Every now and then I just grab a bottle of wine on a whim. Maybe the description grabs me, or the label. I don’t recommend this every time, but sometimes it helps to get out of our comfort zone a bit, and try something new. Over the weekend I grabbed this strange looking bottle, it’s…… MORE
There are so many tales of noble grapes whose reputations have been ruined by bulk producers. Consider Chianti, an elegant and legendary Italian red whose image is now relegated to bitter swill found in cheap straw-covered bottles, of which millions were sold. Chianti is not that. The image of Riesling has likewise suffered, by being…… MORE
Now is a great time, while we’re all stuck inside, to try some new wines! Today, a wine from Revelry Vintners, a relatively new winery founded in 2005 by owner and winemaker, Jared Burns. Jared’s is an interesting story. He grew up in Washington State, and always loved the wines of the Columbia Valley. Wine…… MORE
Some of the most famous French wines in the world are called Cotes du Rhone, or “from the hillsides of the Rhone (river).” There are many grapes grown in the Rhone River Valley, but the primary grapes found in wines from this region are Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. If someone says they really like a…… MORE
Knowing a good wine used to mean knowing the vintage, or year it was bottled. Most winemakers harvest grapes during a specific year, from a specific area or vineyard, and label their bottles accordingly, but some wines may be labeled “NV,” or non-vintage. Non-vintage wines mean juice from two or more different years are blended…… MORE
Normally when I see a new bottle of wine in an end-cap display I walk by, but this one caught my eye. A California red blend for less than $25, from The Prisoner wine company? Definitely worth a try. The Prisoner Wine Company has become a top draw for people touring Napa. The tasting room…… MORE
Feb 13, 3:15 PM There’s a reason downtown Cincinnati has a Vine Street! Brian Demay talks to winemaker Ed McDonald from Hanover Winery about the history of wine in Ohio, Cincinnati’s German heritage, and how the wine scene on the banks of the Ohio River could have become the Napa of the Midwest, were it…… MORE
I have been on a Paso Robles kick lately. It seems every wine I try lately from this storied region along California’s Central Coast has been excellent. I have mentioned on this blog before how important it is for grapes to be able to cool down at night to preserve freshness and acidity. The term…… MORE
I have really lucked out recently finding stellar wines at truly affordable prices. The DAOU Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is one I have always wanted to try, but the $27 price tag gave me pause. I won’t hesitate to pay that – or more – for a wine I know, but not for an unknown commodity.…… MORE
When I picked up this bottle at the wine store, the manager on duty said, “Good choice: that’s the best bottle of red wine under $20 you can buy.” That is obviously a very subjective statement, particularly if I don’t know the person saying it, but I decided to take it home and see for…… MORE
