Getting time to clean out the old wine fridge. After two months of laying around, drinking coffee, tea, water and gatorade and laying off the good stuff I am beginning to feel the need for a long day of wine shopping, but the fridge is full and I will just have to do my part in making room for more. Here the grapes for Frascati are grown. MORE >>

at first opened a dry Riesling, but was astonished to find it loaded with acid and lacking any of the fruit or floral I was looking for to pair with the chicken. Since the dry Riesling turned me off, I figured the time and pairing was right for a sweeter wine. I love it when Shirley decides to experiment in the kitchen. MORE >>

Winemakers notes: A classic Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon. 61% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. Spicy but soft in the mouth with some fruit and berry and a nice dry and long finish. was also out of bed early enough to tag along, which is unusual. MORE >>

The two wines we tasted were the 2008 Riesling and the 2008 'dry' Riesling. This time, though, I paired with the 'dry' Riesling. Winemaker's notes: Crisp, dry and racy, with grapefruit and pear scents, this Riesling-for-food shows the ripe fruit flavors and slightly mineral qualities of its fine European relatives. MORE >>

This turned out to be a little difficult for me to compare a dry I tasted this week to a semi-dry that I tasted six to eight months ago. This week I decided to open a dry and semi-dry from the same winery to compare and I chose one of the nicest Rieslings so far; Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2008. Why, I'm not sure. MORE >>