This week’s high/low weekend is a comparison of the new world and old world styles of wine. Australia is representing the new world with a Riesling from Edna Valley. I bet a few of you didn’t even know that Australia made Rieslings (you are not alone). But, they certainly do and if you enjoy Riesling with petrol characteristics, then you should really try Australia. The old world is being represented by Spain with a traditional, … Read more
The rule for Wine Wednesday is that the wine must be purchased or retail for $10 or under. But, this week, we are going to break this rule and bring you a wine that retails for $12. We tried it at our weekly wine tasting, which this week highlighted Grenache or the Spanish Granacha. This wine was uniformly adored and people were rating it very good at a $25 price point. Yet, it was a … Read more
On January 17, 1920, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States made “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States…for beverage purposes….” illegal. But, two little words were missing from that list: ownership, and consumption. It was those 2 words that made all the difference in the years ahead.
The Volstead Act, the body of law responsible for … Read more
This bargain wine is made from certified organic grapes in Mendocino County. Mendocino County is a cool growing area just north of Sonoma and has long been a leader in the organic grape movement in the United States. What is great about this wine is that is is organic and can still be found for under $10. We paid $8.99 for it.
While you might not have heard of Green Truck Wine (the Green standing … Read more
2012 is here! We’d been waiting for it, watching it creep upon us but for some reason it’s still surprising when it actually gets here. Now that the hoopla has died down, we have been thinking about what will be popular on the wine and spirits front in 2012.
As you know, I love all wine but I have a soft spot in my heart for Italian wine. While I enjoy the acidity and bright fruit flavors that most Italian wines exhibit, I love the passion that Italians, and particularly Italian winemakers, have for wine. It’s infectious. The Italians vinify varietals that 99.9% of the population has never heard of, including a number that date back to ancient Rome and the Greeks. The Italians … Read more
We are pitting Cabernet Sauvignon from the famed Cabernet Sauvignon stalwart Napa Valley against Sonoma, its upstart, funkier neighbor to the West. Napa and Sonoma are separated by the Mayacamas Mountains. Does the Napa-Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon feud rival the epic feud that has rages between East Coast and West Coast rappers. Probably not. Vintners are usually pretty cooperative. But, we thought that it would be fun to pit Napa against Sonoma for your drinking pleasure. … Read more
If you think the drinks on cruise ships are all watered down Piña Coladas for fuddie duddies, then think again. Cruise ships are sailing with a wide and deep array of fine wines, craft beers and state-of-the-art cocktails.
Consider Celebrity Cruise Solstice-class ships with their 21 bars and two-story wine tower in the main dining room. There are the pool bars, of course, but the Martini Bar with an “iced” counter and bartenders who “flare” … Read more
This is a fun and flirty wine offered at an amazing price. While we were sent a sample of this wine, it retails for roughly $20 for a three liter box (4 bottles), which translates into $5 a bottle. It’s tough getting a good wine for $5 and this wine delivers. Plus, we really like the fact that it comes in an eco-conscious box with a spout, which made it the perfect wine for a … Read more
