In a three-way race between Italy, France, and Spain, the wines of Italy are victorious – outselling the other contenders – repeatedly. I am frequently asked why I write about the wines of Italy. The answers are quite simple: 1. Italy produces wines that are palate pleasers at value prices
Live in Spain? Drinking Less Wine!
If you live in Spain, you may have noticed that your drinking habits have changed. You and your friends are drinking less Spanish wine! Who is taking up the slack? Those of us living in other parts of the universe are actually drinking more wines from Spain because they have gotten better. Holding Tightly onto Tradition The […]
Sparkling Wines from Spain Challenge “The Other Guys”
The French have spent many marketing dollars conditioning us to equate Champagne with good times, simultaneously encouraging us to believe that all sparkling wines are French. Results? Champagne has become a word that is ubiquitous. If we have an urge for a glass of sparkling wine our brain immediately latches onto the word Champagne, and […]
Wines of Spain: Taste the Difference Now
I recently had the opportunity to be introduced to a selection of the unique and delicious wines from Spain. The Master Class was directed by Alexander LaPratt who has been a Sommelier at Le Bernardin, DB Bistro Moderne, and the French Laundry as well as the head Sommelier for Chef Jean Georges Vongerichten. In 2010 […]
Only in France: Champagne with Romantic Happy Bubbles
Oscar Wilde said, “Only the unimaginative can fail to find a reason for drinking champagne.” The production of Champagne dates back hundreds of years, and the accumulated know-how and substantial public relations have made France and French products one of the most emblematic “wine countries” on the planet. France is the only place in the […]
Spain Ups Its Wine Game: Much More than Sangria
In 2020, worldwide wine drinking dropped by 2.8 percent, although there had been optimistic reports of people stocking up on wines. This is the third year in a row that worldwide wine intake has declined. Despite general population growth, worldwide wine drinking is at its lowest level since 2002 (wine-searcher.com). Even in China, wine consumption […]
Loire Valley: Origin of Unique Malbec Wine
The Renaissance writer Rabelais was born in the Loire Valley; Joan of Arc led the French troops to victory in the Hundred Years’ War in the Loire, and the area is noted as the Cradle of the French language (residents speak the purest French). The Loire Valley is located between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes-sur-Loire. Cot is the local […]
Chinon Rose: Why Does it Remain a Mystery?
Chinon is hidden away in the Loire Valley, in-between Bordeaux and Burgundy. It is inconvenient to visit as it is not near a major highway. Chinon wines have been noted since the sixteenth century but continue to remain a secret. Why? The grape variety (Cabernet Franc), is under-appreciated, comes to life with food and may […]
Avoid Wine Worries. Be Happy and Drink Bordeaux Les Legendes
An Abundance of Wineries Historically, the Bordeaux region was desirable for its (mostly) white wines with winemakers devoting more that 80 percent of their vineyards to Sauternes, Barsac, Bordeaux Blanc and Graves. It was not until the 1700s that red wine from Bordeaux interested the marketplace and English wine enthusiasts embraced the red Bordeaux wines from Graves […]
