The game of champions is upon us this weekend, and since I do not have a proverbial dog in the upcoming football finale, I have been nominated to pick out the wines for a big bash hosted by friends for this year’s Super Bowl festivities…. click here to continue reading about the super wines for the super bowl
Last week, we reviewed how Syrah can warm the soul on a cold day, but winter isn’t only for red wine. While big red wines are an expected accompaniment for cold weather fare, such as stews and chili, some white wines can be tongue-warming as well. Like wool scarves and flannel sheets, big white wines can provide warmth and contentment. Pair them with comfort foods such as white bean chili or roasted chicken and you have a match akin to red wine and steak…. click here to read more about some fantastic white wines for winter
A couple of weeks ago, it was so cold that even my dog didn’t want to go outside – and he wears a permanent fur coat. So I did was any decent red-blooded wine consumer would do: I broke out the Kind of big red wines: Syrah…. click here to read more about some of my favorite syrah
I would not be a legitimate wine journalist unless I made some predictions about what wines and wine trends will be hot or cold in the New Year. I mean, all the other cool journalists are doing it. But the problem is, I am really terrible at making predictions – as evidenced just hours earlier today at my annual “Predictions Lunch” where a group of friends gather to forecast the events of the future and merciless tease one another about how poorly we did when last year’s predictions fell flat on their proverbial fortune telling faces…. click here to continue reading about my predictions for 2014
Soren Kierkegaard once said, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” And the said can be said of wine. But let me clarify… Looking back over some of the most interesting wines I sampled last year definitely broadened my horizons and gave me ideas for some of the wines I will be on the lookout for in 2014 in order to expand both my palate and my knowledge…. click here to read more about the most interesting wines of 2013
New Year’s Eve is almost here – and no wine is more fun to welcome in the New Year than Sparkling wine. But just how should one go about finding the right sparkler for their particular palate? Well, price is always a factor, but how a wine gets its sparkle can also be important – since the bubbles impact both the flavor and the mouthfeel. The bubbles can be tiny or effervescent. In addition, wines can range from bone-dry to wonderfully sweet. They can be white, red or rosé. They can be fresh and lively or older and mellower. But it all adds up to a good time whenever a sparkling wine is in the glass.
Here are a few Sparklers from around the world that put the “pop” in popular.
Click Here to read this week’s recommendations on Sparkling Wines for New Year’s Eve
Click Here to listen to WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week segment (3.3 mins)
Have a happy and healthy New Year’s Eve – and please drink responsibly!
Given the fact that the Thanksgiving holiday is rife with leftovers, why should wine be any different? The ensuing marathon weekend of inventive leftover creations would do well with a few of the prized wines that just might be – but shouldn’t be – leftover. So, here are a few interesting suggestions – culled over the years from personal experience, friends and colleagues – that you can employ to make the best use of your “leftovers.”
Click Here to find out how to keep your leftover wine fresh for days, even weeks
Thanksgiving is by far and away our favorite holiday since Cindy and I get an opportunity to spend the day together cooking great food and then sharing it with family and friends. But it is the same wonderful food that can also cause a little heartburn when it comes to selecting the right wine to enjoy with dinner. The traditional Thanksgiving meal includes so many different types of dishes that end up competing for space on your plate and on your palate.
From tart cranberries to sweet potatoes, there is a plethora of complex flavors that makes picking the right wine a genuine challenge on “Turkey Day.” So versatility is the name of the game when it comes to pairing wines with the one meal that just might be the most important one of the year.
To help alleviate the stress on this important decision, we have assembled a few wonderfully versatile wines that we think will give everyone at the table something to be grateful for. Retail prices are approximate.
Click Here to read all of our recommendations
Click Here to listen to the recommendations on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week
Half bottles are not as easy to find as you might think. Many wine shops carry limited quantities of quality wines in the 375ml size either because demand is low or supply from wineries isn’t readily available. In addition, many of the half bottles that do make it to the wholesaler are often offered to restaurants first and wine shops second.
The good news is that diligent wine shoppers can pick up some great half bottles if they keep an eye out for them. Here are a few you should keep an eye for, too.
Click Here to read about some terrific wines that you can find in half-bottle sizes
Click Here to listen to WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week recommendations for half-bottles
When I think about transitioning my wine palate from the hot summer months into the cool, crisp season of fall, I traditionally think of pinot noir as the ideal grape varietal to gently take me back to the red wine end of the spectrum. After all, pinot noir can be subtle, charming and mellow. But it turns out that Pinot Noir is not the only light-styled red in the wine kingdom that plays the role of palate shifter.
Click Here to listen to this week’s WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week
