Click here to find out what All American Wines I recommend on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week
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All-American Wines for the Fourth of July
Celebrating the birth of our nation in our nation’s capital is about as patriotic of an experience as it gets. Between the National Symphony Orchestra playing on the lawn of the Capitol and the fireworks on the Mall, it’s enough to make one want to give the Washington Monument a big hug. So it’s only natural that the wines I am recommending to enjoy this Fourth of July are All-American. And to help beat the summer heat, here are a few delicious crisp white wines that will keep your mouth cool, your palate refreshed and your fireworks hot.
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Exclusive Interview with Robert M. Parker, Jr.
For my first assignment with The Tasting Panel magazine, I was given the privilege of interviewing the most famous wine critic in the world, Robert M. Parker, Jr. While I consider Bob a friend, it is still an honor that he would take the time to answer a few questions about the recent sale of The Wine Advocate and what’s next for the man who is considered the most influential critic of any media anywhere in the world.
Click here to read the exclusive interview with friend and mentor, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
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Summertime Wines for Chillin’ and Grillin’
There is something about cooking food outside on the grill that just seems to make everything taste better. I love grilling a wide variety of foods, including everything from fresh fish, chicken and vegetables to traditional grill-fare of burgers and New York strip steaks. However, finding the right wine to slide alongside can be a tricky assignment, particularly if marinades and sauces play a prominent role in the recipe.
Click here to listen to my recommendations on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week
Prime Time For Pacific Prime Wines
Pacific Prime Wines is a consortium of five New Zealand wineries who have joined together to share resources in order to get the word out that New Zealand has more to offer the American consumer than just lamb. Eric Platt is Vice President, Director of Sales, for PPW and he has convinced me that this venture offers American wine lovers wines that are value-oriented, has great fruit, structure and balance, and they are readily available in local wine shops. What’s not to love?
Click here to listen to my reviews on WTOP radio’s Wine of the Week
Red Wines of Washington State
Last week, while reviewing delicious white wines from Washington State, I pointed out that the state’s wine industry has been on a proverbial tear for the last several years. But Washington is not new to the red winemaking game either. It’s no coincidence that many of the red wine grape varietals planted in these valleys have quickly adapted to their new surroundings. It turns out that Washington’s wine country is situated on just about the same latitude – 46 degrees north – as some of the greatest French wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. And just like European wine-growing regions, Washington has been blessed with an abundance of prime wine grape-growing areas.
Click here to listen to the top red wines from Washington State on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week
White Wines of Washington State
For the last 50 years, Washington State has quietly but steadily been producing a bevy of tasty wines ranging from crisp, dry whites to spicy, bold reds, and just about everything in between. In order to spread the word on Washington State wines – and get a broader range of feedback, I decided to assemble a panel of enthusiastic amateur wine consumers to help me taste over 20 white wines. The varietals included chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, riesling, pinot gris and viognier.
The Wonderful Wines of Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is Oregon’s leading wine producing region, featuring over 200 wineries spread out over its six distinct appellations, including Eola-Amity Hills, Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge, and Yamhill Carlton. This long, broad valley runs for over a hundred miles, from the Columbia River in the North and stopping just short of the town of Eugene, OR in the south.
Click here to see the reviews in this week’s Vine Guy column in the Washington Examiner newspaper
Click here to listen to my favorite wines on this week’s Wine of the Week on WTOP Radio
The Generational Wines of Charles Krug
When you have the most famous family name in California winemaking and also own the oldest winery in Napa Valley, the word that comes to mind is “stewardship.” Stewardship for the land, stewardship for the wine, and stewardship for the legacy. As the fourth generations prepares to take the reins at Napa Valley’s oldest winery, that philosophy is still at the core of Charles Krug Winery.
Click here to listen to my recommendations on WTOP radio’s Wine of the Week
The Judgment of Annapolis
Annapolis wine merchant, Patrick Bouculat of Wine Cellars of Annapolis, decided to recreate a modern day version of the historic a Judgment of Paris, a competition between California and French winesstaged by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier. Spurrier arranged for a blind tasting of chardonnay wines in one flight and red wines (California cabernets sauvignons versus French Bordeaux blends) in another flight. And so on a sunny afternoon, I found myself on the hot seat as a member of a three-judge panel in, “The Judgment of Annapolis,” a fun tasting that Patrick put together to show friends and clients the similarities and differences between the two countries.
Click here to review the results in this week’s Vine Guy Column in the Washington Examiner Newspaper
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The Wonderful Wines of California’s Central Coast – Part Two
California’s Central Coast is one of the largest and most desirable grape growing regions in the world. There are three distinct sub-regions within the Central Coast AVA; the northern section includes San Francisco Bay, the central section is made up of Monterey and San Benito, and San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties comprise the southern section. Last week, I covered several delightful wines from the southern section. This week, I will review a few enchanting choices from the two sub-regions to the north.
Click here to listen to my Central Coast wine recommendations on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week
