For those of you travelling out of DC today, here’s a little silver lining: the Starbucks at Dulles now serves wine (and reportedly LAX is getting one next year). In non-airport land, these “Starbucks Evenings” places are now in LA, Atlanta, Portland, and Chicago. The variety is actually really good; they all have one sparkling, … Continue reading
We made it! 12 Days of Fizzmas officially ends tonight (at least for this year) and we’re ringing it out amazingly, with this Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle. This Champagne’s half Chardonnay and half Pinot Noir and all from Grand Cru villages. It’s uniquely made from three great vintages (rather than just the normal single vintage), so it doesn’t … Continue reading
It’s the 7th day of Fizzmas, and I thought we’d celebrate a lesser-known fizz. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir get all the attention, but can you name the third grape allowed in Champagne? Pinot Meunier. It’s the one that adds a lot of the perfumey aroma as well as freshness and liveliness to a sparkling wine. … Continue reading
On the 5th day of Fizzmas my true love gave to me… a lesson on bubbles! This is actually pretty fun. So during fermentation, carbon dioxide is produced. For most wines, this CO2 is just released into the air, never to be seen again. But Champagne actually undergoes two fermentations, and in the second one … Continue reading
I always get asked what wine people should give as gifts. I’m no fool, I realize people just want these for themselves. But at holiday time I’m more prone to believing people when they ask, so here are grapes for everyone on your list. Including yourself. party hostess Nothing says party like the pop of a … Continue reading
The gluttony is over. And when you’re a grapefriend, that means gluttony of grapes! Looks like everyone drank very well on Thanksgiving – nicely done, grapefriends! We did our Fiacre grower champagne, Breggo Pinot Gris and this Wolffer Meritage (2007, decanted but still felt young). Abby and Lauren in New York rocked some Sauvignon Blanc … Continue reading
The scariest wine is probably barfy flavorless Pinot Grigio, but in the spirit of Halloween let’s get a little spookier. Here are great wines to serve at or bring to any Halloween party, or just to drink at home alone Sandy-style (i.e. if you’re still without power). talbott pinot noir, sleepy hollow vineyard It’s rare … Continue reading
If I’m getting serious about my wine tasting, I usually don’t like to eat while drinking. But once I’m done with taking notes, I love a good food and wine pairing that brings out different things in the wine. In Napa and Sonoma, we had a few brilliant couplings. Take note for your next party… … Continue reading
A day late but… Le Reve: learn and love. Domaine Carneros makes some amazing sparkling wine, and this one’s the best. It’s a Blanc de Blancs (all Chardonnay) and so elegant and delicious!!! We tasted a bunch of their others – all good as usual, though my new fave is the Blanc de Noirs which … Continue reading
Just had fantastic tour and tasting with Jessica Palmaz. Cool to see the family operations with our family. Amazing gravity-driven facilities in the mountain, cross between Austin Powers and Willy Wonka. Annnnd the wine did not suck…. At all. Also love that they made a non-alcoholic Muscat for the four-year-old nephew! Totally what we would … Continue reading
