Have you ever wondered what it is like to be the wine director of a restaurant? Of course, in some ways it sounds like a fantasy job. One can imagine the pleasures of having distributors visit your restaurant, bringing you fabulous wine to savor and discuss …. Yet of course this is really only a fantasy. cheap #S#D? Who does he want to impress?”. MORE >>

Been so busy lately with work that I just haven't had time to write here. But I want to share some recent "Whoa," wine and food that really knocked me out. 1999 Clos Rougeard Saumur Bréze , Louis/Dressner Imports, price unknown. Whoa, this is just amazing wine. I've had three bottles in my life, including this one, and this was the best of them. MORE >>

Made from 100% Nero d'Avola grapes fermented in stainless steel, aged in barriques (50% new, 50% used) for 10 months with another 6 months in bottle. Expressively intense and fruit forward, with pretty aromas of blackberry pie, fruit compote and baked strawberry, while flavors are on the sweet side of dry with bing cherry and hints of blue fruits. MORE >>

Two Buck Chuck turns ten this year. We were reminded that Fred Franzia’s Bronco Wine Co. owns 40,000 acres of vines in the San Joaquin Valley, debt-free , which helps keep the wine price so low. How big is a 40,000 acre vineyard? It’s about 50 times the size of Central Park, and, in fact, about three times the land area of Manhattan. MORE >>

Rudy Kurniawan, aka “Dr. Conti” aka “Mr. 47,” was indicted on four counts of counterfeiting, mail fraud and wire fraud in federal court yesterday. Mike Steinberger posted the 25-page indictment signed by US Attorney Preet Bharara to his blog. in March. So there are still some gaps to the story. The case is U.S. MORE >>