I recently went to Sicily, not to follow the White Lotus life but to explore the wines of Etna, whose official DOC was formed in 1968. All the vineyards are situated in a half-ring at the foot of the volcano, whose eruptions have completely shaped the land and infused the soils, grapes, and wines with a bold, ashy … Continue reading
When you say Finger Lakes and wine in the same sentence, most people wince. But for grapefriends who know better, this region has really elevated their wines in recent years. I just sampled through a bunch of their 2023 rosés, which I’d never had before (the region is probably mostly known for Riesling). Also, they’re all screw caps … Continue reading
In other sport GOAT news, David Beckham gave Lionel Messi a Methuselah (equal to 8 bottles) of 2008 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino for his 37th birthday. Voted the World’s Best Winery of 2023, Catena makes some truly incredible wines. Made from the best vines on the estate, the Zapata grapes are hand-picked and the production is low. According … Continue reading
And for those of you who want to keep the party going all August long, here are a few rosés I loved lately: Chateau Peyrassol Rosé: Incredible how much flavor this has for such a pale pink. Tons of Mandarin orange and zesty pink grapefruit with a crazy long finish. Peyrassol isn’t your typical Provençal — this … Continue reading
Paris winners can easily bust out Champagne (let’s hear it for that toasty raspberry Bolly, $135) to celebrate their medals. But for those of us sitting on the couch without lucrative endorsement deals we might want to turn to more affordable French bubbles to sip on during the Closing Ceremonies. Namely, crémant which is made in the … Continue reading
Team USA shot past France for basketball gold, many thanks to Steph Curry’s incredible three-pointers. While we know the Olympic stadium wasn’t allowed to serve wine, hopefully Steph and team celebrated afterwards. Perhaps it was with the Domaine Curry Celebration Set, from his wife and sister’s winery. Domaine Curry, which they sold to The Prisoner Wine … Continue reading
OK, so here’s the craziest thing. Despite the Olympics being held in one of the greatest countries for wine, they can’t serve wine at the Olympics! Evin’s Law has been in place since 1991 in France, and it bans alcohol from being served to the public in stadiums. Ironically, athletes used to drink when training during the … Continue reading
As you enter summer’s pink zone, here are a few tips to expand your palate. 1: rebel against the rules Méditerranée IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) is the term for an area that covers Provence but also includes some of the Rhône Valley and Corsica (love their rosés). 75% of the region’s wines are rosé and … Continue reading
Swifties know that Taylor is a grapefriend, but looks like her boyfriend is getting into the grape too. Travis Kelce recently gave his mom Donna two bottles of wine for Mother’s Day: a 1988 Leroy Les Beaux Monts and a 2018 Pomerol. Let’s assess, shall we? The Leroy is a Vosne Romanée: A rich, refined Pinot Noir from Burgundy. … Continue reading
As the rosé trend settles in, you pretty much can’t go anywhere without seeing Whispering Angel on a wine list. The producer Chateau D’Esclans recently detailed their history in The Book of Rosé: The Provençal Vineyard That Revolutionized Rosé. The lengthy book is packed with beautiful photos and lots of history of Provence, owner Sacha Lichine’s vision, … Continue reading
