Sparkling Wine Bubbles During the holidays everything comes up bubbles. Newspapers and websites are awash with the great bubbles from around the world to ring in the New Year but I wonder why we aren't drinking bubbles throughout the year and throughout the meal. I recently attended a webinar where we talked about difference styles... Continue Reading →
Cab Franc in Friuli Venezia Giulia
Italy Cabernet Franc in the world is the focus of this month's #WinePW blogging group. Our host Wendy Klik decided that in honor of #CabFrancDay which we celebrated on December 4th, we should look at this grape that was used primarily as a blending grape for Bordeaux until being bottled as a lone varietal in Chinon, France.... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Chateau Purcari Rosu de Purcari
This week's Wine Wednesday is about Rosu de Purcari from Chateau Purcari in Moldova. Purcari is an historic winery in Moldova and "in 1827, Emperor of Russia Nicholas I issued a special decree granting Purcari the status of the first specialized winery in Bessarabia." They make many wines among them, this one which is a... Continue Reading →
Monday Musings: Wine Samples Policy
Today's musings are about receiving wine samples and how to declare that they are samples. These pictures are of bottles that I put together when I make my wines. Sometimes I out labels on them but often I do not. If I give them to someone, I declare it's home made. These are my Super-Teaneck... Continue Reading →
Orange wine from Slovenia’s Movia Paired with Homemade Sushi
Thanks to this month's focus on Orange wines or skin contact wines by the #WinePW group, I am focusing on a winery from Slovenia. Before I delve into Movia and my homemade Sushi extravaganza, let's look at our host Martin Redmond blog Enofylz invitation post on Orange wines which you can find here. Orange wines are... Continue Reading →
Wines of Lombardy: San Colombano DOC
Milano. My home for 10 years, a city I still feel a part of, home to many, many close friends and dozens of work colleagues and acquaintances, site of a myriad of experiences, evenings, days. My second city really. I can't bear to watch what is happening there now. My way of dealing with this... Continue Reading →
Thursday Pairing: Penne alla Zucca With Ribolla Gialla
I have friends coming over for dinner and I have been thinking what to make for dinner. Then it came to me, Penne alla Zucca (Pumpkin) one of my favorite all time dishes paired with Ribolla Gialla, a fabulous grape from Friuli. I make the pasta with white wine but sometimes I add a... Continue Reading →
Sindrome da Rientro As Vacation Ends
As September rolls around, I am afflicted with that not so terrible malady: il Sindrome da Rientro – back to work after the end of vacation. This year I had a long vacation on Cape Cod, a place that I absolutely adore. Lot of fun with family and many first forays for Niccolo’ – my... Continue Reading →
Monday Musings on Climate: Do You Buy Wine In Heavy Bottles?
Last week I wrote about using corks or screw caps as closures and which one was more environmentally sound. This week, my Monday musing is about buying very heavy wine bottles for making one's own wine or buying wines that are sold in very heavy bottles. When I made wine this year, I used bottles... Continue Reading →
La Notte di San Lorenzo-Night of the Shooting Stars
August 10 is officially known in Italy as la Notte di San Lorenzo or the Night of the Shooting Stars. This is because, apparently, tonight if there are clear skies, one can see many shooting stars. I always thought this was very poetic but somewhat of a myth. Until I went sailing in the Mediterranean... Continue Reading →