Unroll the picnic mat and pop a tab. July is national picnic month, no surprise there. But what may be surprising is that canned wine – which is so convenient to bring on a picnic – can actually be pretty good. I’ll caveat this with saying I sampled a ton of canned wine that was not good, … Continue reading
We all know the famous regions, but on this Bastille Day (July 14) let’s celebrate some lesser known regions in France. Camargue: Near Arles, the terroir here is sandy which helped them avoid the pest phylloxera which scourged most other regions. Pre-phylloxera Grenache vines. Try the salmon-tinted, peachy Pink Flamingo Gris Rosé. $14 Ventoux: East of the Rhône Valley, it gets some … Continue reading
We’ve been doing this for the past few months to celebrate the small things during Covid, namely just getting through another week. But now things are looking brighter and it’s officially summer, when every day is like a bubbly glass of goodness. So this will be our last month of Champagne Friday, but we’ll still … Continue reading
Paying a lot for wine glasses can be a contentious topic. The producers of these often very expensive glasses put a lot of research into the shape of the bowl and how it affects the nose and palate of wines. Usually these are crafted to bring out the characteristics for specific grapes, but wine writer Karen … Continue reading
On this Day of Dad, get the grill going and pop open great wines to go with. What I look for in a good grilling wine: structured reds with tannins that will hold up to the char, or hearty rosés that counterbalance the heat. Petite Sirah: This is all big and inky power, so I prefer when … Continue reading
We’re still recommending some great values and splurges for whatever summer needs arise at every price point! valuesJean Luc Colombo Les Abeilles: This white Côtes du Rhône (80% Clairette and 20% Roussanne) has notes of apple blossoms and tangy yellow apple. And for every bottle purchased, the Colombo family, life-long beekeepers and grape growers, makes a donation to the … Continue reading
Hello, National Rosé Day! Although we do drink pink all year round, let’s face it – there’s just more flowing once the weather gets warm. NRD is the second Saturday in June, but I’ll be recommending five of the best I’ve been sipping each month this summer. 1 Daou Discovery Rosé: This Grenache rosé from Paso Robles is … Continue reading
There are so many Chardonnays to explore beyond big oaky ones. I tasted around the globe for May 27’s Chardonnay Day and found some really interesting ones! Stellenbosch, South Africa: Tokara Reserve Chardonnay 2018White florals and pungent citrus notes. We had this with some Nigerian chicken and coconut rice – delicious! $26 Kosovo: Stone Castle 2018Owner Rrustem Gecaj left … Continue reading
Had no idea Angostura made rum in addition to their omnipresent bitters. Made in Trinidad, the 5-year-old Rum is a blend of light gold rums, aged for a minimum of 5 years in used bourbon oak barrels. It was great in this Queen’s Park Swizzle cocktail, which was created over 100 years ago at the … Continue reading
Yep, still happening. Grab these great Champagnes to celebrate getting through another pandemic week! Laurent Perrier Brut La Cuvée: This is probably my favorite Champagne in this price range (and frankly even compared to other price ranges). Has such great apple fruit balanced with a hint of lime, and the bubbles are perfect. $45 Leclerc Briant: LOVE … Continue reading
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