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
This week’s featured wine literally made me sit up straighter in my chair after my first taste. I looked at the bottle, took another sip, and thought “did I open an expensive bottle by mistake?” As readers of this blog know, I am always searching for affordable wines with exceptional taste, and this wine has…… MORE
I have to hand it to the Bogle family: they have been making high quality, affordable wines for over 50 years now. You may have seen their Phantom label in stores, a rich red blend I have reviewed previously. Juggernaut is their latest venture, a small production division harvesting grapes from their best hillside vineyard…… MORE
Part 3 in the “Wines of Italy” series, Brian Demay and sommelier Steve Tartaglia tackle the history of Central Italian wines, including the legend of Chianti’s Black Rooster, and they taste the Montenidoli Vernaccia, a delicious Mocali Rosso Di Montalcino, and the Cirelli La Collina Biologica Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (below). They also discuss the rise of…… MORE
