Wine Reviews and Ratings | The free database of great wines reviews

The Phoenix: Wine, Wit and Wisdom

The festivities began with a sponsors’ reception, and featured speaker Keith Wallace, owner of The Wine School of Philadelphia. “We do charity events all of the time because they are fun,” said Wallace. “The people in Phoenixville are open-minded, and it was an honor to be here.”
Wallace said that people are becoming more and more curious about wine. “I like that so I can give them more information about wine,” he said. “They are enthusiastic and have a lot of good questions.”

Wallace had 125 bottles of wine in tow, and said he usually brings 25 percent more just in case. “We opened almost all of them,” he said. “We try to bring a half a bottle per person, which equals three glasses total. It’s about keeping everyone happy so they can drive home.”

Frontpage Hero for Wine School of Philadelphia

Philly Uncorked: Sommelier Secrets

Philly Uncorked: Sommelier

Calamaco 2010 Reserva Malbec

At first, very quiet, the flavors expand like a peacock. It is increasingly fun and rich. It brings eucalyptus and mocha first, then crushed blackberries with a wave of soft round …

Heady Topper by The Alchemist

An Imperial IPA Review Impressive aromatics of citrus, highly vinous aromatics of grapefruit, lemon rind, and caramel. On the palate, the complex fruit flavors continue. With mango, citrus, peaches, and pineapple …

Philly Uncorked: The Art of Decanting

City Paper: NYE Toasts Uncorked

The story was originally published by the Philadelphia City Paper on December 27, 2006. NYE Toasts Uncorked Author: Amy Strauss 1 Chimay Cinq Cents. Home Sweet Homebrew owner George Hummel recommends toasting with …

Bodega 2010 El Agosto Bierzo

Spanish Wine Review A beautiful bottling of old vine Mencia grapes. A nose of garrigue with pain grillé, basil, and dark berry. On the palate, rich fruit and savage elements dominate. …

La Fin Du Monde by Unibroue

The more I taste beers from Canada’s rising microbrews, the greater my respect. They embrace the quality of North American grains and hops, and at the same time executing old-school brewing styles. …

Tara Nurin Named 2012 Writer of the Year

The ContestEpikur Writer of the Year is a new event that seeks to honor the best food and booze writing in Philadelphia. It is to be an annual contest and is …

Associated Press: Taking wine as gift shouldn’t be a chore

It’s a look wine shop clerks know well. That overwhelmed, glassy-eyed stare that afflicts people as they wade through aisle after aisle of wine in search of the right bottle to bring to a party.

But arming yourself with a little advice and doing a bit of planning can make it easy to break out of the wine shop stupor and get the right wine for the right event for the right price.

Step 1: Relax. It’s just wine. And most shops are jammed with great $10 bottles, so it’s hard to make an awful choice.

Philly Uncorked: Austrian Whites

Philly Uncorked was a series of videos developed, written, and co-produced by Keith Wallace and Banyon Productions for Philly.com. Eventually, the underwriter, the PLCB, wanted to monetize the show with product …

Philadelphia Inquirer: Former LCB chief comes out in favor of privatizing State Stores

The story was originally published by the Philadelphia Inquirer on August 03, 2011. The article is reprinted solely for educational purposes. It is intended to offer insight into the history of Wine …

Philippe Collotte 2009 Marsannay les Champsalomon

A remarkably aristocratic Burgundy, remarkable especially considering the price point (Burgundy is the bizarro world of wine, in which spending under $30 usually gets you an average everyday bottle). The wine boasts deep …

Jaipur IPA by Thornbridge Brewery

Despite its august-sounding name, Thornbridge is a relatively new British brewery (it was founded in 20005). Their beers tend to hew close to classic styles but cleaner and fresher. This India …

Philadelphia Inquirer: Not all are toasting changes uncorked by LCB

It is a case of vintage revenge. Wine merchants in Delaware and South Jersey are now clearing shelf space for their old nemesis: Jonathan Newman, former chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

The “xChairman Selections,” as one shop calls them, are the discounted wines that Newman’s new company will introduce in Pennsylvania border states this month.

Newman had risen to the unlikely status of folk hero among Pennsylvania wine lovers, partly because of his celebrated Chairman’s Selection specials. But one year ago, he resigned in protest after Gov. Rendell’s controversial appointment of Joe Conti as chief executive officer of the LCB.

While Newman’s entry into the private sector is intriguing the sip-and-swirl crowd, it also casts a spotlight back on the LCB. The $1.69 billion-a-year agency has been the subject of skepticism and upheaval since Newman left.