Tonight I opened up the second bottle and had maybe the best white wine find of this summer, a 2006 Michael Shaps Viognier from the King Family Vineyards. While in Virginia on vacation, I picked up four bottles of Virginia wines, figuring I would try all four and choose one to review. The wines are produced with a traditional old-world style. MORE >>

So, to satisfy our thirst for a nice red wine to pair with my Chicken Parmesan, Shirley's Cavatelli Aleta (a cream sauce with Asiago cheese, prosciutto, baby peas, mushrooms, and roasted red peppers) and my daughter Pam's Fettucini with Joey's fabulous marinara sauce, we chose a Banfi Chianti Classico Reserva 2005. MORE >>

I 'm currently making room in my wine cooler for a recent large quantity buy, so I pulled out a Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2005 Riserva for a pizza dinner tonight. had this wine about four years ago and wasn't fully impressed at that time, but thought I'd give it another chance and the price was right. Great Buy! MORE >>

This has been one fantastic year of enlightenment for me when it comes to all things wine. Believe I may do a year end article on the subject. If I do, I will have to include the German grape, Dornfelder as one of the highlights. Dornfelder is a cross between Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe grapes. It is the 3rd most planted red wine grape in Germany. MORE >>

I'll just say it: I'm not a fan of late harvest zinfandel. So this 2007 Late Harvest Dusi Ranch is the only wine from Ridge I couldn't really get into this year. On the bright side, Ridge has instituted a new membership log-in to streamline purchases online. Thank baby Jesus, too. MORE >>