I ever been able to get ANYONE to even try it? Nope. Back when I … Continue reading
What’s New? Natural Bordeaux! #Winophiles
Winophiles Dig for What’s New in Bordeaux January 2021 brings our French Winophiles group back to Bordeaux, looking around for something new from the region. We have lots of great ideas, just look at the list of links farther down in this post! Bordeaux Fame and Tradition The Bordeaux wine region is perhaps the most … Continue reading
Chablis at the Winter Table
Minnesota Winter is Not All Stews and Braised Meats As the weather turns cold in Minnesota, our plates are filled with meals not seen in the summer: soups, stews, braised meats. Still, we love to have some lighter fare both to take the pressure off our belts and to remind us of those warmer summer … Continue reading
Affordable Sparkling from Scharffenberger to Ring in 2021
Last Minute Sparkling Idea! My apologies for the late post, if you’re on your way to pick up some sparkling wine for New Years Eve, here’s one to consider: Scharffenberger Cellars. Early April through the end of October, I tasted a LOT of sparkling wines in preparation for a WSET exam. You name it, Prosecco, … Continue reading
Savino Wine Carafe Review
Wine Preservation The joke among wine enthusiasts involves “Leftover wine, what’s that???” Truth be told, we often don’t finish a bottle. If we’re going to be finishing the wine in a day or two, I’ll usually just put a stopper in the bottle and put it in the fridge. I also use a Coravin if … Continue reading
