The grape named Vermentino is mostly associated with western Italy. (Yes, I know it goes by other monikers elsewhere.) The white wine made from this unusually named grape is a specialty of Sardinia, but very good stuff is also made on the nearby mainland, close to the coast. Antinori makes a delicious one in seaside […]
‘Bianco by the Bay’ Read More »
It’s that time of year. Time to remind people that the wine known as Sherry can be bone dry! Restaurants such as Six Plates and Mateo here in Durham want you to know this, and so do I. Is there anything more wonderful than a Fino Sherry to accompany fresh shrimp, Jamon Serrano, Marcona almonds,
I’ve been disappointed in the spate of sparkling wines that have come into the market in recent years. Some producers, trading on the “Prosecco” and “Moscato” names, are making big bucks on fairly miserable products. Those of you not looking for an overly dry bubbly would do far better not risking a no-name bottle and,
I recently sat down with Kevin Wiles at Revolution restaurant in Durham. Their always beautifully prepared food provided a fine luncheon to assist in tasting Raptor Ridge Winery selections. Kevin has been assistant winemaker there since 2008 and this Oregon estate, located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA (American Viticultural Area, next to Ponzi), is making
Finding myself totally in the grip of spring fever, I have found a fun wine that couldn’t be more frivolous, yet there’s real quality underneath its bubbly veneer. Brachetto is a lightly sweet red grape grown in Italy’s Piedmont region. It is mostly made into low-alcohol bubbly on the sweetish side. Sound familiar? But nearby
One always approaches the wines of the Tuscan Frescobaldi estate with anticipation. Has there been a bad bottle from this estate in the last 50 years? Today we celebrate their newest offering, from Frescobaldi’s exceptional property, the Castello Di Nipozzano. It’s located in the Chianti Ruffina zone, producing delicious Chianti and Chianti Riservas. But this
Noble Hill Estate is located in the Simonsig-Paarl region of South Africa, about 28 miles north of Cape Town. This area is rich in wine-making history going back to the 1700s. Noble Hill makes a full line of whites and reds, but today’s wine is fashioned as a Bordeaux-type blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and
Maison Joseph Drouin is world-famous for its wines from the Chablis region of France and numerous other offerings in Burgundy that include Pouilly-Fuissé from the southern Côte Challonaise. They also produce wonderful reds from the Beaune region of the Côte d’Or. Today’s red wine is from the little town of Chorey. Wines from this area
The Young and the Red Read More »
I would imagine that three entities might still have a 16-year-old, unopened bottle of Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon: No. 1: The Winery No. 2: Winemaker, Doug Gore, and No. 3: Me I’m not even sure Doug would hold onto it this long, but I’m here to tell him, and you, that this is
Australia once built its wine reputation on thick, sticky-sweet wines — big favorites in the English trade of the 19th century. Today, many of us tend to think “Shiraz” when it comes to its signature red wines, but those in the know also flock after an assortment of beautiful wines made from old-vine Grenache and
From a Land Down Under Read More »
