Author: Michelle Williams
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6 Refreshing White Wines to Pair with Summer
When do the dog days of summer begin? It is only mid-July but it is hot. In Texas we have a least two more months of full on summer temps. As the mercury continues to rise we have to find ways to cool down. Packing a suitcase and heading to a cooler destination is a…
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#Winophiles Showdown: Madiran vs Applegate Valley
This month our French Winophiles group is exploring a more obscure region of France: Sud Ouest, aka Southwest France. Although it is the 5th largest wine producing region in France, its location, tucked away between the Pyrénées Mountains and Spain to the south and Bordeaux to the north, results in a sparsely populated area. Sud Ouest…
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5 Rhône Valley Wines Perfect for Summer
As much as I enjoy exploring the historical convergence of wine and religion that is evident all over the world, the Rhone Valley is possibly my favorite wine region to excavate historically. Hopefully someday I will have the opportunity to explore it in person. However, the Rhone Valley is not only home to religious history,…
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5 South of the Border Reds Perfect for Summer
Summer is in full swing and the heat is on. It is the perfect time for rosé all day and crisp refreshing white wines. However, if you partake in one of summer’s greatest past times (the cookout), then you know summer is also time for big reds. What better reds to pair with summer cookouts…
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Villa Maria: Pursuing Something Special
It’s not uncommon to hear about bands who are an overnight success decades in the making. Years spent on the road from dive bar to dive bar in cities all over the world, barely making ends meet, then finally a recorded song makes it to the right DJ or record executive at the right time…
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Get to Know Spain’s Utiel-Requena DO
Spain’s Valencian Community is the fourth most populous autonomous community after Andalusia, Catalonia, and Madrid. The city of Valencia, located on the southeastern coast about 303 kilometer (188 miles) from Barcelona, is the capital of the Community. As Spain’s third largest city, Valencia has much to offer, including beaches, arts, medieval castles, an inviting Central…
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Cookouts, Zinfandel, and America’s Independence
Today is July 4th, the date the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence, thus birthing a nation. On this national holiday millions of Americans will be participating in community parades, hanging out at the lake, beach, or pool, watching fireworks, and barbequeing. Statistics show 80% of Americans will attend cookouts, spending upwards of 2…
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Julien Miquel: A Man of the World of Wine
I honestly do not remember when I first became aware of Julien Miquel. It must have been on Twitter. He is a very active and friendly social media force in the wine world. I felt honored he even knew I was a small part of the community. Last August at the Wine Bloggers Conference I…
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Charles Smith: Rockin the Wine World
“It’s just wine, drink it.” ~ Charles Smith Words that have been used to describe Charles Smith include obnoxious, loud-mouth, rock n roller, and twice named Winemaker of the Year, by Food and Wine Magazine in 2009 and Wine Enthusiast Magazine in 2014. He has experienced extreme poverty, travelled Europe, bartended, and manage rock n’…
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Paso Robles: Adding Spice to Life
“Variety is the spice of life.” ~ The Task (1785) by English Poet William Cowper We are all familiar with this idiomatic expression. Ironically studies indicate most people are more creatures of habit than seeking variety in their lives. In many areas of my life I am very much a creature of habit, but when…
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