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
Huge month of everyone getting their grape on! We had a lot of grapefriends drinking some good grapes with their turkey, but holiday drinking is never included in the Grapefriend of the Month competition. So here’s what everyone drank every other day in November, at least the ones they tagged me in… Stephanie in Aurora, … Continue reading
“My father was a classic gentleman.” This is what Bernard Portet said about his dad, who was the technical director at Château Lafite in Bordeaux back int he day, while we tasted his wines. Well, the grape doesn’t fall far from the vine. Bernard is French, charming (obviously), and a Napa legend who has made amazing … 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
Visited lots of wineries last week. One that stood out was Cliff Lede (pronounced “lay-dee”). Had already tasted and loved the wine, but the place is cool too for a bunch of reasons. the double hearts When you walk through the entry room, you enter this great garden with these double hearts by Jim Dine. … Continue reading
Best wine today? It was out of a barrel. Phillipe Melka, sick sick sick winemaker and my new favorite person, gave me a taste of his still-aging Sauvignon Blanc. I didn’t even have to taste it though – the insane tangerine honeysuckle scent could’ve been more than enough. I told him he should make perfume … Continue reading
OK, so since last year quarterbacks got the love with this post, thought it was time to go a little wider. Yes, I just made a cheesy pun. But it works. So here are the top-ranked wide receivers and their appropriate grapey pairing! calvin johnson, lions Calvin’s like minimum 100 yards per game – big … Continue reading
With all the athletes and coaches who love wine you really have to wonder why fans always drink beer. Last Football Week we heard about a ton of past NFL dudes who now make their own wine, plus we know those three former Packers dig their Napa Cab. But the gridiron grapefriends just keep pouring in … Continue reading
After a VERY labor-intensive Labor Day, which involved baking cinnamon rolls from scratch, hiking and yard work, we earned a well-deserved cocktail hour. Despite the fact that we were toiling away in the Berkshires, we celebrated with some North Fork Wolffer rosé and some B Cellars Sauvignon Blanc from Napa. All good with our cheese … Continue reading
grape: Sauvignon Blanc producer: Nobilo country: New Zealand region: Marlborough, the most famous region in NZ for Sauv Blancs and rightly so year: 2011 price: $23 yum factors: This is from their Icon line of wines, which is a little higher end and made from their best vineyards. Everyone says NZ Sauv Blancs have a … Continue reading
