Winemakers Notes: Syrah has found an ideal home in the Finger Lakes , where our climate mimics France's Rhone Valley, where the grape produces some of the finest wines in the world. Syrah has always been one to those wines I could take or leave it. Almost all that I had ever tasted were the Shiraz from Australia. From that day on I was a fan. MORE >>

Can't seem to find a Finger Lakes Riesling I don't like. Thanks to my son, this past weekend I opened a dry Riesling from Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars located in Lodi, NY, on the east side of Seneca Lake and my first stop on the annual " Deck the Halls " event on Dec. have to say his timing was impeccable. g/L pH: 2.93 Alcohol by Volume: 12.1 MORE >>

By drinking charitably, A4C donates a significant portion of the proceeds to worthy non-profit organizations." Fifty percent of the profits from these wines are donated to community-based organizations that deliver healthcare to uninsured and underinsured workers in the wine industry." Now Cabs I have no problem with. MORE >>

Very interesting tasting of Australian wines Susan Barros organized today for the first Wine Australia Tasting of 2011 -- Unusual Varietals and Classic Blends. 2006 Giant Steps Harry’s Monster Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc – Yarra Valley. 2005 Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Shiraz – Barossa. MORE >>

While in Virginia on vacation, I picked up four bottles of Virginia wines, figuring I would try all four and choose one to review. 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. The wines are produced with a traditional old-world style. MORE >>