Spain does something to a person. A foot on her soil, and you might as well surrender your defenses: they won’t work anymore. I’m not sure what to call it, but her mystical powers of transformation cannot be denied. Enchantment? Sorcery? Maybe a good dose of each. But what I and many other beguiled visitors have understood is that the sooner you succumb to … Continue reading Pago de Arínzano – The Enchanted Wines of Spain
While not as famous as the red wines from the Côte d’Or, Pinot Noir produced in the village of Mercurey can provide outstanding value for the price. You won’t find any Grand Cru offerings here, but there are plenty of good bottles that will satisfy your craving for red Burgundy while leaving your wine budget intact. I was inspired to write this post as a … Continue reading Mercurey Rising: Pinot Noir from Burgundy’s Côte Chalonnaise
My last post heralded a sudden change in my luck. Over the years I’ve been consistently unfortunate in playing games of chance such as bingo, raffles, or the lottery. That’s why I was surprised (shocked) to come up a winner twice in the past month, first for a set of tools from Avina Wine Accessories, and then a quartet of glasses crafted by Luigi Bormioli … Continue reading Winning! Part 2: Luigi Bormioli Italian Glassware
I am not a winner. Lest you fear this post will be driven by personal tales of woe, I encourage you to stay the course: I’m referring to my absolutely horrid luck at games of chance. It’s why I don’t play the lottery or pump tokens into slot machines. Carnival games? No thanks; the last time I “won” anything at a midway show I was … Continue reading Winning! Part One: Avina Wine Tools
Last September, I was lucky enough to tag along with the #winestudio gang as it visited the Mendoza vineyards of Achaval-Ferrer. As you might suspect, the focus of that virtual voyage was Malbec, the Bordeaux grape that has reinvented itself in the southern hemisphere, wooing wine lovers with its ripe fruit flavors and budget-friendly prices. What most surprised me during our four-week adventure though, was … Continue reading Mendoza Beyond Malbec – The Vineyards of Achaval-Ferrer (#winestudio)
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. In honor of my own mom, I’ve chosen to reblog a post I wrote last year, in which I reminisced about a week-long adventure we had in South Florida, just after I relocated there. That was back in 2007, and a lot has changed since then. Mom now lives in a nursing care center and … Continue reading A Mother’s Day #Wine Adventure
What’s your go-to plan for Mother’s Day weekend? My guess is that it involves brunch, a meal that is tailor-made for the holiday, giving Mom the perfect reason to get her hair done, don that new dress, and dote adoringly on her grandchildren. Maybe you’re going out, or maybe you’ve invited the family to your house for a mini reunion. If you’re hosting, I’ve got … Continue reading Spring Brunch: A Trio of Salads with Fresh Wines to Match (#WinePW)
