Part 2 of my Hallo-Wine series features a wine with a skull and crossbones on the label! Trust me, though, don’t let that deter you from trying this delicious Spanish red, which is 100% Monastrell (also known as Mourvedre in France). This is a grape that is said to need “its face in the hot sun…… MORE
Now that it’s getting closer to Halloween, I am going to feature offbeat wines that you can bring to a party. Here is one of my favorites. I admit freely that I am a big fan of Michael David Winery. As a matter of fact, I have liked every single Michael David wine I have…… MORE
I haven’t talked much about tannins on this blog, so let’s delve into it a bit, if you’re unfamiliar with the term. Tannins are defined as naturally occurring compounds that exist inside grape skins, seeds and stems. A red wine gets its color from soaking the juice with these skins, seeds and stems, but it…… MORE
Until recently, more than 80% of the wine produced in Washington State was consumed in Washington State. Despite over 71,000 square miles of vineyards in the state(!!), for a long time most wine there was made by and for Washington residents. Thankfully, that has changed in a big way, and most big-name wine families are…… MORE
As much good wine as there is available to explore, I still break them all down to two categories: quick and slow. There are millions of wines that are pleasant enough, you like the taste, but you’re not going to spend much time thinking about them during, or after, you have a glass. I consider…… MORE
Continuing my Hallowine series, it’s time to talk about one of my favorite red blends: Carne Humana, an odd name for a wine, because it means literally “human flesh,” but it’s a perfect wine to get people talking if you bring it to a Halloween party. I am happy to report, there are no meat…… MORE
Once October hits, it’s always fun to find wines with spooky labels to bring to a Halloween party. This week’s featured wine fits the bill: Sinister Hand, complete with blood dripping from an armored hand. So…what is the story behind the name? Owen Roe Winery writes, “during the 17th century, the O’Neills and O’Reillys were…… MORE
Readers of this blog know how much I love Amarone, an expensive Italian wine from Veneto that dries grapes before they are crushed, resulting in a very rich, very bold red wine. Because the process to make it is so intensive – and very regulated – the wines tend to be in the $50 to…… MORE
There are so many factors that go into making wine. One bottle requires the labor of many, many people, from the wine maker right down to the people picking the grapes. But it’s more than labor – it’s also weather, the main thing people are referring to when discussing a vintage. If you’re a California…… MORE
On a hot summer day, enjoying a heavy red wine gets a little harder. Admittedly, on days like this, I will often crank up the AC and still pour myself a nice Cabernet! But there’s something about sitting outside, feeling a warm summer breeze, and lifting a glass of crisp, chilled Rosé to your lips.…… MORE
