The cooler days are now here, and you’ll need to have some red on hand. Chateau Pegau’s Cuvée Maclura Côtes du Rhône ($22) brings out blackberry and black pepper notes in this blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 10% Cinsault. So good with comté cheese: nutty and creamy but sharp at the same time. They say …
Was in Venice recently and learned about Select—described as something between bitter Campari and sweet orangey Aperol, but to me was extremely close to Campari. The slight differences: Select was created in 1920 in Venice (not Milan, where Campari is from), has 17.5% alcohol (not Campari’s 24.5%), and is a proprietary blend of 30 botanicals like juniper and rhubarb which …
Most people think of party wines and spritzes when they think of Prosecco. But Prosecco took on a different hue on a recent trip to explore Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG wines, which make up about 20% of all Prosecco production and have stricter production rules. It’s a mouthful to say, but rather than lots of Italian …
I was expecting the hyper-colorful doors, bountiful flowers pouring over balconies, and rustic beaches. But I was not expecting the incredible cocktail scene in Cartagena! In general, Cartagena had an impressive design aesthetic, with bold interiors and amazing attention to detail in shops, hotels, and restaurants. Given that, it made sense that would travel into …
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 …
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 …
Have as much fun learning about wine as you do when you’re drinking it! We share what wines you should drink for each month’s biggest events, whether it’s for the Super Bowl or the super moon, the premiere of Stranger Things or the finale of Succession, Tuesday night values or Saturday night splurges. So sign …
The grapefriend wine totes have arrived!!! They’re totes amazing (get it?), and not just because they hold wine. I lug a lot of wine around. A lot. To friends, to dinners, to events, away for the weekend. I was tired of trying to find bubble wrap or random pieces of cardboard (liquor store style) to stuff in …
For the past 25 years, Mouton Cadet has been the official wine supplier of the Cannes International Film Festival. They serve the wines all at events and official dinners during the Festival, as well as their own rooftop Mouton Cadet Wine Bar. Three limited edition varieties are made, though of course I think the rosé is the perfect sipper for … Continue reading
I often go to these great wine dinners at the Ritz called Phenomenal Femmes. They always feature a few wines made by a female winemaker, who comes to the dinner to talk about each of the wines we drink with incredible courses. Last week’s winery was Quintessa, an established winery in Napa whose winemaker is … Continue reading
Most people talk about the jokes. A subset talks about the menu. No one talks about the wine. Except for me! After doing some recon that would make the CIA proud (most people posted pics of the menu with the wines at the bottom CUT OFF – the horror!), I finally found out what wines … Continue reading
IT’S FINALLY BACK!!! Let us re-commence the deviousness, the machinations, the goblets of wine, and the torturous moment every Sunday night when Game of Thrones ends, usually on a can-NOT-wait-a-week cliffhanger. So obsessed with this show and all the wine drinking they do, especially by the show’s biggest grapefriends, Tyrion and Cersei (the Lannisters clearly win … 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
If you don’t watch Vanderpump Rules, we likely would get into a fight about it. It’s near perfect brainless fun. Most shows on Bravo are (I watch 90% of them), but this one has a particularly brilliant and intoxicating brand of purposelessness. Hell, even the New York Times has validated our feelings. Centering around the staff … 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
As all grapefriends know, you drink WINE while watching the big game. Even the New York Times reported that “wine sales have been steadily growing faster than beer sales, especially around Super Bowl time, a reflection of the changing preferences of younger fans and an increase in women who watch the country’s biggest sporting event.” … Continue reading
Personal stylist. Personal driver. Personal chef. Many celebs partake of such luxuries. But personal mixologist? Now that is grapefriend-worthy. Justin Timberlake has proven his GF status with this one. As it’s his 35th birthday today, he got a special cocktail created just for him. It’s called The Three Five (I like it) and it of course … Continue reading
Hopefully you’ve had your fair share of fizz this holiday season. But if you haven’t, you’ve got one more night to unleash those corks from their cages and into your glass (and then continue for the next 364 days…) The conundrum of New Year’s Eve is always what to pop. Hanging with a small group? Definitely … Continue reading
