Alsace Rocks the French Winophiles – Invitation to Join
Alsace France – Alsace Rocks! This month our French Winophiles group is teaming up with Wines of Alsace in their Alsace Rocks! promotion. Join us as we spend the month of June celebrating the wonderful array of wines from this unique region in France. Bonus for American wine drinkers: the wines are labeled by the … Continue reading
The Name Says It All: Soave Classico #ItalianFWT
Who Wouldn’t Like Suave and Classic? Charming, confident, elegant, classic. Great descriptors and wouldn’t you love to drink a wine you thought of that way? Unfortunately, Soave, a white wine from the Veneto region in northern Italy had its’ roller coaster ride to the top of Italian wines in America in the 1970’s. And, of … Continue reading
Beef Bourguignon on a Stick? Why not!
Favorite Foods “On a Stick” Minnesota cuisine isn’t usually considered exactly “gourmet”. At the end of summer, we relish our state fair, famous for foods on a stick: corn dogs, pronto pups, chocolate dipped bacon, deep-fried Snickers, even spaghetti & meatballs! Why not take a favorite cool weather dish (beef bourguignon) and twist it up … Continue reading
Drinking Tuesday Night Bordeaux #Winophiles
100 Problems with Bordeaux Bordeaux is stuffy Bordeaux is expensive Bordeaux needs to be aged for 20 years before you drink it I love Bordeaux, but it’s really only for very special occasions Bordeaux is what grandfathers drink, no one under 50 will touch the stuff These are the opinions in a typical American wine … Continue reading
M is for Marselan #WinePW
Wine Pairing Weekend Plays with “M” Wines Our monthly Wine Pairing Weekend blogging group takes on just about any challenge. This month, our host Lori from Dracaena Wines is hosting and we are joining her in her monthly “Winephabet” posts. So, we’ll all pick a wine that begins with the letter “M” and explore the … Continue reading
Hunting for Chinese Wine in Shanghai
Shanghai is a City of Lights I have a project in my “real job” that takes me to China regularly, most often to Shenzhen, Beijing, or Shanghai. (click on any photo to view a full size slide show, hit “escape” to return) Hunting for Chinese Wine in Shanghai Forbes online lists China as the #6 … Continue reading
French Wine 201: Affordable Bordeaux
Wine 201 The Wine 101 series features a no-nonsense, just the facts approach to a wine region. In Wine 101, we stick to key facts plus a firm price cap of $20 per bottle. In Wine 201, we’ll go a little deeper and open up the budget a little, but just a little. Wine 201: … Continue reading
Picpoul de Pinet and Steak Tartare Redemption #Winophiles
Winophiles Sample the “Lip-Stinger” of the Languedoc Picpoul is a white wine grape best known for crisp, refreshing high acidity white wine. Picpoul de Pinet is the best known region for producing the wine, and it’s located very close to the Mediterranean sea in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in Southwest France. Perfect for sipping by the … Continue reading
Castelli Vineyards – Going Their Own Way in Green Valley
Hiding in Plain Sight in Green Valley When I rolled into the driveway at Castelli Vineyards, I saw Emilio in his rubber boots, hose in hand. After greeting me, he asked how in the world I found Castelli Vineyards. Tiny production, no advertising, no media coverage. I explained I’m a Nebbiolo fan and I found … Continue reading
A Wine Pairing Lesson with Verdicchio #ItalianFWT
Learn Verdicchio with the Italian Food Wine & Travel Group April brings warm weather and our Italian wine loving group is itching to get back into Italian white wines, so Verdicchio is our theme for the month. I must admit, I too often lean on Italian reds. I have a good mental picture for how … Continue reading















