The Vine Guy

In our household, the day after Thanksgiving can only mean one thing; trying to figure out what gift my wife is going to get the man (i.e. me) who has everything wine-related for the holiday season. Personally, I like “usable” wine gifts, something that can be helpful year after year. So, if you are scrambling for a hostess gift, Secret Santa present, stocking stuffer, or the perfect gift for your wine lover, look no further. She’s got you covered.

Click here to read The Vine Gal’s annual gift giving guide in this week’s Vine Guy column in the Washington, DC Examiner Newspaper

Click here to listen to the Vine Guy on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week

For me, the daylight savings adage should be, “Spring Forward to White Wine, Fall Back to Red Wine.” This is the time of year when my palate begins its annual migration from bright whites to cool reds, whose flavors tend towards red berry and bright cherry notes and are built on a frame of generous acidity and smooth tannins. I am referring, of course, to Pinot Noir.

Click here to check out this week’s Vine Guy column recommendations in the Washington Examiner Newspaper

Click here to find out what Pinot Noir wines I am talking about on WTOP radio’s Wine of the Week

Each year, we like to pick a wine theme for Thanksgiving and have some fun with it. And while the themes may change from year to year, the challenge of pairing wines with a traditional Thanksgiving meal still remains the same. With all of the competing flavors and textures battling it out for space on the palate, selecting the right wines can be a little bit like navigating a culinary maze without a recipe. Add to that the task of pairing wines to suit different guests’ tastes and preferences (while staying within budget) and the undertaking seems nearly impossible.

 Click here to read about our assortment of wines for this year’s Thanksgiving theme, All-American Wines, in this week’s Vine Guy column in the Washington, DC Examiner Newspaper

Click here to listen to Thankgiving wine recommendations on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week

While Halloween may not fall on a Friday or Saturday night this year, that does not seem to stop the adult “trick-or-treaters” from knocking on our door, waving their plastic wine glasses,  looking for a bottled goody of the red or white varietal. So once again, I will sit at home and man the door, the candy bowl and the corkscrew, waiting for trick-or-treaters of all ages to stop by.

Click here to read about a few ghoulishly good wines that are a treat to serve this Halloween in this week’s Vine Guy column in the Washington Examiner Newspaper

Click here to listen to WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week segment for scary good wines

Blackie – The EMH Vineyard Cat

Cindy and I are usually in the same camp on the big issues – like vacation spots and kid’s curfews – but whne it comes to wine and politics, we occasionally have a difference of opinion. Sometimes it’s big, sometime it’s small, but  when it comes to opinions on wine and politics, can anyone really be wrong?

So in the spirit of the current political climate and the upcoming presidential debate, we thought it would be fun to select several wines which we typically have different views on and have our own “wine” deliberation.

Click here to read the He Said/She Said debate on Debateable Wines in this week’s Vine Guy column in the Washington, DC Examiner Newspaper

Click here to listen to the wine debate on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week

Many New World wineries were founded by European immigrants. In South America – just as in Napa and Sonoma Valleys – many of the wineries have been established by Italian immigrants who brought their agricultural heritage with them and planted vines in fertile soils abroad. Valentín Bianchi was one such immigrant. He came to Argentina from Italy in 1910 with a strong desire to succeed and a penchant for hard work. And he succeeded…

Click here to read about the value-oriented wines of Valentin Bianchi in this week’s Vine Guy column in the Washington, DC Examiner Newspaper

Click here to listen to this week’s Wine of the Week on WTOP Radion

From time-to-time, I taste some really great wines from a specific country that earn a very high rating on the quality-to-price ratio (QPR) scale and think, “Wow, what a great wine. I’d love to write about this.” But often, there are just not enough wines from one winery or region that qualify for the highest QPR ratings to produce a column… until now. I have been keeping a list and saving up my favorites for the inaugural “Best Values From…” column.

The first of this new series features a country where I cut my proverbial wine teeth – Australia.

Click here to read my top value-oriented picks in this week’s Vine Guy column in the Washington, DC Examiner Newspaper

Click here to listen to the Vine Guy discuss his favorite values from Australia on WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week segment

Many wine lovers assume that Red Wine Headaches (RWH) has something to do with sulfites, but it is more likely that other element is responsible since less than one percent of the population is sensitive to sulfites. Tannins are another popular hypothesis. Tannins are found in the skins, stems, and seeds of grapes, as well as the oak wood barrels and casks used for aging. And therein lays the rub.

Click here to read about a few tasty wines that are made with no oak intervention (or neutral oak) in this week’s Vine Guy column in the Washington, DC Examiner Newspaper

Click here to listen to WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week “Naked Red Wine” recommendations