Try Merlot as Your Pizza Wine #MerlotMe
What’s Your Go-To Pizza Wine? Do you have a favorite pizza wine, something you always reach for? If it’s a typical red-sauce type pizza I usually grab something Italian: Barbera d’Asti, Langhe Nebbiolo, Chianti Classico. October means #MerlotMe though, so I decided to take some Merlot samples with us up to the lake. We nearly … Continue reading
A Tale of Two Merlots at the Grill #MerlotMe #WinePW
Wine Pairing Weekend and MerlotMe Our Wine Pairing Weekend group has had fun singing the praises of Merlot for the last 5 years, and we’re excited to continue the tradition in 2020. I’m not sure Merlot ever went away, though it certainly stepped out of the spotlight. Fortunately, the producers who loved the grape and … Continue reading
Are Local Grapes the Future of Moldovan Wines? #WorldWineTravel
World Wine Travel Group Inaugural Virtual Visit to Moldova Our three collaborative blogging groups are expanding into one more area: World Wine Travel. This Moldova Wine Day event is a preview of things to come, as our group formally starts up in 2021. Follow us at the new hashtag #WorldWineTravel! Today, we travel virtually to … Continue reading
#MerlotMe 6 with the Wine Pairing Weekend Crew! #WinePW
Six Years Celebrating Merlot! Wow, our Wine Pairing Weekend group has partnered for six years with Merlot producers to celebrate this delicious grape. Have we tried every possible food pairing? Tried our hands at a #SixWordLoveStory for Merlot? I can’t wait to see what our group cooks up this year! We officially celebrate on the … Continue reading
Willamette Valley – iOTA Cellars
Willamette Valley Sub-AVA Tour Continues We’re nearly done with our tour of the sub-AVA’s of the Willamette Valley AVA. Today we visit the Eola – Amity Hills AVA through our friends at iOTA Cellars. (click on any of the maps to see full size in a slide show) Eola-Amity Hills AVA Traveling due south from … Continue reading
Thanks to Corking Wines for Top 101 Wine Writers 2020
Bloggers Love Readers I had a nice surprise this week with an email telling me I’m in Corking Wines list of Top 101 Wine Writers 2020! I appreciate knowing friends read the blog and love every comment. When good news comes from someone I don’t personally know, and from England no less, that’s an extra … Continue reading
Black is Beautiful Beer
Do your part! The next time you’re headed out to a local taproom, check out Black is Beautiful Beer website, find a local participating brewery, buy some Black is Beautiful beer! Toward a More Diverse Drinks Industry 2020 has been a year which has opened our eyes to how far we still have to go … Continue reading
Willamette Valley – Maysara with a Brick House Guest Appearance
Willamette Valley Wines Sub-AVA Tour McMinnville is our next sub-AVA on our virtual tour through Willamette Valley. Today we’re exploring McMinnville through biodynamic grower, Maysara. We’ll also touch on biodynamics at both Maysara and Brick House Vineyard. (click on any of the maps to see full size in a slide show) McMinnville AVA From Willamette … Continue reading
Pairing Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port with Campfire
The Douro River and Port The Douro River runs from Spain (where it is called the Duero River) through Portugal, finally meeting the sea at the coastal city of Porto, Portugal. Port wines are made from grapes grown along the Douro river starting about 50 miles upriver from Porto and extending all the way to … Continue reading
A Fistful of Beaujolais Rosés to Enjoy Before the Summer Departs
Rosé All Year? Not for Me! Do you drink rosé all year long? Not me, I’m a summer (ok, extend that into September) rosé fan. Not because I have anything against rosé, it’s just the cold Minnesota winters encourage drinking those big reds that languish in the cellar in July and August. I had … Continue reading















