December 2019

It’s December, and you know what that means…BUBBLY! Nothing says “party” like the sound of a cork popping!! The final month of the year is always prime time for celebration- holidays, parties, family gatherings, snow flurries… its when we cozy up in front of a fire, look around at what the year has blessed us with, and hopefully take the time to appreciate where we are and where we’ve come from. Of course, there’s no better way to celebrate anything than with sparkling wine. From breakfast mimosas to meaningful toasts around the dinner table, sparkling wine is incredibly versatile and always fun. Drinking bubbly doesn’t mean an empty pocket.

November has arrived! We’ve put away the Halloween candy, swapped out our costumes for vests and scarves, turned the heat up a notch or two, and begun prepping our Thanksgiving menu. This holiday brings loved ones together around a table once a year, where people can (try to) set aside their differences and enjoy one another’s company in the presence of inimitable comfort food and complementary wine. While everyone has their own styles and family secrets when preparing Thanksgiving fare, there always remains the question… what wine should I pair with this? Pairing food and wine is tricky even when the meal is simple. On a holiday like Thanksgiving,

It can be (unfortunately) easy to overlook Spain when it comes to wine. I mean, with France as your neighbor, it can be easy to get glanced over. But once you try a Spanish wine, it’s impossible to ignore or compare.             Spain is the third largest wine producer in the world, and has over one million acres of land dedicated to vineyards. It is an extremely diverse country, with over 60 different regional DOs producing various styles of wine. Some of these you may already know- Rioja, for instance, is renown for its powerful and high-end reds. Or the Rias Baixas, home to Albarino, a white wine that

This August, we’re forgoing some of our more traditional vacation spots in favor of a trip to Southern Italy. Is there any other way to end a summer? Italy is, and always has been, one of the most influential and powerful wine regions in the world. When we think of Italian wine, our minds will usually jump to Sangiovese from Tuscany, or perhaps Nebbiolo out of Piedmont.  Yes, these are delicious grapes from exceptional regions, but some of the best-hidden gems of Italy are coming from the Southern part of the country. Actually, the island of Sicily and the region of Puglia are the largest wine regions within

Over the course of the last ten years, wine lovers around the world have changed the way they look at rosé. No longer does a pink beverage attract a sideways glance from neighboring sippers. All "blush" wine was thought to be sticky sweet White Zinfandel or fruity wine coolers or umbrella drinks, but American consumers have finally come to know the joys of dry, refreshing, endlessly pleasurable pink wines from here and abroad! Not, by any means, a new phenomenon, the tradition of rosé stems from the south of France where the relatively inexpensive refreshers beat the Mediterranean heat with their bright acidity, delicate fruit and hints of herbs.

It's May! Meaning, it's time to enjoy the May flowers that April's showers brought us! and what better way to enjoy those flowers than with some wine? This month we are all about aromatic wines, and you'll want to stop and smell the Rosés

Spring has sprung, and you know what that means - it's porch pounding time! You know what we're talking about: that glorious season when you grab some plastic cups and best friends, head outside, and get into the most refreshing wines. Whether sitting on the porch with some blue crabs, or hanging out around the fire pit, you're bound to feel your thirst quenched with these porched pounders! It doesn't matter where the wine is from, or even the grape varietal. There are two main features that qualify a wine for Porch Pounder status: drinkability and value. By "drinkability," we mean something that goes down easy: smooth, low-tannin reds,

The Oregon Trail was a roughly 2,000-mile route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon. Hundreds of thousands of American pioneers used this rather arduous path to emigrate west in the mid-1800s, passing through Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Idaho. Although all of these states make wines, the Pacific Northwest is where some of the country's finest wines are produced. The Pacific Northwest includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho (good for more than just potatoes, ladies!) and Canada's British Colombia, and turns out world class examples of classic varietals like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris, among others. The wines encompass a wide range of styles and stand

February's here, which means it's cold outside. How better to warm up than with a big, bold red? We're thinking Malbec is the perfect winter companion. Malbec is a high-quality grape capable of demonstrating a variety of characteristics, from medium-bodied and red-fruited to dark and smoky with loads of spice. Although Malbec is one of the five Bordeaux varietals (along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot), it is most recognizable as a wine from Argentina, where it is the most widely planted grape in the region. Time to get ready for some bold, rich, juicy Malbec! About the Grape When folks think about Malbec, they immediately associate the

How do you make pizza- a near perfect food- even better? Wine, of course! What you sip on with your pizza can be determined by the toppings. From meat lovers, to BBQ chicken, to Hawaiian pineapple and ham – there are a multitude of wines that will match. Cheese Pizza: For the pizza minimalist, a slice of plain cheese is a classic comfort food. The red sauce will be the main focus point when wine pairing because of the acidity and intense flavor. You don’t need to get too complicated – a wine that is simple and pure will complement the basic slice of pizza just fine. Suggestions: Montepulciano d’