SOMM, the popular shorthand for sommelier, was a documentary detailing the quest to pass what is arguably one of the hardest tests in the world: the Master Sommelier exam. How do you follow up this tale of aspiring wine experts working towards the highest honor of their profession? With “SOMM: Into The Bottle”. Here’s a [More]
Confession: I mostly drink white wine when I’m relaxing after work. Red wine is pretty much confined to when I go out to dinner. But that might be changing because every glass made from Frappato, a red grape native to Sicily, makes me crave more, often. You might recall Frappato as a grape that’s part [More]
Is your sparkling wine cocktail repertoire confined to mimosas? Do not fret! Meet Erik Chapman, Head Distiller and Operations Manager at Seattle’s Sun Liquor. He’s also a heck of a bartender. Chapman joins me on the Wine Without Worry podcast to share his thoughts and advice on how to get creative making cocktails with a [More]
I’m crazy for bottles from Sicily and especially Mount Etna wines. The reds are primarily made from the Nerello Mascalese grape; the white wines are mostly Carricante. Tasting these wines (and even some rosé and sparkling!) while on Vulcano Island attending “Sicilia en Primeur” as a media guest last year was one of many vinous [More]
When someone says “solera” I think Sherry, not Champagne. That’s what makes the R. Dumont & Fils Solera Reserve Brut so fascinating. What is a solera? Here’s a diagram showing how it works when it comes to Sherry. It’s not in English, but you get the idea: As Sherry is drawn off and bottled, [More]
No offense to OJ, but the mimosa can use more sizzle. And you’ll find that at Seattle’s juicebox. I’ve taken their creative and fresh blends home and created my own mimosas, but I highly recommend visiting their charming location in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood (the place I call home) to enjoy a refreshing, fizzy delight [More]
Ah, Seattle in spring. Can’t get here soon enough. The folks at Murmur, an app they describe as “a refreshingly human platform to find great restaurants and bars” akin to “word of mouth with a jet pack”, contacted me for an interview. My assignment? Describe my ideal day in Seattle. It involves plenty of eating [More]
It’s a bit of a therapy session for the pastry-phobic when I sat down with Kate Lebo to talk about her book, Pie School: Lessons in Fruit, Flour, and Butter on my Wine Without Worry podcast. Not that people are afraid of pastry, but rather making it themselves from scratch. Then filling, topping with crust, and baking. [More]
