Wine Reviews
Mazzei Belguardo Serrata ToscanaBelguardo’s vineyards are on the Tuscan coast, much warmer than the more traditional vineyards in the central hills. This makes for some very modern, ultra-ripe versions of Sangiovese, along …
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History of Wine
From as early as Biblical times, the idea of wine was mentioned numerous times – and for thousands of years, wine has been used for ritual, religious, and even health reasons. …
Texas Hill Country AVA
The Texas Hill Country AVA is located north of San Antonio and West of Austin. The key areas in the AVA are Austin, Fredricksburg, Lampasas, New Braunfels, and Johnson City. The …
Wine Reviews
Tenuta di Burchino Il Burchino Toscana A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, this is very sleek and international in style. This estate-grown wine is a Super Tuscan in all …
A Wrinkle in Wine: The Former Chairman Returns. Sort of.
This is an older article from the Wine School, originally publishing in May, 2018. Jonathan Newman, the former Chairman of the PLCB is selling wine to Tim Holden, the current PLCB Chairman …
Reserve Mont Redon 2016 Cotes du Rhone Rosé
Mont-Redon is one of those Chateauneuf du Pape wineries that totally messes with my life. They bottle wines like Zeus throws lightning bolts. Bolts. A place that throws out muscle-bound luxury …
Vine Cliff Winery 2014 Chardonnay Los Carneros
In most classes at the wine school, I behave myself. I don’t let my deep love of Cali Chardonnay get in the way of a great wine class. Back when I …
Bodegas Montecillo 2009 Rioja Gran Reserva
On occasion, I sit next to a normal at a wine conference. After a few minutes of awkward conversation, they invariably ask me one question: “What is your favorite wine?” I don’t have an answer to …
Cafaggio 2013 Chianti Classico
When I was the national wine buyer for Bacchus Wines, one of my first additions to the portfolio was Villa Cafaggio. They’ve been producing excellent Chianti Classico since the 1960s. For a …
Chateau Los Boldos 2015 Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
This is such an exceptional value that I want to jamb a $10 bill into the empty bottle and mail it back to the winery in Cachapoal Valley, Chile.We did a bit …
Poggio Stella 2011 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Labels like this confuse most wine consumers. Let’s break it down. Vino Nobile = another term for the grape Sangiovese. The same grape that’s in Chianti Montepulciano = a town in …
Food and Wine Books
Looking for the newly updated article on wine book recommendations? You can check that out here: Top Picks for Wine Books. Larousse WineMany years ago, a student of mine –an aspiring chef and …
Concha y Toro 2015 “Marques de Casa Concha” Carmenere
This brand is one of the oldest and most consistently high-quality coming out of Chile. The label debuted in 1976, and its name set the bar very high. Marques de Casa …
Wine Reviews
This wine rolls in the glass with a shocking pink-panther hue. The nose is fresh sage and wild strawberry (sauvage fraise for all you Francophiles out there). On the palate, it …
Wine Reviews
Tormaresca “Trentangeli” Castel del Monte I am a big fan of Aglianico, but it isn’t a crowd-pleaser. It’s more like the Metallica of the wine world. Even some of our sommelier …
Beaujolais
Misunderstood BeaujolaisBeaujolais is an often misunderstood region just south of Burgundy. For the past two decades, the area has turned from easy-drinking wines to a style that balances delight and complexity. …