Blog Archives
The Novel “New York 2140” and Wine
I’m in the middle of reading New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson, which I bought at the excellent bookstore, WORD, in my neighborhood of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The plot? As the sea levels rose, every street became a canal. Every skyscraper an island. For the residents of one apartment building in Madison Square, however, New York [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]
Can a Scratch and Sniff Book Help You Become a Wine Expert?
Most wine books are so damn serious. Do you want to read a 500 page book on Bordeaux? One that’s hefty, ponderous, and staid? (Full disclosure: I probably would, but it’s what I do for a living. It’s like studying to be an engineer and having loads of non-sexy prerequisite texts. If you want to [More]
2013: Reviewing My Year in Wine and Food Books
Taking a look back at all the blogging I did this year, I sure plowed through some thoughtful and thought-provoking books about both wine and food. And non-eating/drinking related books also inspired me indirectly and even directly. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane: I enjoyed Graham Greene’s sweaty, atmospheric The Power and the Glory [More]
Considering Champagne in Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises
I’ve been pondering this passage from Ernest Hemingway’s seminal Lost Generation novel, The Sun Also Rises. Here are my thoughts: “I say that is wine.” Thank you, Brett. For many, Champagne exists in a separate category from wine. People think of it as a special outlier. You can listen to my conversation with David Speer, [More]
Complete Wine Selector by Katherine Cole Has Fierce Freshness
I wish I had come up with the phrase “fierce freshness“. But I have to give credit to Katherine Cole, author of the new book, Complete Wine Selector. (I first heard about her latest book when she was a guest on my podcast.) This alliterative duo is deployed in the first section of book, which [More]
Wine on Airlines II: Sparkling Wine Not Bringing Me Down
I previously had a fine experience when it came to wine on airlines, courtesy of a cheerful glass of a French Vermentino as well as a sparkling wine, Henkell Trocken, on Lufthansa. (Details with a side of Will Ferrell and Graham Greene.) And now, armed with the knowledge to ask for sparkling wine if I [More]
The Secret Lives of Baked Goods Lets You Have Your History and Eat It, Too
Receiving and reading a preview copy of The Secret Lives of Baked Goods: Sweet Stories & Recipes for America’s Favorite Desserts by Jessie Oleson Moore, creator of the ultra-sweet and magical CakeSpy.com, brought me back to my days as a graduate student at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Sure, while getting a M.A. in History, [More]
