My pool of knowledge when it comes to the best BC wines is a shallow one. Frankly, when it comes to British Columbia wines, we’re not even talking kiddie pool-deep. More like a thimble. Luckily, I have Luke Whittall of the excellent blog and podcast Wine Country BC as a friend and guide. He’s been [More]
Swig Well With Summertime Porch Pounders
Have you ever wanted to learn to Swig Well? Thanks to a Seattle drinking academy of the same name, you, too, can achieve unknown levels of knowledge and pleasure in the art of distilled spirits as well as with the cocktails that celebrate their flavor and heritage. I was thrilled that Swig Well Founder Anu [More]
A Tantalizing Sparkling Riesling from British Columbia
Cannot quibble over getting invited to attend an outdoor Riesling Rendezvous at Chateau Ste. Michelle on a picture-perfect day. Located in the town of Woodinville, not far from Seattle, I knew while at this event I’d taste all manner of Rieslings from the corners of the globe. Special recognition must go to the Tantalus Old [More]
Practice WMO: Washington Merlot Optimization
As a blogger, the concept of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) lords over my world. Write a post title and a few keyword mentions that will get the attention of the Google. And, hey, it makes sense. Don’t you want to write about things that people are actually searching for? (If you want to get geeky [More]
Red Wine on a Hot Summer Day? There’s Only One Way
I thought I’d never drink red wine on a hot summer day until I walked into Sun Liquor Lounge in Seattle and asked their ace bar manager, Chelsea, to make me something with Mezcal. The refreshing, well-chilled cocktail she came up with sneaks in some red wine in the form of a artful float atop [More]
The Wines of South Australia Provide a Rich and Lingering Experience
When I say “wines of South Australia“, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind? Probably Shiraz, right? From legendary old-vine versions that garnish media accolades to mega-brands, it’s hard not to equate South Australia (and all of Australia, for that matter) with Shiraz. But Australia is a huge country, and even within the [More]
Grandma’s Quilt, Saginaw, MI, and Maculan Brentino
Lately I’ve been marveling at this quilt that belonged to my Grandma. It’s something I’m sure she made, but a recent (less than 24 hours ago) conversation with my Mom opened the door to the possibility it was made by my great-Grandma. Regardless, it’s a treasure of a family heirloom. Each colorful hexagon is made [More]
What’s That 3% Syrah Doing in Your Wine?
Every time you buy a wine that’s a blend of grapes and see something along the lines of: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon/20% Merlot/10% Cabernet Franc/3% Syrah, do you wonder, “What does that 3% Syrah really do?” I mean, 10%, I can see that being a factor, but 3%? Why bother? Why not just make the blend [More]
