Food

If you ask a sommelier to name his favorite grape, there’s a good chance, he’ll say Riesling. If you’re surprised, then it’s probably because you associate Riesling with the sweet, simple German wines of yesteryear, like Blue Nun, Liebfraumilch, and …

Ever since I can remember tasting wine (4 years old and counting) I have known Italian wines to be either Chianti ( Sangiovese grape) or Barolo/Barbaresco ( Nebbiolo grape) and that was satisfactory until I started digging deeper into  this …

Whether you’re a veteran oenophile or a budding wine enthusiast, you’ve probably fallen into a wine rut at one point or another.   Perhaps you’ve never been disappointed by a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, so these days, it’s all you …

Odd place for a wine renaissance, but on closer examination, the Palm Desert, Palm Springs, La Quinta resort areas are blooming attractions for the wine crowd.  An enormous amount of restaurants serve a growing population and increased visitor count, and …

We Italians have the most wonderful way to finish a meal, especially a big meal.  Amari, (singular, amaro), are an essential part of the Italian gustatory experience.  Sadly these eupeptics have yet to catch on in America. although that is …

The east coast is sweltering. Here in Washington DC, temperatures are expected to top 100 degrees today — and things aren’t expected to cool off anytime soon. So get your grills and ice chests ready, because Old Man Summer is …

It’s funny. While the Portuguese have been out exploring the world, discovering pristine new lands and uncharted seas, the rest of the world (including the wine world) has largely not discovered the country of Portugal.   Indeed, when I asked …

The journey began for Banfi and the Mariani family, Americans John and Harry, some 34 years ago, when they carefully assembled 7,100 acres in Italy in a constellation of single vineyards in the southern Tuscan countryside of Montalcino. The property …

The first half of 2112 had a sense of positive change for the comeback of premium wines (those wines over $20.)  The famous (or infamous, depending on your outlook) “Two Buck Chuck”  is finally down in sales after 10 years, …

The WineSellar and Brasserie has once again taken the top annual Wine Spectator Grand Award for having one of the greatest wine lists in the world.  Tucked into the Sorrento Valley with wine storage, a wine shop, wine bar, bistro …