by Lucy Gordan | Jun 3, 2016 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
On a family vacation in c. 1990 to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s 5,000-acre plantation near Charlottesville, Virginia, I visited his house, his vegetable garden and his vineyards, the first ones in the United States, although his repeated attempts to plant various...
by Susanna Gaertner | May 28, 2016 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
Once again there was an embarrassment of riches among the many excellent Pinot Noir offerings at the May 2016 SLH Gala. Pinots from the Santa Lucia Highlands tend to be bigger and bolder than their Burgundian counterparts, darker and denser and milder in their...
by Connie Pearson | Apr 19, 2016 | Wine & Spirits blog
When a stellar chef combines his skill and great food with the knowledge of a passionate wine expert, the result is a memorable dinner by which all others will now be compared. As my friends and I gazed outside the windows of the oceanfront Retreat Room at King and...
by Bill Marsano | Mar 4, 2016 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
The truism “you can’t get a bad meal in Italy” takes a beating in Venice, sad to say. Venice scores low in fine dining, and it’s inevitable. Ninety-nine percent of visitors have one meal and never return, and that doesn’t inspire restaurateurs to always do their best....
by Susanna Gaertner | Feb 28, 2016 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
Egg-based dishes present a problem from a wine-pairing standpoint; Rieslings, even dry ones, are too citrus-forward and acid-edged, and any other white will overpower the delicate fluffy-flavored egg-cheese balance. So I’m happy to say that I’ve found a...
by Kurt Jacobson | Dec 9, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
Situated on the north coast of the South Island hides one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets. With sparkling blue-green waters of the Tasman Bay and jungle-green hillsides, Nelson is a favorite destination of New Zealanders. International tourists are starting to take...
by Kim Hartmann | Oct 28, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
Some people say the study of wine is an art. Others say it’s a science. To Nick Domanico, owner of Tapas Calpe in Cary, Illinois, wine is much more. “Studying wine is kind of like studying theology,” he explained to me in a recent interview. “It’s not like studying...
by Scott W. Clemens | Oct 6, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
Every year for the past 13 years Barbara Drady, of Affairs of the Vine, has been organizing the Pinot Noir Shootout and subsequent Pinot Noir Summit. The Shootout is not one event, but a series of blind tastings held over several months in which professional wine...
by Tom Hyland | Sep 30, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
Vineyards near Canale (Photo ©Tom Hyland) Piemonte is a region known for its wines, especially the great Nebbiolo-based reds Barolo and Barbaresco, iconic wines produced from vineyards not far from the town of Alba in the Langhe district. Journalists expound the...
by Susanna Gaertner | Aug 19, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
Fifteen northern California wineries recently showcased their Rhône style wines for aficionados in—where else—Oakland! Syrah, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignane, Roussane, Counoise in red varietals and Viognier, the prime Rhône white, strutted their...
by Scott W. Clemens | Aug 11, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
Rosés are pretty, but they’re not the most complex wines; they’re not powerful or full-flavored. In fact, they’re delicate, light, uncomplicated and easy to drink without much contemplation. Perhaps that’s why rosé consumption is on the rise. In France, where...
by Scott W. Clemens | Aug 1, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
Dry Creek Vineyard, 2014, Wilson Ranch, Clarksburg Chenin Blanc: Though technically at the threshold of off-dry (.6 residual sugar) it strikes my palate as completely dry with a silky texture and firm acidity. Consistent year after year, the flavors call to mind fresh...
