“Why is Barolo so expensive!&# I remember asking a savvy clerk in my local wine store, fresh from my first class in Italian wines. As an exuberant young student I had been eager to taste the regions I studied, yet the upper-market wines from Piedmont seemed totally out of reach. Even the new vintages were over forty dollars. The Grape. MORE >>

said a fellow guest, where chef Jake Klein paired several courses with different vintages and styles of Chianti Classico. Speaking about Chianti Classico as a region was wine educator Tracy Kamens DWS, who was joined by Giuuseppe Libertore of the Consorzio Vino Chianti ?Classico "Fabulous lunch today at Morrells!" MORE >>

Recently, winemakers from the region presented their wines to journalists at a lunch in New York with commentary from wine educator Michael Apstein. To properly show off the wines, the luncheon had many courses. Michael Apstein. Have you heard of Manchuela? It is a very small, rather new D.O. MORE >>

of course impossible to detail all of it here, yet as an exercise (thinking of the final!) spent a half day in Picpoul with some other educators , and also wrote an article about it for Palate Press. Twenty lucky students (most of whom I knew through my travels) crowded into the Maison de la Région Languedoc -Roussillon. I will try. MORE >>

Only February, and I've been in late January for the Master of Wine educational seminar and just last week, the Symposium for Professional Wine Journalists and the Premiere Napa Valley Barrel Auction. Of course, it was a gorgeous summer day and the reception was held in the delightful garden. Taylor Mason, Resident Chef. link]. MORE >>