Sun Drenched Cab is “La BAUME!

The Sun From South Of France More and More I am in love with expressions of Bordeaux Varietals from Languedoc in the South of France. For more than a century, Domaine de la Baume has been carrying on a viticultural tradition and producing enchanting wines with strong aromatic potential. Rooted in the heart of Languedoc-Roussillon […]

May I Have The Envelope Please?

The Oscars and Emmys is way too long. Every once in awhile I like to put together The “Larrys” awards. A good handful of my favorite wines that I recommend in several different categories. There are some dark horse nominees that won this time but I think this is a good guide for my […]

Tristen + Tatum = Trisaetum…Wine!

Oregon Wine Month Highlight Trisaetum May is Oregon Wine Month and Mother’s Day. I speak all the time about how so much great wine is coming out of Oregon especially Pinots: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir Rose. All this didn’t happen 2 years ago. It actually began fifty million years ago when […]

May: Two Celebrations, One State’s Wine!

Mayday, Mayday! May is here and we have one month long celebration and one Sunday celebration. May is Oregon Wine Month and Sunday is Mother’s Day. I have some suggestions for Pinot Gris/Grigio, Pinot Noirs that would be perfect for Mom or Brunch as well as honoring Oregon Wine Month. Two Celebrations with One […]

Spanish Wines Owe Jorge Ordonez !!

The Man Who Found Value In Spain When Jorge Ordóñez arrived in the United States in 1987, the international Spanish wine market was bleak. Jorge grew up in Málaga and managed his family’s wholesale wine business before arriving in the United States. As a result, he understood the potential market for Spanish wine in the […]

Everyday Wine…At Everyday Prices!

Consumers of wine will sometimes turn down assistance from a sommelier or wine specialist because they don’t want to bother you for an “Everyday Wine” which to them means $9.99 or under and they believe their only options are for generic supermarket brands that are large production wines. They couldn’t be further from the […]

Super Value, Super Tuscan

Under The Tuscan Sun My first trip to Cortona. Yes I know I was about 10 years younger and I had different glasses but I will never forget that visit to La Calonica winery and the picture taken by Esther Cattani the wife of Fernando and mother of Giovanni right as the Tuscan Sun was […]

Learn These Words: Grand Cru !!

Many of my customers and blog followers are regularly reaching out to me asking me which Burgundy, Which Bordeaux, Which Champagne should they buy when there are so many choices. Many parts of France like Champagne or Burgundy use the word “CRU” which means a vineyard or specific village where the grapes come from. […]

Unoaked Young Douro Provides Value!

A Lot Of History In The Douro Located in a prime spot in the Douro Demarcated Region in Northern Portugal, Quinta do Crasto has been in the family of Leonor and Jorge Roquette for more than a century. Like all the other great Douro estates, Quinta do Crasto dates far back into ancient times. The […]

Easter And Passover On Same Days!

It doesn’t happen every year but this year it did. Both Easter weekend starting with Good Friday falls on the same date as the first Seder night for Passover. As far as wine pairings, kosher wines for Passover are only utilized or required by the very Orthodox Jewish people. They may get together […]