Good Wine Under $20
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Friday Nights IN: Winter Comfort with Friends or Family
Times are tough.My parents didn't have a lot of spare cash when I was growing up, but they had a tradition that I think has a place in today's economic climate: Friday Nights IN. Every Friday, Mom and Dad lit candles, made a special dinner, uncorked some wine and enjoyed a quiet moment at the end of …
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Who Put Nectarines in the Chardonnay?
There are times when you read tasting notes and think, "yeah, sure you taste nectarines" and wonder if the wine writer has lost their mind.This is not that kind of wine.If you get a chance to taste the very good QPR 2007 Dancing Bull Chardonnay I am betting that you will also be struck by the unusua …
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Italy's Alpine Wine Region: Exploring the Valle d'Aosta
Tucked into the remote hills of northern Italy is the Valle d'Aosta, the most isolated of the country's wine producing regions. Home to thirteen indigenous grapes, the rocky soils of Valle d'Aosta produce wines that are distinctive and may remind you more of what's produced over the border in France …
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A Super Tuscan's Baby Brother
I know, I know. I'm supposed to be moving on from Tuscany. But I have to tell you about this wine first.It's a find, because of its great flavor profile. It's a steal, since it is available for $18-$20. It's drinkable now, but I suspect it will continue to improve and develop over the next 1-3 years …
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The 2009 Wine Book Club
There are some changes in store for the 2009 Wine Book Club.We started out on a promising note last year, but by year's end participation had dwindled to a few die-hards, and even I was having a hard time keeping the calendar straight.So, this year I will announce a new title for the WBC on the firs …
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New Year's Wine Resolutions 2009
It's time to make your 2009 wine resolutions. (image from chicagoweekendfun.com)Last year I resolved to read more wine books, get to know the wines of Italy, drink 100 different grape varieties, dabble in champagne, and make dessert wines more of a habit and less of a special occasion.I didn't do to …
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Waving Goodbye to 2008
Since we're waving goodbye to 2008, and I'm a historically minded wine blogger, I decided to dip into CellarTracker! and see what it told me about my year in wine. (photo /wave by striatic)I tasted more than 400 wines this year, and was pleased to discover that my average cost for a bottle was $15.1 …
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Sangiovese: Something for Everybody
Sangiovese is one of those grapes that may actually suffer because it's so versatile and mutable. Soil, climate, winemaking technique--each shapes the wine in the bottle. This is true of all grapes, of course, but it's somehow more evident in a cheerful, acidic grape like Sangiovese. (image from the …
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Happy Holidays
Happy Holidays!Posts may be a bit erratic this week and the next given all the festivities, so I appreciate your patience during this busy time of year.
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Today on Serious Grape: Budget Bubbles
Sparkling wine and the holidays just seem to go together. (photo by Gaetan Lee)There are a lot of excellent, affordable choices in the market right now that will add a little bit of festive cheer to your celebrations.This week on Serious Grape, my weekly column on Serious Eats, I've pulled together …
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Chiant vs. Chianti Classico
If you've never tasted a Chianti and a Chianti Classico side by side, you might wonder what the difference is--besides the price.Chianti and Chianti Classico are both Tuscan wines, produced under strict regulations that limit what grapes go into the wines (mostly Sangiovese) and where the grapes are …
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2008 Top Twenty Wines Under $20
It's time once again for the annual GWU$20 "Top Twenty Wines Under $20." (photo from peopleconnectors.org)Each year I go through my tasting notes and gather together the most memorable and exciting wines I tasted. Then I hit the internet and make sure that they're available--for under $20. Who wants …
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Taking a Break with Albariño
I'm rich fooded out.After the fifth holiday party, the ninth cookie platter (my downfall), and the umpteenth meal out that I start feeling this way.I crave something lighter, something leaner, something fresher. And the same goes for my wine. I love reds--but a nice white is a lip-smacking change of …
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Today on Serious Grape: Super Tuscans, the Italian Super Hero
Today on Serious Grape, my weekly column on Serious Eats, I tackle a topic of heroic proportions: Italian Super Tuscans. (photo by bohman)Many of us have heard the phrase, but I'm always surprised at how few know what the term means or how it came into being.Today's post provides you with a little b …
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Gift Ideas for Wine Lovers: A Roundup of Great Books
The days are passing, and unless you've done your homework about shipping laws it may be too late to send wine to the wine lovers on your list.If good wine is out, how about a good book about wine? Personally, I think I'm even more delighted to receive a book than a bottle.Here are some of the best …
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Wine Blogging Wednesday #52: Value Reds from Chile
Welcome to Wine Blogging Wednesday #52, hosted by Tim from Cheap Wine Ratings. This month's theme is value reds from Chile. I rooted around in the closet and found the perfect wine: the 2005 Viña Cono Sur Carménère from Chile's Colchagua Valley. ($7.95, Chronicle Wine Cellar; available elsewhere for …
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Gift Ideas for Wine Lovers: Giving Wine that Gives Back
A lot of people want to give wine to friends and family for the holidays.If you are looking for a perfect gift of wine--one that costs under $50 (+shipping) and tastes great--I've found it.And the best part? The profits from your purchase go to charities including America's Second Harvest, Habitat f …
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Recession-Proof White Wines
This time of year, people are looking for bargains to help them get through the holidays with a little spare cash in their pockets. Now, more than ever, most of us are cutting corners given the tough economy.Today I've got three recommendations for recession-proof white wines that will leave some ex …
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Today on Serious Grape: A Holiday Mixed Case
Buried in to-do lists?Have you vowed never again to brave the mall/ supermarket/ shopping district until after the holidays? (photo by tomsaint11)Today on Serious Grape, my weekly column on the fantastic food site Serious Eats, I try to make your life a little bit easier by providing you with a shop …
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Getting Started with Wine Blogs?
Google Reader, the feed aggregate program linked to the Google Search Engine/Empire, has revamped its look and some of its features.One of their innovations is to change how you can search for feeds you might be interested in, and then subscribe to them in one easy click through something called the …
Good Wine Under $20
