News Rioja faustino wines groupo faustinoAh, Rioja! All those years spent at the International Wine Center studying the differences between the soil of the Rioja Alavesa above the Elbo river, and the Rioja Baja and Rioja Alta finally paid off. We began with their winery in Navarra, which is just about a half hour from our hotel in Logrono.

Book Reviews Columns News joe bastianich restaurant manHave you ever wondered what it is like to be the wine director of a restaurant? Of course, in some ways it sounds like a fantasy job. One can imagine the pleasures of having distributors visit your restaurant, bringing you fabulous wine to savor and discuss …. cheap #S#D?

News Uruguay Winemaking bodega carrau francisco carrau soilViticulture is a key factor in quality grapes. Rules about irrigation differ all over the world. Moreover, the timing of water and heat through the growth cycle determines the quality of the grapes. So we will have years with more or less rain that will give some vintage variations.".

News Piedmont baroloRecently I was invited to a fabulous artisanal Neopolitan pizza dinner at La Pizza Fresca in Manhattan featuring a treasure chest of top Barolo from the very best producers, all from the 2004, 2005, and 2006 vintage. The wines were of very different styles and all were enjoyable. I learned a lot about production!

In related news , the FTC is performing a review of how 14 alcohol brands engage their audience on Twitter. With little fanfare, the FTC released updated guidelines for endorsement disclosure on blogs. Diannej.com has a good run-down. Fortunately, we don’t see much of those in wine writing and magazines tend to flag advertorial as such.

News Uruguay Filgueira uruguay winesFilgueira winery … Alan and Sebastian show us around the winery and introduce their wine, which is now owned by a Brazilian company. liked all the wines, especially the high end reds. Great property and quality across the line. Sauvignon Gris 2011. Long crisp finish.  Calcarious soil. Crisp and refreshing. 

News Uruguay Gimenez mendez maria mendez parodi sebastian gonzatto uruguayThe family has had the winery since not 1940 -- yet it was only in 1991 that Maria Mendez Parodi and her husband bought this winery. Sauvignon Blanc 2011. Straw colored, strong mineral nose, high acidity, minerality, very rich on the palate with complex flavors.

News Uruguay alto de la ballena alvari lorenzo paula pivel uruguay wineHave you ever considered moving to what some people think is the 'end of the world?" The landscape in this remote part of Uruguay is somewhat luner, yet it's the special terroir that makes the wines of Alto de la Ballena so good. When you are in the area you must visit.

News Uruguay deicas family wines pueblo del sol winesFabulous visit today to Familia Deicas winery today, home of some of the best Bordeaux style wines in the world. President Fernando Deicas (his prized car above) and his son Santiago Deicas showed me around along with different enologists. Pueblo de Sol Viognier 2011. Reserve line $14.

News Uruguay stagnari uruguayThis winery started in 1991 by Mr. Stagmari and they grow many different varietals that have won numerous awards, especially for Tannat. From the start the focus was on quality, beginning with limiting density in the vineyards (one meter by one meter). Chardonnay 2o11. Cabernet 2010 (11 months in oak).

News Uruguay juan andres marichal marichal wines uruguay“My 82 year old granny lives here,” says dark haired Juan Andres Marichal, pointing to a simple, one  story house near the tiny family winery. Many years ago she would cook three meals a day for the workers.”. Chardonnay 2011 (unoaked). Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Blend 2007 (light rose).

News Uruguay bodega garzon german bruzzone nicolas kovalenko uruguayHave you ever dreamed of becoming a multi-millionaire? If so, would you use your money to buy a forest and plant a vineyard, and also plant olive trees to make the best possible gourmet olive oil? and what about a golf course? on top so to be environmentally friendly.

One of the unusual steps in the bill is good news: allowing the USPS to ship beer and wine. Third, it gets the discussion of wine shipments in the news so that more people can realize how silly it is that retailers can only ship to 14 states legally. It’s no secret that the US Postal Service is in dismal financial shape.

News Uruguay bodegas castillo viejo federico domingo"Welcome!" says attractive dark haired Federico Domingo, Export Manager for Bodegas Castillo Viejo as we squeeze into his tiny car. He is here to escort us to the winery and introduce us to the winemaker Alexander Etcheverry and his wines. Alexander joins his. Viognier 2011. El Preciado.

News Uruguay dante irurtia marcelo irurtia maria silvia bianchi uruguay"What exciting wines!" is my first reaction to meeting Marcelo Irurtia, who is in charge of vineyard management for his family's 100 year old winery, and Maria Silvia Bianchi, who is in charge of exportation. The brand of these two wines is Km.0 Gerwurtraminer 11 - Km.O.

News Uruguay bodegas carrau javiar carrau Tannat uruguay wines… so the first thing you notice as you drive to Bodegas Carrau near Montevideo is the gorgeous grounds and the stunning classic “Spanish Style” Hacienda with flowers all around. The family has been in the wine trade since 1752 and hails from Catalunya, Spain. Crisp dry finish.

News Uruguay"This is an incredible park!" I couldn't help but exclaim as Victoria  Varela, the fourth generation of her family who is also in charge of the export market, shows me around her Varela Zarranz estate. With us is Carla Fallabrino, who works in marketing and tourism. you can see them both in the picture above. Chardonnay 2011.

News Uruguay bouza unoaked tannat uruguay wine“What are those curious birds!” I can’t help but ask, as we tour the vineyard of Bodega Bouza in Uruguay. My guides are Eduardo Boido, winemaker and Cristina Santoro, who manages PR and communications. To start, the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous and is a terrific showcase for their wines. 

News Uruguay daniel pisano pisano wines uruguay wines of uruguayan absolutely fabulous visit to Pisano Wines today. vivacious Daniel Pisano, director of his family's winery, picked me up and gave me a tour of his fabulous winery as well as one of the most entertaining lunch experiences of my life. His dream was to start a winery in Uruguay.

When Anna and Carlos had their first order from London, Carlos proudly told his grandmother the news. News Uruguay ana pizzorno carlos pizzorno Tannat uruguay wines of uruguay“Welcome!” says vivacious Ana Pizzorno, with a bright smile and flashing dark eyes as she picks me up at the Montevideo airport. to designer sunglasses.

Very excited to visit Uruguay! will be visiting many different producers. Be sure to check back as I will be writing daily. . you can read more with this link.

Burgundy News anne parent burgundy jeanne-marie de champsHow fabulous to have Anne Parent as a speaker in today's presentation for NYC journalists and trade about the terroir of Burgundy. had tasted several of her producers which you can find with this link.

Italy News andrea sartori banfi franco bernabei matteo bergamini SD26fabulous experience today tasting the wines of Sartori di Verona at SD26, a fine Italian restaurant in Manhattan, where these excellent wines were paired with five courses. The Satori family's venture into wine making dates back to 1898. Take our first wine, Ferdi Garganega.

Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur News #bdx2012 chateau picque caillou en primeur paulin calvetDo you see this beautiful chateau in the picture above? During En Primeur week, owner Paulin Calvet walked down these famous stone steps to greet me and walk me up the impressive entrance of his Chateau. 3,600-4,800 bottles (white wine).

Champagne NewsImagine being taken deep inside the caves of Champagne Vilmart and its owner/winemaker Laurent Champs asking which of its golden tresures (behind lock and key) you wanted to break open? Laurent himself chose the above vintage bottles which includes a '93 Cellier D'Or as well as several more recent vintages. link].

Champagne News g.h. So after visiting the three champagne festivals, I was lucky enough to get a VIP tour of Champagne G.H. Mumm in Reims. It was a cool cloudy day with rain sometimes showering through the occasional glimpses of sun -- and the G.H. Mumm is right in the city - I took a cab. Do you have a poster?" First we try Mumm de Crement.

Champagne News les artisans de champagneSo Les Artisans du Champagne was the last fair in this three day festival, and though not the oldest, seemed for some reason the most "old school" -- perhaps because the percentage of extremely well known smaller houses were so prevailent. Maillard. Paillard. Savart. Hébrard. Gerbais. Doyard. JL Vergon.

Champagne News april 16 2012 champagne producers terres et vins de champagneSo fab! The day started out great with a glass in my hand and a few dozen producers pouring their vin clairs and champagne. would llke to say all were fabulous --  yet will modify this by saying all were clean and precise and from that point it is personal taste. 

Champagne News #terroirsandtalents champagne epernay terroirs and talentsWow it is so exciting to be here and meet the growers. am in Epernay at the Terroirs & Talents de Champagne tasting at the Au Restuarante Theatre.  It is the same glamorous red-themed restaurant where the CIVC took educators in November, yet upstairs. pours the wine.

Champagne News champagne france les artisans du champagne terres & vins de champagne terroirs et talentI am SO excited to visit Champagne next week! heard about the three festivals on LinkedIn from Jiles Halling (My Man in Champagne) and he has been very helpful in helping me set up the trip. In no particular order (!) Maxime Blin.

Book Reviews News discover the world of wine Fairleigh Dickinson University pat savoie ron kapon"What a fabulous resource!". In contrast to a written book, this upbeat, engaging resource consists of many types of media, including videos (both long and short) and charts.  You will also be able to download (and stash in your purse or pocket!)

Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur News and Haut-Medoc Basile Tesseron chateau lafton-rochet en primeur Pauillac Saint Estephe Saint-Julien"What a gorgeous chateau!". am here, inside Chateau Lafton-Rochet, speaking with Basile Tesseron, the son of the owner. You would expect the popular second and third growths to do well, and they did. Ph: 3,68.

Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur Brane-Cantenac News chateau brane-cantenac eric boissenot henri lurton marguaxOn April 4, I was invited to a fabulous party celebrating the marriage of art and wine. Last week,  Eric Boissenot, a famous oenologist and amateur photographer, to kick off the annual series "Brane seen through the eye and lens of.".

Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur NewsSee that turret? Can you imagine how exciting it would be to spend a few nights in it? That was one of the most incredible experiences of my life living in that fairy tale castle for a few days as a result of a scholarship I won from an AXA sponsored competition for Master of Wine students.

News Al Fiori Beverage Director fiaf french institute alliance francaise Hristo Zisovski tour de franceAre you curious about collecting wine? As a journalist, I've written about the subject quite a lot. knowing the wines that will increase in value is especially important now, as I have just returned from Bordeaux to taste the 2011 vintage.

Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur News 86 chateau figeac chateau figeac o3 domaine manoncourt en primeur la fleur pourret“Welcome!” says vivacious yet petite Laure d’Aramon, nee Manencourt, who grew up at Chateau Figeac. At 8:00, fellow journalists and I make our way to the “big house” where Laure’s mother Marie-France lives.

News at the winery includes they are building fifteen more suites in their elegant Les Sources de Caudalie hotel, and a new chai to expand the production of their second wine. Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur News daniel cathiard florence cathiard haut smith lafitte les sources de caudalieOf course, the second wines were delicious too.

Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur News chateau beycheville chateau gloria ormes de pez phelan segur"Do you know the significance of a golden carrot? Especially when 14 people are dining with you?". The spell-like meaning of a carrot with a gold sauce, served to 14 people, is luck. Spice. Coffee grounds.

Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur News Restaurant Reviews cordeillan-bages Jean-Charles Cazes jean-luc rocha Jean-Michel Cazes"Krug champagne!". Well, what else would you expect when having dinner with Jean-Michel and Jean-Charles Cazes at the restaurant inside the exclusive Cordeillan-Bages hotel in Pauillac. 14 carat gold, you see.

Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur News bordeaux en primeur professor dubourdieu"There are five essential conditions for a quality vintage," says famed professor Denis Dubourdieu, speaking in front of over a hundred journalists from virtually every corner of the world. Professor Dubourdieu explained the wines were selected blind.

Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur Brane-Cantenac News chateau brane-cantenac chateau lascombes chateau malescot saint experyso here I am, a Chateau Fourcas Dupre, tasting an incredible line-up of more than forty wines. The day started off as every day should. It is an incredible and very elegant hotel. The Brane-Cantenac is extremely seductive.

News aline bailey axa Chateau Coutet chateau lafaurie-peyraguey chateau suiduiraut eric larramona pierre pierre montegut"Gorgeous weather for tasting Sauternes!". Of course, a bright blue sky and a warm yellow sun is precisely the message needed to spread the word that Sauternes. the delicious golden sweet wine of Bordeaux.

Bordeaux En Primeur News Sauternes chateau lafaurie=peyraguey en primeur eric larramona sauternesah, the Bordeaux airport! have just arrived via an eight hour layover in Madrid and am adjusting from Spanish to French. Sebastian , a smartly attired driver in a black suit suit awaits me with a sign. Welcome!" basket press. I ask Eric.

Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur News chateau figeac eric d'aramon"I'm having a vertical tasting of Figeac!" said a friend in an email. responded so quickly I did not realize the tasting was in Philadelphia, and I live in New York! The opportunity to taste several vintages of this famous chateau is intoxicating. Luxury still rules, yes?

Of course, the big news with the Cathiards is that Chateau Smith Haut Lafittes to open a new €3m winery intended specifically for the second wine Les Hauts de Smith. Bordeaux Bordeaux En Primeur News Le Sources de Caudalie les hauts de smith smith haut lafittesThe Cathiardsare very generous hosts. More in a bit!

Bordeaux Master of Wine MW Trips News chateau lagrange chateau lascombes chateau margaux prieure-lichineOne of the benefits of being a Master of Wine student is an "introductory" trip to Bordeaux, where students have the opportunity to meet the winemakers and learn more about the region. They are replicated here. Chateau LaGrange.

Bordeaux News chateau cordeillan bages Jean-Charles Cazes lynch-bages PauillacVery soon I will visit Chateau Cordeillan Bages! As much as I'm looking forward to the food and wine pairing, I'm looking to tasting the new vintage of Lynch-Bages (and hopefully some older vintages as well, and will share my notes with you). Viticulture.

Bordeaux En Primeur News Sauternes eric larramona Lafaurie-PeyragueyVery excited to visit this first growth Chateau in Sauternes, which is located on the high ground near the villages of Bommes.  As a first growth it is ranked first in the 1855 classification. Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey has an interesting history. Soils & Vineyard. Aging.

Columns News fashion vinitaly"She's killing it with those shoes," says a friend, watching a tall woman in very tight jeans and fancy six inch stilleto-heeled sandals walk past. group of lanky young men in white euro tapered shirts and jeans turned to gawk as her heels clicked past. Ah, Viva Italia.

News 1997 1998 2001 2003 2005 antonio gaia sperss tasting vinexoFabulous vertical of sperss today at  Vinexpo. packed audience gathered together at 10am to hear Antonio Gaia speak about the Sperss vineyard which means "nostalgia" in Italian. In 1988, Antonia Gaia bought that dream for his father. That is why Sperss means nostalgia.

News 2006 traditional Marchesi di Barolo Marchesi di Barolo. so Vinitaly started out with a gorgeous day and lots of high energy. After sorting everything out in the press room it was time to attend the. 46th edition of Vinitaly. It started with.a He spoke about attacking "fakes° in the wine and food industry, and protecting the Italian name. 

Burgundy News grandes jours de burgundy Union des Maisons de Vins de Bourgogne "This is absolutely fantastic!" a guest exclaims, entering the ground floor reception area of the famous Clos de Vougeot and seeing handsomely uniformed waiters pouring tastes of the region's finest red and white wines.

Burgundy News 11th Edition Les Grands Jours in Burgundy Auxerrois ChablisFabulous 11th edition of the Grands Jours for trade and media in Burgundy. This was my 3rd time at the event (which takes place every two years) and involves tasting the wines of various regions each day of the week. About Chablis. About Grand Auxerrois.

Burgundy News diva beauneFabulous two days of tasting at Diva Beaune, a small event in conjunction with the Grands Jours de Bourgogne where small producers as well as major names and brands poured wine. discovered many talented small producers here. Didier et Jean Louis AMIOT. Domaine Robert AMPEAU et Fils. Domaine Marquis D'ANGERVILLE.

News becky wasserman jean marie du champsSo pleased to see Jeanne-Marie de Champs and Becky Wasserman along with some NYC based friends at the Bourgogne Wine Alliance, founded by these two ladies and several others in 1999 to promote top quality hand crafted wine from small Burgundian producers in addition to other commercial aims.

After appearing in two sessions of congress, a legislative proposal that would have threatened the legal, direct shipment of wine is dead according to Shanken News Daily. The brief Shanken News piece had no insights in this regard. They cite Tom Cole, president of Republic National Distributing Co., See backgrounder here and here ).

News brane-cantenac carmenere decanterYou probably know that in Maraux, six varietals are allowed: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. yet in the past, Carmenere was and is still allowed. The problem until now is that it was difficult to ripen fully.

News mas belle eauxChristian Seely just posted a video of blending at Mas Belles Eaux. you can see it here. had been a guest at the property as a result of a scholarship I achieved in accordance with the Master of Wine program. You can read about my visit below. Visiting Mas Belles Eaux. The Winery. The Vineyards. bunches remain. The Tasting.

Daily News ]. SPIT: Metrokane’s The Rabbit. Install a machine such as in the above video and you will really one-up your neighbors in the corkscrew department. SIPPED: reading. That LA Times is dropping stars for restaurant reviews? I’m 99+ points on that. LAT ]. NO LONGER SIPPING: wine bars. In Harlem, Nectar wine bar has closed.

News christina turley isabel ferrando skurnik tasting nycFabulous event. virtually everyone in the wine world was there! Pictured above is Isabel Ferrando of Domaine Isabel Ferrando in Cdp who makes fabulous wines. will be doing a story on her soon. Below is Christina Turley, who brought four fabulous Cali Zins!

News April S. Fabulous tasting of several Ribera del Duero wines today at the sleek Trump tower downtown. Pictured above is Javier Aladro, winemaker at Valdubon located near the town Milagros in Ribera del Duero -- I had visited Javier a few years before to discover how he made his excellent wines. defined by finesse and elegance. April S.

The story of Rudy Kurniawan’s arrest on charges of selling counterfeit wine has been all over the news since the FBI arrested him on Thursday. The compliant states that Kurniawan had been living illegally in the US since 2003. He tallied $16 million in American Express bills between 2006 – 2011. wine collecting

News proweinso I've been to the London wine far and now, just got back from ProWein 2012, International Trade Fair Wines and Spirits,in Düsseldorf, Germany. VERY grateful there was a direct flight from NYC, and the airport was only ten minutes from the hotel which was adjacent to the fair. could not have been more convenient.

News joseph drouhin 2010 vintageToday journalists had the opportunity to taste the 2010 vintage of Joseph Drouhin at Benoit in Manhattan. it was a very small affair limited to NYT journalists like Howard Goldberg as well as members of the prestigous Wine Media Guild. Fans of Joseph Drouhin all have their favorites.

News prowein 2012 . Prowein is the largest and most exciting wine fair in the world right now. it was a fabulous event where one saw everyone. Highlights included meeting new friends in the Press Club, the Drinks Business Monday night party with the Institute of Masters of Wine, and the wild German sommelier Party later that night. Follow up.

News Tuscany buy wine tuscany"Label, anyone?". One of the most interesting benefits of the Tuscan wine fair was the ability to see all the different labels. While many producers had traditional labels, the producer above decided to kick it up a notch with a "Millennial friendly" label showing an image that appears to resemble a skeleton.

News Tuscany buy wine fair mauro cartechini montaioncio wine tuscany"What a fabulous fair!". Imagine entering a fantastic space (an ancient train station, from what I understand) rebuilt with the latest technology, and filled with some of the best wine producers in Tuscany. Mauro.

Montalcino News Tuscany an Hendrick Erback Az. "They're sacrificing their lives for grapes!" I remarke  to a friend, after an amazing visit to Plan dell' Orino in Montalcino, Italy with owners/winemakers Jan Hendrick Erback and Caroline Pobitzer, who gave us a tour and tasting at their modest winery. searching for the perfect terroir.

News Tuscany Antinori Le Mortelle tuscanyThis is exactly what happened at Le Mortelle (which means 'the wild myrtle' in Italian) when Antinori's new Tuscan venture revealed fabulous rocks. In the photo above, you can see the barrels in front of them. The space is circular, with a winding staircase that connects all the levels.

News Tuscany italy Maremma Petra winery"This looks like the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco" I exclaim, coming upon the incredible structure that rises from out of nowhere in the Maremma wilderness. The tasting room above is very "old school" yet the cellar and vat room are located in this incredible structure.

News Tuscany ca' marcanda gaia gaja tuscany"My great-grandmother was famous for being a harsh negotiator," Gaia Gaja tells me, telling a cute story about her great-grandmother and her marketplace shopping habits, which explains the name of the winery which means "endless negotiations" in Italian. all this gorgeous sunshine!"

News Tuscany ornellaia tuscanyIsn't this art incredibly gorgeous? Who would have thought that it is located in a Tuscan winery, not a museum! It is part of a program created by Tenuta dell'Ornellaia in 2009 designed to celebrate the "marriage" between art and wine. one that celebrates the character of each new vintage of Ornellaia.

Burgundy News jean-marc roulot la paulee san francisco the verticalsso this is a quick post as I am SLOWLY talking about the fabulous producers I met at the Vertical Tasting in association with La Paulee in San Francisco organized by Daniel Johnnes. It was a super expensive and exclusive event, yet I felt like I had to experience it.

Bordeaux News brane-cantenac eric boissenot"Wine and art. it's everywhere!". This is the refrain of every wine lover (and art lover) dazzled by the "perfect pairing" of wine and art, ranging from sleek, jet-set art events such as Art Basil in Miami to new multi-million dollar wineries around the globe. About Eric Boissenot. link].

News eric assimov Symposium for Professional Wine WritersVery interesting seminar today at the #WSS12 symposium at Meadowood. Eric Asimov read several excerpts of wine writing from famous writers and asked us to write a fast story in ten minutes. Here is what I wrote: The Ancient Press, by Marisa D'Vari. We’ll taste here,” the winemaker said.

The SB has a tangerine note, Napa Valley News american harvest weekend cakebread winery symposium for professional journalistsVery interesting seminar at the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers -- a "bean tasting" with various wines from Cakebread! mini version for journalists visiting the symposium.

Argentina News Bodega diamandes jean-jacques bonnie malbec"Welcome," says Antoine Blech of Opia restaurant in Manhattan, welcoming Jean-Jacques Bonnie of Bodega DiamAndes and his contingent. Like many of the most prestigious brands in Argentina, the family is based in Bordeaux, France. In 1996, Jean-Jacques's  parents Alfred?Alexandre

News castello di ama consorzio vino chianti classico giuseppe liberatore marco pallanti"Fabulous lunch today at Morrells!" said a fellow guest, where chef Jake Klein paired several courses with different vintages and styles of Chianti Classico. Classico and Marco Pallanti of Castello Di Ama.

News prowein 2012Very excited to visit ProWein 2012, the International Trade Fair Wines and Spirits, for the first time! hear that it is beginning to become more popular than the London Wine Fair, which was informative but difficult to access because it is 45 minutes from London.

That’s the good news. And that may also be good news if you’re a consumer. When asked the last time he had mistaken Burgundy for Bordeaux, Harry Waugh famously replied, “not since lunch.” Hmm, not the only place we Americans have a lot of confidence… ). So they’re the ones driving the bus.

News cabernet franc eponymous petite sirah robert l pepi syrahFabulous evening with Bob Pepi, wine consultant and founder of the Eponymous brand of California Reds. Bob's father bought land in Napa in 1966, grew grapes, and acquired some of the best vineyards in the Napa Valley. also liked the Syrah and the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Italy News Azienda Agricola d'Alessandroadore Sicilian wine and my crystal ball tells me that this will be the wine of the decade. The whites have a pleasant bitter finish that ends with a decisive finish. they are not "fruity" in the New World sense of the word. The reds are also milder than most New World reds. D'ALESSANDRO INZOLIA 2009.

News languedoc RoussillonToday was the first day of the Languedoc Roussillon Study & Certificate Program offered by the French Wine Society with support from Sud de France. Twenty lucky students (most of whom I knew through my travels) crowded into the Maison de la Région Languedoc -Roussillon. very successful first day. I will try.

Italy News domodimonti marche marco scapagniniDo you like sulfates in your wines? No one does. Last night at Eataly (the new Italian food specialty megastore in Manhattan) I discovered  Domodimonti,  a boutique winery located on the picturesque countryside of Montefiore dell'Aso, in Le Marche Region, Italy. Low-yielding vineyards.

News ferrarelle italy luca gardini sparkling water world champion sommelierDo you spend much time thinking about the sparkling water you enjoy with your meal? Maybe you should. Also, the key difference between Ferrarelle and other sparkling waters is that Ferrarelle comes from the ground naturally sparkling. GRAGNANO CANTINE FEDERICIANE.

Euro Bloggers Conference Franciacorta News“Welcome!” exclaims affable Emanuele Rabotti, his exuberant and expressive face lighting up at the appearance of long lost (very lost!) visitors. Emanuele makes Franciacorta, and only Franciacorta. this is the name of the sparkling wine of the same name that is often compared to the finest champagne.

News aroma kits le nez du vin masterkit wine toolsQuick! What is one of the most sensual, aromatic products in the world, right up there with exquisite perfume and exotic flowers? Wine, of course. Well done!" I responded, before asking her secret in teasing out and remembering the flavors specific to each varietal. Tracy Ellen Kamens, Ed.D,

First, the good news: we had a great night and I love Burgundy Wine Club. Now, the bad news: the theme of this dinner was Pommard, and everyone agreed that the wine of the night was the 1989 François Jobard Meursault 1er Cru Charmes. Every year at around this time we get together over dinner and share the wines.

Panos Kakaviatos, who I see almost everywhere in the world, wrote a great news analysis for Meiningers Wine Business International about the new Chinese Palate. China News china TradeHe was in Shanghai to judge the International Wine challenge and spoke with several officials and consumers about what was going on in the wine world.

So with news this week that he is closing his restaurant in August after 25 years, it seemed timely to broach the subject of how a vegetarian diet could impact the wine world. My wife has a dilemma: she loves red wine and she is a vegetarian. Not too much. Mostly plants.”) Heck, there are even vegan bodybuilders ! food and wine

News Wine reviews 2009 Black-Sears Vineyard Zinfandel Howell Mountain 2009 Crow Ridge Vineyard Zinfandel Russian River 2009 Quaglia Vineyard Zinfandel St. Pommery Champagne POP Earth (France, Champagne). bubbles: gorgeous, fast moving, tiny. beautiful to behold. nose: med+ intensity, brioche, toasty, very delicious. palate: dry. 87 points.

News agde age pour limoux bergerie du capucin bezier caveau hugues de beauvignac chateau de l'engarran christine molines civl domaine rives-blanques Faugeres gerard bertrand la liviniere languedoc maison des vins mas de saporta minervois ollieux-romainis pezenas pierre borie pinet saint martin de la garriqgue St. Voila!

News Trade andrew jefford robert parker wine scoresToday in his column Andrew Jefford tells the story of a woman from a small village who said some Canadian importers were interested in carrying her wine, yet wanted to know if they had been "scored" by any North American critics. Is it right? What are your thoughts?

Champagne NewsSo now after two and a half days of drinking $$$$ of very fine champagne ( as a guest! I am back in New York and looking for something slightly more affordable for Christmas. LOVED this champagne. it was a pure beam of clean fruit with a delicate mousse that dissolved like a cloud in your mouth. Jacques Lassaigne is a 4.7

Champagne News bruno paillardBruno Paillard is an increasingly popular brand, and the first time I heard about it was during a week I spent as AXA's guest for winning a competition related to the Masters of Wine programme - it was the wine served in the very elegant 'drawing room' of Chateau Pichon-Longueville before dinner.

Champagne News Champagne Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin l'hotel du marc m. Pierre Casenave, who is pictured above teaching and below tasting wine at the center of the table, led the tutored tasting of the base wine. It was one of the most fabulous experiences of the already impressive trip, as it really drove home what Champagne is all about.

Champagne News biodynamic champagne francis boulard fruit day wormsDrive up to the home/winery of winemaker Francis Boulard -- who makes some of the finest Champagne I have ever tasted -- and you will see a modest farmhouse, colorful children’s toys in the large driveway, and … a trampoline. Finally, the tasting. it needs another five years.

News bertrand deoux bouley test kitchen cahors jeff jenssen jeremy arnaud malbec mike desimone sopexa world wine guysMike DeSimone, Jeff Jenssen, Sopexa Executive Bertrand DEOUX. Cahors, Malbec!”.

Champagne News association of wine educators bollinger M. Ah, Bollinger … Established in 1829 in Ay, France, it’s almost impossible to know the magic of this incredible Champagne house until one has experienced a tour led by M. Cristian Dennis, a very affable gentlemen who knows all the secrets (yes, and secret passageways as well!).

News S. Curious to discover S. African wine? Though imports are high in the UK, it’s often difficult to find wine from S. Africa in the United States, even in a large city like New York. Below are some key finidings: 1. Quality is high among producers, yet it is crucial to be discerning and discriminating. Think the tiny plots of Burgundy.