Buona Befana! Today is a holiday in Italy where an unattractive old looking woman gives out coal to children who are bad and candy to those who were good, the Feast of the Epiphany. Mostly though, the Befana signifies the end of the Winter holidays and after two weeks of vacation, everyone has to go... Continue Reading →
Sunday Sipping: New World Wines – The Napa Valley
"The Napa Valley, Then and Now: The Evoltion of Grapegrowing and Winemaking" was the title of a seminar I took this past summer at the Society of Wine Educators Conference in Orlando, Florida with Barry Wiss. With the cold weather outside, I am channeling summer and warmth and so Napa came to mind. The seminar... Continue Reading →
New World Wines: Charles Krug Winery
Last week Peter Mondavi of Charles Krug Winery turned 99, a venerable age for a remarkable man. I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Mondavi last year in October together with Giacomo Pondini from the Consorzio di Tutela del Morellino di Scansano and Karen MacKenzie of the eponymous agency. The Wine Spectator wrote a... Continue Reading →
New World Wines: Varied Bordeaux Blends From Virginia
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am thinking about all of the American wines that I have tried over the past few years. Some stand out, others less so but all interest me in terms of the evolution of the wine industry in the USA. This past year at the Society of Wine Educators conference, I attended... Continue Reading →
New World Wines:Torrontes & Malbec Estate Line from Dona Paula – Argentina
I was thrilled to get a note from Snooth asking if I wanted to participate in a virtual tasting of the wines of Dona Paula. The virtual tasting series is wonderful and informative. Unfortunately I missed the event because work got in the way - imagine that but I did taste the wines on my... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: New World Wines – Truro Chardonnay + Varla Jean Merman
Today was a difficult day which got me thinking about easier times and summer ease so this week's new world wine is a Truro Chardonnay. This is a fresh and light wine. I love Cape Cod and have been going there since I was born so for me, it is a touch of home if... Continue Reading →
New World Wines: India’s Sula Vineyards & Wine blogs to Watch
Learning about different parts of the wine industry has always been fascinating to me and learning about new cultures and their wine drinking habits perhaps even more. I also love wine as a means of traveling around the world, even if only intellectually and not physically. I've been very interested in everything Indian over the... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: New World Wines – South Africa and Nelson Mandela
Today is Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday. I remember the day he was released from prison perfectly. I remember how happy I was to think he was free. Thinking of all he has done in the ensuing years, since that day, is truly beyond inspiring. Would that the world had more people like Mandela. South Africa... Continue Reading →
New World Wines: Brazil Is Up and Coming
I have decided to start writing once a week about wines from another country, meaning not from Italy. This will help me not only with my palate but also with my ongoing wine study. This week, I'm writing a bit about Brazil. Brazil seems to have entered my life recently on a rather important scale.... Continue Reading →
Israeli Wine, 15 Years Since Rabin’s Death
I am reading a book by Deepak Chopra on coincidences in life. I'm sure many have read it. Yesterday I went to my first Israeli wine tasting organized by the lovely Aileen Robbins of the Dunn Robbins Group. I confess to knowing very little about Israeli wines except what I have had for Passover through... Continue Reading →