AG Pick: Xarmant Txakolina 2010

If you’re looking for a wine to get you ready for warmer weather try the 2010 Xarmant Txakolina. It may be a bit intimidating to spell or pronounce but this white wine is extremely easy to drink. Xarmant Txakolina comes from the Basque region of Spain, in the northeast part of the country. The Basque [...]

Simply Italian: Tasting Notes from the Italian Wine Tour

By Maxine Howard Italian winemakers and their representatives took over the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco earlier this autumn for the Simply Italian great wine tour. With stops in Chicago and Las Vegas, the tour offered the chance to share the wide variety of magic Italian winemakers weave with their grapes. More than fifty [...]

Why Decant Wine?

The holidays are the time of year when you break out the good wine — and that often leads to questions about if and when you should decant a wine. Decanters, while not essential to enjoying wine, are pretty handy tools to have. They can be used for both old and young wines. So why [...]

AG Pick: Craggy Range Chardonnay 2010

With all the attention paid to New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc it may be easy to overlook the country’s Chardonnay. While Craggy Range Vineyards produces lovely Sauvignon Blanc, the Chardonnay should not be missed. Refreshing acidity, pleasing minerality and just the slightest touch of oak make the 2010 Craggy Range Chardonnay reminiscent of its French counterpart. [...]

AG Pick: Filus Torrontes 2010

Taking a sniff of Torrontes can be like sticking your nose in a bouquet of flowers. The grape produces white wine that is fresh, floral and aromatic. Just as Malbec is the red wine grape of Argentina, think of Torrontes as the white wine grape of the South American country. If you need a touch [...]

(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 [...]

Harvest in the Jura

The month of September brings splashes of color to the vineyards in the Jura. The grape leaves start to turn orange and brown. Large yellow and purple grape clusters wait to be harvested. Men and women move up and down the rows picking fruit while red tractors wait nearby to transport it. Jura is a [...]

AG Pick: HB Picpoul de Pinet 2010

As the summer nears its end (at least according to the calendar), the lingering hot temperatures call for white wine. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing white to enjoy outdoors or want something to drink with lobster or other shellfish, the HB (Hugues Beaulieu) Picpoul de Pinet 2010 from La Cave de Pomerols is the [...]

AG Pick: Antica Napa Valley 2009 Estate Chardonnay

The finesse of Italian tradition and the high quality of Napa Valley come together in the elegant Antica Napa Valley 2009 Estate Chardonnay. The name is a combination of Antinori and California, the former being one of the most well-known wine families and companies in Italy. The Antinori family has a history of winemaking that [...]