Why buy Chablis now
I had the opportunity recently to select the Chablis wines for a series of media events here in San Francisco and the …
Resolutions: Joe Bastianich on becoming the best taster you can be – don’t smoke
In October, the Culinary Institute of America graduated its largest baccalaureate class ever but all you have to do is look around …
Act II, part 3: The Languedoc is the South of France
Until recently, I believed the creation of a new foundation Languedoc appellation effective 2008 with its less onerous production requirements would cause …
Act II: The Languedoc in context, part 2
Gerard Bertrand clarified to me that in his opinion, grape varieties are tertiary to the character of the wine, after terroir and …
The Noble Tradition of the Pinot Grigio Wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia
Americans love the clean, crisp and fruity Pinot Grigios from Northern Italy. They’re a great value and it’s really hard to find …
Act II: The Languedoc in context, part 1
When I have the opportunity to meet winemakers from the Languedoc, I grab it because there is no wine region in France …
Kitazawa Seed Co. – preserving an heirloom tradition
As Americans become more ‘green’ and support local food, we honor those on this Earth Day weekend who help farmers, nurserymen, chefs …
A transgenic approach to fighting Xylella Fastidiosa bacterial disease in grapevines
In a new study published February 21, 2012 ahead of print in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from …
The future of Douro reds – Old World blends vs. New World varietals
The production of high quality Douro reds is a relatively young endeavor, given impetus when the law requiring Ports to be aged …
Wine Muse discovered in Portugal – the tempting images of the House of Ramos Pinto
When I gave winemaker Rui Cunha my card, he laughed and said that I would find the wine muses at Ramos Pinto, …
The Wines of Gold from the Douro Valley: a global perspective
My motto is “Discover the world and savor the classics.” The catchphrase encourages consumers to explore all the wines of the world …
When Champagne isn’t
Under the terms of the Australia-European Community Agreement on Trade in Wine, on the first of this month, Australia became the latest …
A retro look at the wines of Chile in America
The wines of Chile may be viewed today as inexpensive, everyday wines but its export history to the U.S. suggests a more …
A founding father’s other favorite French wine for July 4th
Thomas Jefferson was the first distinguished American connoisseur of wine. He travelled widely throughout Europe, tasting and collecting wines, and became particularly …
Women helping women in wine, part II
Women don’t make better wine, or more feminine wines, they just have a different approach. As I wrote last year, consortiums of …