I researched stats of how many female winemakers there were and didn’t unearth anything specific. The number has historically been very low but by all counts is now rising. Anecdotally, people say that female winemakers tend to produce more elegant and perhaps even more balanced wines. On March 6-8, see what you think with these: Las Moradas de San … Continue reading
Author Archives: grapefriend
perfect pairing: chips and wine
Made with real cheese, Wine Chips are really cheesy. It’s almost like eating a slice of cheese on a potato chip – so basically, better than eating cheese! They’re specifically created to pair with wine, so great fun for happy hour. Here’s what they recommend to go with each variety: Asiago: They say this pairs well … Continue reading
winter wine and tv bingeing
Not only is it a pandemic but it’s cold and storming out, so perfect time to dive into some great TV! Here’s what I’ve been bingeing and the best bottles to match their vibe. Ted Lasso: There is not one show that will make you happier. Sip a great winter white like Ferzo’s yellow apple … Continue reading
champagne fridays
Forget about getting through this pandemic winter, it’s an accomplishment just to get through a week. In the spirit of finding small ways to celebrate, I’ve been opening a bottle of Champagne every Friday night. We all deserve it, so try these: Pommery Brut rosé: This is all cheerful lightness, as Madame Pommery herself described … Continue reading
valentine’s day wine choice
Many people pop pink for Valentine’s Day, and this is where I’ll do my annual appeal for drinking rosé in the winter. While many people drink the light pinks made from Pinot Noir and Provencal grapes in summer, switch it up to heavier grapes in winter time. Muri-Gries Lagrein rosato: From an old monastery in … Continue reading
weird bubbles for new year’s
It’s been a weird year. Pop something weirder. The usual mix of grapes found in Champagne is Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, but in other parts of the world you can find sparkling wine made out of some really interesting grapes. The trick is that they all have lots of acidity, which is necessary for sparkling wines complexity and aging. … Continue reading
christmas (and non-christmas) wines
On the Eve, we always do the Feast of the Seven Fishes. A few of the fish choices vary, but the star is always lobster and an octopus salad with lemon, green olives, and celery. You can go a couple ways with lobster, but we’ve always done white Burgundy which has a light touch on the fruit … Continue reading
wines for your turkey table
There may be fewer people at your table this year, but that doesn’t mean you need to limit your wine choices! Either way, let’s support American winemakers with whatever type of wine you choose. Bubbly: Domaine Carneros winemaker Eileen Crane is leaving after 33 years. I recently tasted through a few of her wines, including … Continue reading
november values and splurges
It’ll be a month. You need quick, affordable wine. We also need to remember to celebrate. Grapefriend’s got it all. values Ritual Sauvignon Blanc 2018: Chile is a fantastic source of value wines – packed with flavor and so affordable. Love the piquant lemon on this organic Ritual (and btw, this pasta with sausage and broccoli rabe recipe was … Continue reading
wines for election day…and beyond!
You need a hardcore backbone to get through this morass. I mean, who knows if we’ll even have results this month. If we don’t have structure in our political system, let’s find it in our wines. Pine Ridge Cab Stags Leap 2014: Could use even a few more years, but a great coffee-cocoa-blackberry Stags Leap Cab. $140 … Continue reading