Wines from the Land of Milk and Honey

One of the oldest wine producing regions in the world is producing some great new wines. Israel is no longer the land of sweet, syrupy wines.  Today Israel’s wines are winning medals and finding their way onto wine lists at top restaurants. Though winemaking in Israel goes back to biblical times, Israel is considered a [...]

Italian Wines You Should Be Drinking

When you think of Italian wines, what comes to mind?  I think of Chianti, Barolo, Pinot Grigio, Brunello, Prosecco and Super Tuscans. How about Pecorino or Gaglioppo?  You may not have heard of these Italian grapes but you should be drinking them. Wine has been made in Italy for more than 4,000 years.  Today Italy [...]

The Sweet Taste of Kracher Wines

Trockenbeerenauslese is one of my favorite words to say.  And I enjoy drinking it just as much as I enjoy saying it! Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) is a German wine term that refers to the ripeness level of the grape.  The riper the grape, the higher concentration of sugar; more sugar means a sweeter wine.  TBA is [...]

Open That Bottle Night

We all have a few bottles of wine that we’ve been saving for the right occasion.  Perhaps it was a gift from a friend, an expensive bottle from a prestigious winery, or brought back from a special trip.  This Saturday it’s time to open that bottle! Open That Bottle Night was created in 2000 by [...]

AG Pick: Heron Hill Riesling

I’m really excited about the wines that are coming from my home state, New York.  There are some impressive Rieslings being produced in the Finger Lakes region. That’s where Heron Hill Winery is located.  It’s in a town called Hammondsport, about a 5 hour drive from New York City.  The scenic route will take you [...]

Olive, Eggplant and Sun Dried Tomato Tapenade

I like serving tapenade when I’m entertaining guests at my home.  It’s also a great snack food while watching a game or movie on TV.  In the past I’ve bought pre-made tapenades at grocery stores or farmers’ markets, but it’s pretty easy to make at home. I recently made this olive, eggplant and sun dried [...]

Sipping Saperavi

Anytime I’m in a specialty foods store I always check out the wine section to see if there’s anything new and interesting to try.  I recently was at a Russian and Eastern European food store and came across wines from Georgia. Georgia (not to be confused with the U.S. state), is one of the oldest [...]

Huggable Sushi

Sushi ranks way up there on my list of favorite foods.  I trace this all the way back to when I was an infant, when my first public outing as a newborn was to a Japanese restaurant with my parents. I could eat sushi every single day.  If I had to choose one food to [...]

Downtown Miami Farmers' Market Returns

The downtown Miami Farmers’ Market is back!  From 11am to 3pm on Thursdays through April 2nd you can find locally grown produce, fresh flowers, organic honey, baked goods and more in Bayfront Park. At the farmers’ market you can enjoy lunch in the great South Florida sunshine.  It’s part of the Lunchtime Experience.  Bring your [...]

A Wine for Everyone at Cavas Tasting Room

A wine bar for indecisive oenophiles has arrived in South Florida. Cavas Tasting Room and Cafe is the adult version of a candy store.  A huge selection of wines is right at your fingertips — with a press of a button you can sip your favorite grape or try something new. The pressure of selecting [...]