Alice Prosecco DOCG

“Why Be Curious?” asks Alice (aka Le Vigne di Alice), bringing to mind Alice in Wonderland. And yes, let’s be curious about a very different form of Prosecco! Instead of something a bit on the sweet and fruity side, ready for mixing with Aperol, how about a Prosecco that speaks up for itself, much like Alice, questioning the world– the world of Prosecco that is, and asking Why Not Prosecco DOCG? Continue reading →

5 Tempranillo from 3 countries

Which grape had the most new plantings in the world from 2000-2016? You’d probably never suspect it, but here’s a hint: Nov. 10 would be a great day to have a glass of wine made from it! If you guessed, TEMPRANILLO, you’re correct!  Held annually on the second Thursday of November, International Tempranillo Day celebrates the versatile Tempranillo grape, the fourth most planted grape in the world Continue reading →

Rutherford Hill Merlot

After a week of cool drizzly weather, a very warm fall day caught me by surprise. Fortunately we had some fresh ahi tuna in the fridge to sear and present on leftover lobster risotto and a salad with blueberries and cranberry stilton to pair with two wines Continue reading →

2 Cecchi Chianti

As the days grow shorter and the weather cools, warm fall flavors prevail to bring comfort. A red meat sauce with complex flavors and depth like a bolognese on pasta can be satisfying but time consuming so we turned to our trusty instant pot. And what wine? Chianti Classico because Continue reading →

Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain

Happy Champagne Day 2022! Continue reading →

Diwali and Calligraphy Pinot Noir

Do you do Diwali, the five-day festival of lights observed throughout South Asia and by South Asians scattered around the world? Coinciding with the conclusion of harvest and the new moon, Diwali acknowledges the “darkest night” and commemorates the triumph of light over dark, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance.

Held annually in late October or early November with the new moon which this year is Oct. 24 or Oct. 25 (depending on where in the world you are!) Celebrants consume  Continue reading →

4 French wines for fall with beef pot pie and cherry tomato salad

A few days after the equinox in 2019, Sue and I few from LAX to CdG to compete for Team USA in the World Wine Tasting Competition. In Champagne and the Loire, the weather was already turning from warm harvest days to drizzly ones as picking came to a close.

Quite a contrast to the previous year when I was in Champagne Continue reading →