Drinking Out Of The Box… RED
When we last left you, we’d started on an exciting foray into the wonderful world of boxed wine. We’d done this because, while far less sexy, boxed wines (approximately four bottles per 3 liter box) are a better comparative [.....]
Drinking Out Of The Box… WHITE
Boxed wines might not have the sexy cache of something in a green bottle one pulls off the shelf of a dark and dusty cellar, but they’re being increasingly recognized as both a great economical and environmental choice. While [.....]
Abalone, You’ve Met Your Match
Abalone – those algae-eating, sea dwelling creatures, which are so delectable to otters and so strange to look at as they creep along the ocean floor – are part of the phylum Mollusca. They share this group with squid, clams, [.....]
Try Some Wine! Win A Contest! Tapena Is Here To Help.
“Your words are my food, your breath my wine. You are everything to me.” – Sarah Bernhardt With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I thought I’d talk to you a little about love. …And the Spanish company, Freixenet (known for it’s [...
Pop! Go The Bubbles: What To Pour For Your Most Sparkly Occasions
Whether it’s New Years Eve, Valentine’s Day, Easter brunch – or any festive holiday – sparkling wines are a wonderful way to celebrate. In fact, a good bubbly can turn even a regular ol’ Wednesday night into a spec...
A Pause And A Chat With Pali Winemaker, Aaron Walker
I’m overscheduled. This should be obvious to everyone who knows me, but for some reason, I seem to keep missing the memo. “Hey Arianna, can you meet the winemaker for Pali Wine Company, Aaron Walker, at Delphine, at 6:30, after [.....]
Going Straight To My Head
Psst…Did you see it? GrapeSmart (and, specifically, yours truly), was just featured in The Tasting Panel magazine’s November 2011 edition! But enough about me. Let’s talk about me! Well. Why don’t I j...
Montecillo Rioja: Great Value. Great Vino (Not Virginian)
I’ve been writing about Rioja a lot these days. Maybe that’s what inspired the good folks at Bodegas Montecillo to send me two bottles from their winery in Rioja Alta, Spain. I received a 2007 Montecillo Crianza ($12) and a [.....]
Domodimonti: Italian for “Natural Wine”
Imagine if you were from Italy, but couldn’t enjoy your country’s renowned wines. That was the case with Dr. Francesco Bellini – internationally acclaimed bio-chemist and sufferer of wine allergies. But in 2003, Dr. Bellini and...
Let’s Be Frank – A Tasting Adventure With Frank Family Zin
I recently had the great pleasure of watching Maximilian Riedel give a spirited and enlightening demonstration of the impact that glassware can have on the beverage inside it. The lecture was a little bit life-changing. Wanting to share my excitement[....
