Wines that go ka-bang! The Best Wines For July 4th
July Fourth is upon us and you know what that means—fireworks, grilled meat and beer. What’s a wine lover to do? Declare independence. Here’s how: Celebrate the holiday with American wines. Keep it easy on your wallet by sticking with wines under $20. Remember these…
Raise a Glass, and Your Bidding Paddle, at a Wine Auction
Hi folks. Need a break from the serious news of the week? Me too. So here is a look at the frothy world of wine auctions. This is pure escapism and not particularly topical other than this weekend was supposed to be the 40th annual…
Food, Wine and Zoom: Host a Virtual Wine Tasting
As we make our way through the third month of pandemic lockdown, my friends are all as bored and thirsty as I am. So, we had a virtual wine tasting using Zoom, the app that once was meaningless, but now is as essential as the…
Food Friendly White Wines make Springtime Sipping Easy
In an attempt to create community in the age of Coronavirus, my neighbors and I have started cooking for each other. Monday is Janet’s night, Tuesday is Debbie’s night, and Thursday is mine. While we don’t actually eat together, it’s a good way to connect,…
Staying In? Don’t Forget The Comfort Wine
Greetings, dear readers, and apologies for my long absence. I don’t know about you but staying at home has me drinking more wine than usual. Perhaps that’s upping my resistance to COVID-19? Probably not, but I like rationalizing my questionable behavior. At any rate, these…
Spring Has Sprung. Time For Wine.
I love Springtime and everything associated with it. Flowers, sunshine and non-root vegetables all make me cheer. But for me, the best part is lighter wine—the kind that wake up your palate and says, “Hello! Time to come out of your doldrums, put on a…
Expensive Wine Vs. Really Expensive Wine, Does Price Matter?
When pondering expensive wine vs. really expensive wine, I often wonder if price really matters. Does the juice in the really expensive bottle merit a significant premium? And what if the wine was made by the same winemaker? What role does the taster’s wine tribe…
What Makes a Great Wine Tasting Experience?
I have toured many wineries, and as much as I’ve loved the aromas and flavors of the great wines I’ve sampled, it’s the total experience that really moves me. I’ve recently visited wineries in California, Italy and Oregon, and I can tell you that looking…
New Wines From Washington? Wine Not?
My mom recently asked me to host a wine tasting for her friends. Once I agreed the invitations went out and her friends were quick to respond. A wine tasting, they asked? What time do you want us? That was before they found out they’d…
Stags’ Leap’s Christophe Paubert Lets His Wine do the Talking
The wine business attracts big personalities, including winemakers who become celebrities and put the stamp of their stardom in every bottle. Pursuing the product of a “rock star” winemaker is fun, but it can be a little disillusioning when you finally score a bottle and…
Grüner Veltliner: Springtime in a Glass
This month’s blog post comes from Kathleen Donnelly, a member of the Balanced Tribe who’s not sorry to see winter in the rearview. I’ll see you here next month. –Stephanie I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s a long slog between the dimming…
Be Mine? Give Wine
I love Valentine’s Day because almost any kind of wine goes well with the best day of the year for romance. Who can resist you when you show up with a special bottle that bubbles, blushes, or glows deepest red? The trick is to know…
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