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 …
Whether you’ve given so many bottles to your grapefriend already or you just need some fun stocking stuffers, we always like to provide options for you there too! Want to be the first to get the monthly newsletter recommendations? Woo hoo, sign up here! Continue reading
Even though you know I drink it all year round (sometimes the more mundane the day, the better drink I choose), December is really the king of sparkling wine celebratory moments. Plus, you can’t beat that sound. Sure you can always give Champagne. But if you want to stand out, here are some of the … Continue reading
Went to a great taste-through of Podere Sapaio‘s beautiful Bolgheri wines. I so often have wines with Petit Verdot in them and they’re just too inky and like a punch in the face, but these really showcase how it can work incredibly when used correctly in a blend. The Volpolo line is a blend of Cab, Merlot and Petit Verdot. … Continue reading
Went to Marika Vida’s latest Somm Series wine dinner at The Hard Rock Hotel NYC which had incredible wines from Christian Moreau of Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils and Anna and Valentina Abbona of Marchesi di Barolo. What do they have in common? Excellent wines. Chef Oscar Gonzales created the menu specifically for each wine. The scallop with basil, lemon and cauliflower … Continue reading
There are so many ways to drink sherry, and for this Sherry Week (November 6-12) I tasted through four different styles with tinned seafood conservas — a pairing they love in Spain. Tio Pepe is a Fino style, delicate and the most neutral, aged for 4 years under the flor. I liked it with the fish in olive oil. The Fino en … Continue reading
Normally by this time of the year I’m settling into a nice groove of light reds. But this fall we’ve seen a wild swing of temperatures, with some days a crisp 50 and other days hitting 80 (even in the end of October). And it always seems to be raining too. So, I’ve been reaching … Continue reading
Hitting the road this summer? You can also just sit in your backyard and travel through your glass. Here are some wines from less-travelled US wine paths. VirginiaMountain & Vine Screaming Hawk 2021 Meritage: With the grapes (50% Petit Verdot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec) you’d think would be really heavy but it’s not. Just … Continue reading
Some great summer cocktails involve vermouth, which is made from a neutral base wine and lots of botanicals. A common misperception is that red vermouth is made with a base of red wine, but actually the color just comes from different botanicals. Lustau, a prominent sherry house in Jerez, Spain, even makes a “rosé” vermouth. … Continue reading
Drinking outdoors yet! Of course you are! Don your summer whites and pour one of these great glasses to match. Mira Franc Blanc: One of the great things about wine is how vast a subject it is and how many grapes and winemaking styles there are. I love Cab Franc but had never had a white … Continue reading
My dad loves Pinot best, and it’s always a great gift. Here are few based on what style your dad (and of course you since you’ll be sharing it) likes. Dark red fruit: Humboldt County is near the Oregon border and, compared to other California winemaking regions, the shorter days and cooler climate produce some wonderfully balanced Pinots. … Continue reading
