Elias Mora 2012 “Descarte” Toro (Spain)
I had a student recently who was adamant that I was too partial to Italian wines. I was surprised at the comment, but he’s a smart guy who comes to many classes …
Voted a Top Trade School in Philadelphia — Enroll in the Fall Core Sommelier Program →
Writing about wine is the means of communication which lets the producers speak to the consumers, it is like a process where a bottle of wine becomes a story. It tells the facts, it is a source of new ideas, and it conditions the understanding, and thus, it is a great help to the wine lovers in the maze of regions, types, and vintages. Wine writing tells the stories of time that are important to people and critiques while also being the means of disseminating new ideas. It is a tool to shift commerce, it elevates the regions that are less known, and it promotes a more profound comprehension. Whether in the form of articles, reviews, or tales, wine writing is the means that inform the readers about the artisanal aspect of each glass. In a time when the taste is changing and the media is more digital, good writing on wine is still very important, not only for guiding the buying choices of people but also for imparting the real character of wine.
I had a student recently who was adamant that I was too partial to Italian wines. I was surprised at the comment, but he’s a smart guy who comes to many classes …
This bottle is a strong argument for why Columbia Valley should replace Napa on steak house wine lists. This Bordeaux blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot) has the massive oak-and-smooth hugeness …
So the name of this winery is tricky. Solena was a side project that Laurent and Danielle Montalieu worked on while their vineyards matured. The plan was to eventually start making …
The tension between tannin and acid is remarkable. This wine is tight as a guitar string, which brings a high-toned musicality to the experience. A nose of crushed stone and white …
The Northern Rhone is the ancestral home to Syrah, and family-run wineries dominate it. Names like Chapoutier, Chave, Perrin, and Guigal top the family tree here. There used to be another, …
Want a retro chardonnay? Something to enjoy while listening to Hall & Oates and noshing on some baked brie? Buy a case of this and get your freak on. Like many …
Bourbon Barbeque RecipeThe important element of this bbq recipe is to have deep flavors, which is partly accomplished by having two types of sweet ingredients and two types of heat. The …
A classic Sagrantino with an intimidating style. Tobacco and cedar are the building material of this colossus. It is austere and muscular with the barest hint of fruit, some leafy plum …
2011 in Napa Valley was a difficult vintage. It was the year when using too much oak in the aging process turned the wine anemic and unpleasant. Many big-name Napa wineries turned …
Castelli del Grevepesa offers two wines named ” Clemente VII ” this bottling and the Chianti Classico. This wine is a Super Tuscan, a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Syrah. It …
Welcome to TürkiyeTurkey, surprisingly, has the fifth-largest vineyard area – not just in Europe but in the entire world – at 517,000 hectares. However, the vast majority of the grapes never …
This 2011 bottling is a fantastic example of a Ripasso style wine from Northeast Italy. Lavender and fresh fennel on the nose with a whiff of burnt vanilla. Dense tannins prop …
Vertical Vintages At least once a quarter, I pop open this wine to introduce our students to the Cotes du Rhone region of France. Vintage after vintage, this has been a go-to bottle. …
Over the past few years, how alcohol is bought and sold in Pennsylvania has changed dramatically. It is not just about semi-privatization and consumer choice—that is not half of it. The …
Essential Wine TermsFor most wine enthusiasts, getting to know wine only gets daunting at tastings. When people more experienced throw out a jumble of words and phrases, not to mention the …
Centuries of winemaking traditions support every grandmother and executive chef in Italy. From the Alpine peaks in the north to the sun-soaked beaches in the South, every Italian town offers a …