The world of wine has been good to me. It's allowed me to meet interesting people with broad tastes and vastly different backgrounds. Ray O., after over a year of following my blog, recently took a trip from his hometown in Austin Texas to the Big Apple. Julien 2003. Thank you, Ray! It is a colossal success and a potential legend in the making. MORE >>

Not really so long ago in Burgundy, négociants dominated the wine market. Growers sold even their finest wines to the négoce who bottled them and that's what was largely available for retail purchase. And I doubt that anyone would say that this is a bad thing. In a way, the opposite is true regarding Sherry. Not now. Jesus Barquin of Equipo Navazos. MORE >>

"20 wines!" exclaimed a fellow particpant at today's Master Class tasting of Catalunya wines led by Josep Roca, Co-Proprietor, Sommelier, and Wine Director of the (Catalunya based) Michelin 3-star restaurant El Celler. After the Master Class, participants and other trade guests were free to visit the 31 producers and additional wines. Penedès. MORE >>

Helena resident John Gillespie tweeted the other day: “Trade and consumer alert – bad harvest weather in CA meant lots of grapes (Napa Cabs included) went through “flash détente” machines.” ” Since I am a political science junkie, I thought SALT II had finally made it to Napa! winemaking MORE >>

During the recent, week-long power outage, we sought refuge in an undisclosed location that may or may not have been the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We found a bottle of “brut nature” cava German Gilabert (about $15; find this wine ) at a local wine shop and got some lobstah rolls. tasted it and it showed no signs of deterioration. MORE >>