I’m always surprised when people don’t know that Oregon makes wine. And not only does it just make wine, it makes some of my favorite wine in the US. The Pinot Noirs are a balance between elegant, earthy Burgundies and heavily-fruity ones from Sonoma. But you also have delicious Pinot Noir-based rosés, lush and pear-flavored Pinot … Continue reading
I’m sure you heard about the earthquake that hit the small town of Amatrice in Italy. I’ve never been, but I’ve had their signature dish, pasta all’amatriciana. I’d never cooked it before, but there’s a movement for people to either cook it at home to raise awareness and funds for relief in the town, or … Continue reading
Remember the old “I want my MTV!” commercials? We can just tweak that to “I want my Pinot B!” for Pinot Blanc Month. It’s very handy. Speaking of hands, you should have these bottles in yours since you’re likely in dire need of refreshment in this muggy month. So, here are the 5 best Pinot Blancs … Continue reading
It’s August. It’s steamy. And you likely have major rosé fatigue. Have no fear, Pinot Blanc is here! . Pinot Blanc is my go-to August wine. You need something refreshing, but on one of those hyper-humid 95-degree dog days you can barely muster the energy to lift your glass. There are plenty of refreshing wines … Continue reading
One of my favorite summertime pairings is just rosé and a hot day. But if food does enter the picture, as it usually does at some point, the most royal pairing might be BBQ. They’re basically as perfectly matched as Kate and Wills. First, rosé and anything spicy is just flat out amazing. It balances and … Continue reading
The #RoséWeek day you’ve all been waiting for! I’ve been sampling away since May – over 100 bottles. It’s been ROUGH. But finally we have our top 10 rosés of 2016! I organized them by region based on my previous post about grapes they use to make rosé in different regions. It’s always helpful to … Continue reading
We’ve detailed how rosé is made in past Rosé Weeks (if you need a refresh, it’s right here). But obviously, you need red grapes to make rosé since those varying shades of pink all come from the color in the skin of red grapes. But rosé regions all around the world make rosé from different … Continue reading
Italy is by far my Happy Place. Not only am I 100% Italian, but it’s known for la dolce vita. That literally means the sweet life, and is basically just all about kicking’ it and enjoying life. Many an evening has been passed sipping an apertivo in a piazza, or eating the best [fill in … Continue reading
People might associate Spring Break with body shots and beer, but grapefriends know the real meaning: awesome spring wines to break open! So many good ones to sip on while we transition from vile winter to blissful summer. white pinot noir Oh yes, this exists and it’s so cool! And you’ve actually had it before … Continue reading
Roses are nice, but I’d be way more in love with anyone who gave me a bouquet of rosés instead. And these three all cheaper than a dozen roses! Win win win. Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Crémant is one of my favorite Champagne alternatives: just as good, more than half the cost. This all-Pinot Noir … Continue reading
