Yearly Archives: 2016
Talking Wine at Restaurants on Snacky Tunes
What a treat to be on Snacky Tunes, the excellent radio show where the talk is about food and music. I was there with Wine Enthusiast Food Editor Nils Bernstein to go behind the scenes on America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants 2016. Snacky Tunes Episode 261 Wine Enthusiast Magazine and Startchild & The New Romantic So what do we discuss with hosts Darin and [More]
On Wine Blogging: Turning Your Passion into a Profession
In 2004 I started a wine blog. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine 11 years later giving away almost everything I owned, moving across the country to a taxidermy-strewn and roach-ridden East Village NYC apartment, and commuting by subway, train, and cab for a job as Senior Editor at Wine Enthusiast magazine. I feel [More]
Ashbrook Estate Verdelho: A Margaret River Discovery
When I think of Margaret River, a picturesque wine region in Western Australia, two white wines come to mind: Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon (“SBS”) blends. But bumping into a grape I most associate with Portugal, Verdelho, in this neck of the wine world? Really? Cool. 2014 Ashbrook Estate Verdelho I first tasted this bottle at Vinyl Wine, [More]
California Melon from Lieu Dit: Muscadet Fans Take Note
If you love Muscadet as much as I do, here’s a wine to hoard. Or purchase and share, whatevs. It’s California Melon. The former being the state (duh) and the later being the name of the grape. Muscadet from the Loire Valley is a wine made from the Melon (de Bourgogne) grape. Outside of this [More]
Take Me To Your Liter: 1L Bottles of Wine
I’ve been crushing on this format for years. These 1L bottles of wine pop up randomly and it delights me to discover a new one. Who doesn’t look at a standard 750ml bottle and think of a conversation along these lines: “Say man, you got an extra 33% of wine?” “Uh, no, not on me, man.” [More]
Loire Love: Cabernet Franc from Chinon
If I had to choose one red grape from one region I loved above all others, it would most likely be Cabernet Franc from France’s Loire Valley. The wines tend to be everything I am looking for in a red: lighter style, not too boozy, and full of savory, non-fruity notes. Favorite Loire Valley Cabernet [More]
Taxes and Wine: 8 Recommended Bottles
Taxes and wine? Probably not like peanut butter and jelly as far as things that go together harmoniously. (Disclaimer: I am not an accountant but I do feel it safe to advise you to postpone wine drinking until completing your tax forms.) But hold on a second. Taxes and Wine While dreaming up ideas for the April issue [More]
2015 Matthiasson Rosé and a Praying Mantis
Was very stoked to get my shipment of the 2015 Matthiasson Rosé. Thought about saying something like “Pink Wine Season Begins” but that would be kind of ridiculous because it’s a wine for 365 days (well 366 days) a year. And this rosé from California is one of my favorites. Though my penchant is for French pink [More]
