Yearly Archives: 2016
Magnums for New Year’s Eve, Please
I put together a little roundup of New Year’s Eve sparkling wine suggestions for Wine Enthusiast. My pick? Naturally, rosé Champagne. But the selections run the gamut from fizzy to fancy. One thing I forgot to mention when it comes to New Year’s Eve bottles is GO BIG. I was reminded of this when I [More]
Eclectic Guide to Holiday Value Wines
What happens when you poll the staff at Wine Enthusiast for holiday wine picks, all $20 or less? You get quite an assortment of bottles. Check out what eight of us, if lucky enough to be invited to your place, would bring to your festive occasion. Here’s the breakdown: Countries Represented Australia United States South Africa [More]
Quick Thoughts on Drinking Wine in New York
I can say one thing about James “The Wine Guy” Melendez I feel confident I cannot say about anyone else: I’ve spent time with him in Lodi, California and Champagne, France. The former experience was at the Wine Bloggers Conference, the latter when we were both on a press trip to the homeland of my all-time favorite wines. [More]
How Did You Get Into Wine?
It’s a question I get asked a lot. And I provide the answer in audio form on…. The Wine Enthusiast Podcast Yes, we’ve launched a podcast. And yours truly is part of the cast of characters. Want to hear my stories about Bartles & Jaymes and Bruce Willis? Duh, right? Here you go: Also on the [More]
Pinot Meunier and Champagne: From a Supporting to a Starring Role
When it comes to the grapes that make up Champagne, you hear a lot about Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. And not so much about Pinot Meunier. Considering still wines, the former duo is justifiably famous. (Hello, Burgundy.) Both have plenty of household recognition as well. But I like to root for the underdog. That’s why I decided to look [More]
Learning in Lodi: Wine Bloggers Conference 2016
I was invited to be on a panel at the Wine Bloggers Conference, held in Lodi, California and have now had (quite) a while to reflect on my experience. Here are some of the things I learned about the region. It was my first time visiting, so I had a lot to digest. When I [More]
How to Build a Cheeseburger and Pair it with Wine
A cheeseburger is like a pizza when it comes to wine pairings. You have your basic versions: bun, cheese, patty and crust, sauce, cheese, respectively. Though there are purists, few people stop there. Think of all the toppings for a pizza. Contemplate all the condiments for a cheeseburger. Is there one wine that can do [More]
Sparkling Rosé: 5 Under $25 To Try
I am nuts for dry rosé and sparkling wine, separately. So sparkling rosé, the culmination of two of my favorite categories of wine, really floats my boat. A la peanut butter and jelly, the duo getting together makes something greater than the sum of its parts. It’s a simple equation: Bubbles plus rosé equals wine heaven. And [More]
