Temps are climbing, meals are getting lighter. As we get more white fish on our plates, here are a few great pairings for your glass. Olianas Vermentino: Hard to find a better summer meal than fresh white fish with lemon and Italian parsley. And it would be hard to find a better pairing than Vermentino for that. … Continue reading
It might be the 4th but we’re actually only recommending one American bubbly! Piper-Heidsieck: Forget canned wine, this is the coolest can of the summer. It’s a limited edition design by Josh McKenna that celebrates Pride. And you then get a fantastic bottle of Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut, with superfine bubbles, elegant brioche notes, and ample opp … Continue reading
For a beautiful bubble, sip no further than Eric Taillet. These wines are total gems. Rarely is Champagne all Pinot Meunier (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir usually dominate the three-grape Champagne blend), but Pinot Meunier gives such a delicacy and beautiful pink rose notes. I’d honestly drink all-Meunier all the time if I could find it more. Before 1992, … Continue reading
We’re in the thick of the holidays now, and there are sips to be had for every moment! Plus a few gifts to give 🙂 for the happy hour This brings cheese and wine to a new level. Sandeman made a port-washed Harbison cheese with Jasper Hill Farm. It’s already sold out on their … Continue reading
Usually I like to educate people about styles and grapes you can then go find on your own, since finding a specific bottle can be an issue depending on what your local wine store happens to have. But lately I had a bunch of good reds under $30, which can be hard to find. And … 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
Marika Vida used to spotlight excellent female winemakers with these great dinners when she was the wine director at the Ritz, and she’s now doing a SOMM Series to continue the tradition. And what a revival last week, with an all-Taittinger dinner with Vitalie Taittinger, who recently took over as President of her family’s Champagne … Continue reading
As with all wines, the land the vines grow in is critical to how the wines turn out. So I recently went hiking with Austrian Wines in honor of the eight Styrian Wine Trails that lead hikers through the vineyards, hills and thermal spas in the region. Sadly, we were just in upstate New York instead … Continue reading
It’s time again for that mishmash of holiday foods all on one table. I always drink American, so here are some basic styles that will be able to flex across all your flavors. Starting with bubbles, try Domaine Carneros Late Disgorged Brut ($58). Aged for six years on the lees in the bottle, it has a bit more complexity and … Continue reading
I’ve been drinking a lot of bubbly lately. Not only is it refreshing in hot weather, but it tends to be a little lower in alcohol. We all know Champagne from France and Prosecco from Italy, but given how much sparkling wine I’ve been popping I decided to try some from lesser-known places—and was quite … Continue reading
