Extra Dry, Extra Brut, Demi-Sec? New Release From Jean Noel Haton..PURE

Haton! I Was There For those of you who read my blog or know me personally, you know I am a big fan of Champagne, Jean Noel Haton. It was amazing for me to actually have the opportunity to go there and meet Jean Noel and toast with his son Sebastian. This review of a […]

More To NZ Than Sauvignon Blanc!

We Should Drink More NZ Pinot Noir The perfect conditions for the finicky grape Pinot Noir is on the South Islands of New Zealand yet most consumers equate NZ with is Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a little darker in color than Oregon Pinots but they don’ blend there and they have similar flavor profiles and as […]

Fun, Juicy Red From Austria

Pannonia From Roman To Austrian Pannnonia was a province of the Roman Empire. Pannonia was located in the territory of present-day western Hungary eastern Austria and northwestern Croatia. Burgenland is a very unique sunny place and soil made up of clay, limestone , ancient rocks and gravel belongs to Austria. Ancient Grapes like Blaufrankisch, (Lemberger […]

Thanksgiving Wines, Not TURKEY Wines!

Every Thanksgiving I get asked by customers, blog followers, friends and periodicals, “What Wines Go Well With Turkey”. Every year, I say the same response. “The holiday plate is not just about a slice of Turkey. What about the sugar in the candied yams, cranberry sauce or relish, spices in savory stuffings, herbs used to […]

Not All Wineries Sell To Big Factories!

I Cringe When Wineries Sell So far especially in the last few years, just when I thought there were no wineries that held on to the passion they had for the land they once farmed and the brand they built, when some giant mass producer waived a big 1/2 million dollar check or more in […]

Happy “ValenWine’s Day!

Please Note: At the time of this Video being shot, ABC had some sporadic issues with Burlesque Spumante Rose. The issue was not with the quality of the wine but the seals on some of the corks let some of the Carbon Dioxide out so it was slightly less Bubbly. The wine was sent back […]

Chilly Outside? How ‘Bout Chile Inside?

So Much Buzz About Chilean Pinot Noir Yes the movie Sideways you would think would be out of our minds but the effect it had on the Pinot Noir Industry is still rising the popularity of the grape. I have already posted over and over in agreement with great reviewers like Josh Reynolds that no […]

If You Like Pinot Noir And Or Chardonnay You Need “Burgundy For Beginners”

White Burgundy = Chardonnay 100% Red Burgundy = Pinot Noir 100% Repeat the above words over and over everyday 20 times and you will remember if you are looking to purchase a Pinot Noir 100% Or Chardonnay 100% …Don’t Forget the BURGUNDY REGION OF FRANCE This is A Benchmark Area for these 2 types of […]

Simple Fact: Burgundy Is not A WINE! It Is A Region In France!

This is one simple piece of Wine Education that you can memorize and repeat 200 times per day. Once it sinks in you will be way ahead of even some of the most long term Wine Enthusiasts in your level of Knowledge. Many of my guests either say they don’t like Chardonnay but they are […]

“Direct To You” Pinot From PDX To MCO!

I must confess since rejoining ABC Fine Wine & Spirits in February of 2017 I had Seen This Wine In My Pinot Noir Section but I had no idea until recently that it was designed as a Direct to You Wine from Stewart Boedecker and his Winemaking better half Athena Pappas of Boedecker Cellars and […]