Grower Champagne is the smaller producer deciding what he or she wants to make and how. This is the essence of grower Champagne and two fourth-generation grower producers: Pierre Péters Champagne and Champagne Bourgeois-Diaz.
Italy has upwards of 590 officially recognized wine grape varieties to date. Here’s one you might not know that you know- Cannonau.
Fresh sardines grilled with lemon and garlic or stuffed are tasty. We reach for our favorite pairing, a Spanish Rosado wine. Here’s a perfect summer recipe to try them both.
Many styles of rosé come in mass-produced and boutique quantities, the later are more difficult to find. Both are good, but it’s the obscure French rosé that excites me.
“Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world.” ~Napoleon Bonaparte If you visited Bordeaux chances are you made it to the right bank. There you’ll find several famous appellations vying for attention including Pomerol, the smallest of Bordeaux’s most esteemed. And in this AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protegee) where there are several families who own and run… Read more »
Northern Italy is full of (wine) surprises. It’s not just about Milan and the Cinque Terre, and Venice or Tuscany. Lots of people don’t explore outside of these destinations. So for those folks wanting fewer than a zillion tourists and interesting wines made with grapes native to Italy, head to Bardolino on Lake Garda. This area is making some of… Read more »
A year ago I wandered into a favorite wine shop in Bordeaux and discovered Vermentino again. It’s a grape that grows in many places. France, Italy, Australia, California and Oregon are prime areas. I’ve tasted some from each place but the one that stands out is the Vermentino from the Corsican Arena family. A Family Business in Patrimonio Antoine Arena… Read more »
Soave is one of the most important white wine appellations in Italy. Although it’s name was tarnished for years, they now produce single varietal, distinctive “cru” wines from the Garganega grape. The Veneto region in northern Italy where the Soave hails is worth the visit, great food too!
Nea Berglund grew up among the vines at the Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux property her father purchased in 1990. This “French summer cottage” called Château Carsin is located in the town of Rion and has been a great opportunity for her. She’s now the winemaker and the modern mind behind Charivari Wines. Come in for a visit!
Vermentino is the flagship wine of the Gallura region in the north east of Sardinia. Gallura is a specific area where the grape has a striking personality. Today it’s becoming one of the Island’s most successful wines.