Blog Archives
BBQ Beyond Beer
I would never turn down a beer beside my brisket, but there’s a lot to be said for paring wine with your grilled and/or smoked meats. So I was excited to get my copy of of Fire and Wine: 75 Smoke-Infused Recipes from the Grill with Perfect Wine Pairings. Even better, my friends Mary Cressler [More]
Valpolicella in Venice: The Talented Mr. Ripley
When I read Social Creature, then perused the reviews on Goodreads, I was surprised by the vitriol from folks calling it a cut-rate/derivative spin/lift of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley. I really enjoyed Social Creature, but had no point of Ripley reference since I’ve never read said classic. But then fate intervened. Well, not [More]
A Spanish White Wine Labyrinth
I got very ambitious as a reader, picking up a copy of a (nearly) 800-page book. No regrets! I gladly sacrificed some/much sleep to stay up and finish Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Let’s take a look at my review on Goodreads, shall we? The Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz [More]
Tannat and Uruguay: An Unlikely Duo
I was sent a copy of Wines of South America: The Essential Guide by Evan Goldstein. He’s not only a Master Sommelier but also President and Chief Education Officer of Full Circle Wine Solutions. I can vouch for his abilities as an educator after peppering him with questions regarding the state of the South American [More]
Stuart Pigott on The United States of Riesling
Attention Riesling fanatics! Get yourself a copy of Best White Wine on Earth: The Riesling Story by Stuart Pigott. The book is a personal and compelling love letter to the grape in all its forms from all over the world. And you’ll find notable producers and bottles from each Riesling region revealed, including Pigott’s Top [More]
Where, When, How It’s Made: How Much More Do We Care About Food Than Wine?
Over on Grape Collective I reviewed a book called Wine and Identity: Branding, heritage, terroir. I was struck by this assertion in the introduction: “Unlike milk, flour, fruit or vegetables, consumers seek information about where, when and how wine is made, and this is a major factor in their purchase decisions.” My response? “I see [More]
