Hot Grape of the Season Originally from the Rhone region of France, Viognier (VEE o NYAY) is the hot grape to cool you down this summer. Only recently have winemakers in California woken up and smelled the perfume inherent in this better-than-average grape. It’s heavy-weighted and smooth like ... Read More »

From the depths of the backyard, you hear beer worshippers’ emphatic cries that brew is the quintessential grilling beverage. People mechanically reach for a brew when lighting up the charcoal, especially when glazing meat with spicy, tomato-based sauces,but wine has earned some cred for pairing ... Read More »

Amongst the clutter in the world, it’s comforting to know there are still wineries with soul. After seeing the gigantic chateaux emerge from the expensive dirt, and experiencing the grueling Napa traffic, I’d begun to think Northern California’s wine country had morphed into one ... Read More »

Congratulations. You’ve found the coolest eight-bottle wine rack to adorn your barren kitchen countertop. Besides figuring out the direction it should face for full decorative impact, the fun part is filling the rack with wine and then, of course, drinking it. But selecting the right wine for ... Read More »

Quick Word Association Test: What do you think of when you hear “Washington state wine”? If wine doesn’t come to mind, then you’re in the unfortunate majority. Unfortunate because you’re missing out on some really tasty, budget-price wines. Washington state’s 200-plus ... Read More »

If Shiraz is the young whippersnapper of the red wine world, then Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the gray-haired granddaddy. Idolized for hundreds of years, Cab, its affectionate nickname, plays the role of the venerated sage that produces wines worthy of aging. The high acidity and tannins in the ... Read More »

When you just want a little, sometimes big jugs won’t do. Full-sized 750-milliliter bottles of wine can be daunting when faced solo or with small change jingling in the pocket. So about 10 years ago, the wine industry answered the call with half bottles and splits. After initial popularity, ... Read More »

Ah, the ever solemn, oft confusing restaurant ceremony of “tasting” a bottle of wine. Centuries of custom and formality have twisted it into a byproduct of wine snobbery, but it’s really a necessary quality-control exercise. I call it the “Wine Schmooze” since it’s ... Read More »

Have you ever wondered why soups, stews and pot roasts are so fabulously soothing when the weather’s crappy? I hear all the stuff about comfort food and the like, but isn’t it just because they warm the cockles of your soul? Winter seems to be the time when these dishes

If a life of wine, women and song becomes too much, give up the singing. –Anonymous There’s something about clinking glasses filled with a red colored liquid that sets a sexy scene for Valentine’s Day. Gazing over a brimming goblet at a lover’s face primes us for romance and ... Read More »

Those Italians across the pond sure do have a handle on romance. Their beautiful, rolling hills of vineyards, relaxed way of life and fabulous wines reflect the natural dedication Italians have to amore. And, hey, chicks dig Italian stuff. It starts with the cool names… like Valpolicella (val ... Read More »