(Not So) Scary Wines for Halloween

Give your palate a scare this Halloween with some frightening wines. There’s really nothing spooky about these wines — they just may not be as familiar to you as other reds and whites. So go ahead, try something new.  You may be scared how much you enjoy them!   Bull’s Blood Bull’s Blood is the [...]

A Taste of Finger Lakes Riesling

With its cool climate and the influence of lakes and hills, the Finger Lakes region in New York is well suited for Riesling. This AVA (American Viticultural Area) is located in the western part of the state, about a five hour drive from New York City. The 2010 Finger Lakes Rieslings are available now and [...]

Discover Temecula: Thornton, Wiens & Leonesse Wineries

Continued from Discover Temecula: Briar Rose Winery After my introduction to California’s Temecula Valley at Briar Rose Winery it was time for lunch at Café Champagne.  The restaurant located at Thornton Winery serves contemporary fusion cuisine in a cozy French country setting overlooking the vineyards.  The best part is you don’t have to choose between [...]

AG Pick: 2006 Trimbach Gewurztraminer

I can’t think of a better wine to toast the arrival of spring than the 2006 Trimbach Gewurztraminer.  Its beautiful and aromatic floral notes evoke thoughts of the first flowers of the season starting to bloom, and it is sure to make you smile after your first sip. I first tried a Gewurztraminer from the [...]

AG Pick: Merryvale Antigua Dessert Wine

One of the best things is discovering a wine that you forgot was in your collection.  It’s like finding a hidden treasure that you never knew you buried. I had that experience this weekend with Merryvale Antigua dessert wine.  I purchased a few bottles several years ago and somehow my last remaining bottle had migrated [...]

Something Sweet: Dessert & Fortified Wines

Some like it sweet — I certainly do.  So I couldn’t wait to explore the world of sweet and fortified wines during the “Sweet Dreams” seminar at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Hosted by Master Sommeliers Laura DePasquale, John Blazon, Eric Hemer and Doug Frost (also a Master of Wine), the seminar featured [...]

AG Pick: Dry Creek Vineyard 2005 Soleil

I’m not sure how I was able to wait more than a year to open a bottle of the 2005 Soleil from Dry Creek Vineyard that’s been sitting in my wine fridge.  Perhaps I was a little bit worried I had built it up too much in my head.  Would I still find it as [...]

AG Pick Under $20: 2007 Familia Zuccardi Santa Julia Tardio

Kick off the weekend with something sweet!  My pick for a sweet sip: the 2007 Familia Zuccardi Santa Julia Tardio.  It is a late harvest wine from Argentina made from Torrontés grapes. Not familiar with Torrontés?  Just like Malbec is Argentina’s characteristic red varietal, Torrontés is the country’s characteristic white varietal.  Torrontés produces fresh and [...]

Highlights from the Grand Tasting

If you’re looking for more wines, beers, spirits and small bites than you could ever hope to taste in one afternoon you’ll find it at the New York City Wine & Food Festival’s Grand Tasting. This year’s event featured an impressive selection of familiar labels and brands as well as new or less well-known ones.  [...]

Colorado Wine: Bookcliff Vineyards

Before I could leave Colorado I had to try some of the state’s wine.  There are more than 40 wineries in Colorado but unfortunately I only had the chance to check out one.  Fortunately it was a good one: Bookcliff Vineyards. Bookcliff Vineyards was founded in 1999 by husband and wife John Garlich and Ulla [...]