Category: wine review
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Markus Niggli: Dazzling in Red
Markus Niggli is an artist and the wine glass is his canvas. He finds comfort in the unusual, challenging us to open our minds to something new. After years of success following this formula as winemaker at Lodi’s Borra Vineyards, Markus launched his own label – Markus Wine Co., with an eclectic offering of white…
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I Say Grenache, You Say Garnacha
Grenache is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world. It goes by many different names, such as Garnacha in Spain and Cannonau in Sardegna. This workhorse grape is a key component to two of the world’s most celebrated wines, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Priorat, at yet it is largely under-appreciated. Jancis Robinson argues,…
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#Food & #Wine Pairing: Welcoming Spring with Pedroncelli Wines
It is hard to imagine it is already spring. Where has the time gone? For some it has felt like spring for a while. Others are still waiting. Here in North Texas we are actually enjoying a moment of spring. Tulips and daffodils are blooming while the rest of the flowers are still preparing for…
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Maison M. Chapoutier: Expressing Terroir Through Biodynamics
“Anyone who creates wines must be generous and festive. Without such qualities the creative act is doomed, sterile and vain.” Michel Chapoutier I just returned from a remarkable week in Chile. The focus of the week was terroir: climate, weather, soil. In the Rhone Valley Michel Chapoutier is the benchmark for terroir driven wines. Embracing…
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Get to Know German Riesling
Riesling is one of the world’s greatest wine grapes. It is a versatile grape, capable of producing a variety of wine styles from different regions throughout the world. It is tolerant of a range of temperatures, though it performs best in cooler locations. Furthermore, Riesling is arguable more expressive of terroir than any other vitis…
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Fetzer Vineyards: Many Faces, One Focus
It would seem at first approach that Fetzer Vineyards has a personality disorder. After all they have many different brands under their large umbrella. Upon further inspection it is evident that there is a mission, a singular focus woven through each brand, each wine, like the spokes holding the umbrella together. And if you haven’t…
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Have You Discovered Alentejo? Why Not?
Southern Portugal is dominated by the Alentejo wine region. Located just an hour and a half east of Lisbon, Alentejo is a perfect destination for wine lovers and history buffs. It is home to a large array of indigenous grapes; the red wines are rich and full body, the whites are crisp and aromatic. Alentejo…
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Smith Story: The Intersection of Love and Wine
I was recently introduced to a winery that I want to shout about from the rooftop. It is about a boutique winery still in its infancy but hitting on all the right marks. When many producers are focused on mass consumption wines that are concentrated, over-oaked, and sweet as syrup, Smith Story Wines is embracing…
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These Wines are Guaranteed to Make Valentine’s Day Sparkle
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. For some that means being “swept off your feet” like in a romance movie. For others it is a day of resentment reflected in a good break up movie. For those of us who have been with the same partner or spouse for decades and have grown kids it really…
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Perfect Food & Wine Pairings for Super Bowl LII
Another NFL season has come and almost gone. It was a season filled with controversy on and off the field. It has all come down to two teams, what promises to be an entertaining half-time show, and hopefully some memorable commercials. Whether you plan to watch the game at a big party or quietly at…
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