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. […]

Golfer’s Pinotage Is Par For The Course

Celebrity Wines Are Not All Bad Unlike many athletes or celebrities who lend their name to a wine brand, David Frost and his family have been in the wine business in South Africa for over 60 years. His father’s vineyard was the first place he hit balls and the pocket money he made from picking […]

Let’s A-Gris To Not Diss-A-Gris!

Constantly about 99% of consumers looking for a white wine especially from Italy ask for a Pinot Grigio. Italians have so many wonderful diverse white wines and yet in Italy very few drink Pinot Grigio. For the most part, with few exceptions they are boring and not complex. Pinot Gris (Gree) is the original […]

Always Be Celebrating…Life !!

Myself included, am on a budget when I buy wine for everyday drinking. If there is one comment all my customers say on a regular basis is “I just need a wine for everyday drinking. Nothing special.” I get that. Do you know what? You are special. Life is special. We see on the […]

“French Soul, Oregon Soil”

Keep It In The Family The Drouhin Family’s winemaking roots run deep, having taken hold in Burgundy’s best vineyards more than a century ago. Through the years, there has been a very clear link, a continuum, that inhabits Maison Joseph Drouhin, and now Domaine Drouhin Oregon. On the left is the daughter of Robert Drouhin, […]

Spring Is Rose Season? Why???

Spring starts this week. For some reason that I have never understood, many people will say this means Rose Wine season starts now too. Why? Why does it start and stop? We drink cold Rose Champagne on New Years in Winter and all year long. We drink Chilled White Wines, Chilled Cocktails and Chilled […]

Corned Beef And Cabbage And Wine!!

The luck of the Irish and the knowledge of a Certified Sommelier could be a good combination! Yes, I know that most people who are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day will be eating Corned Beef and Cabbage and drinking Stout Beer and Irish Whiskey and Irish Car Bombs etc but it is very possible for […]

Lolol Wines are nothing To LOL At!!

Chiles Natural Wine Sweet Spot! After lengthy research in several regions of Chile, François Lurton planted his vineyard on virgin terroir, with poor soil and a healthy, balanced climate. Today the estate has 28 hectares of vines and Lolol has been given “protected designation of origin” status. The choice of the Lolol Valley proved to […]

“Captain Washington’s” Favorite Month

It’s March!! When the Evergrape State will be having festivities and Restaurants in the PNW will be featuring some deals all throughout the month on local wines from Washington as March is Taste Washington Wine Month. The problem that existed 20 years ago still exists today in Restaurants and Retailers and Wholesale Distribution…. […]