Monthly Archives: May 2014

• The Best Wine Travel Destinations – Part II

  As a true lover of wine, any wine travel destination gets me excited.  Yet, I have to admit, if asked to choose just a few such destinations, several come out on top.  They are the destinations that have it all: great wine, fabulous food, extraordinary scenery, an interesting culture, and plenty to do and see Read More

  Posted in Interesting Wine Info, Wine Education, Wine Regions

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  • May 30, 2014
  • by Don Lahey

• Don’s May Collector Series Top Pick

  I like Malbec, but I don’t love it – at least not most of the time.  Why?  I don’t have anything against the grape, only the way so many Malbecs are handled today.  With the recent popularity of the grape, far too many Malbecs come to us in one of two forms: either as pleasant Read More

  Posted in Featured Selections, Notes from the Panel

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  • May 28, 2014
  • by Don Lahey

• Don’s May Premier Series Top Pick

  May features four outstanding Premier Series selections from three countries on three continents: California, France and South Africa all make a formidable bid for this month’s Top Pick.  In the absence of one clear standout, I am going with the home grown wine.  Why?  This is the first release of Signal Ridge, a delicious Champagne Read More

  Posted in Featured Selections, Notes from the Panel

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  • May 27, 2014
  • by Don Lahey

• Red Wine Burgers

  Grilling season is finally here and with Memorial Day just around the corner, these Red Wine Burgers will be a hit! Ingredients: 1 cup pinot noir or good dark red wine 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 1 large sprig fresh rosemary 1 pound ground beef 1/4 cup red onion, diced 1/4 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese Read More

  Posted in Recipes and Pairings

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  • May 19, 2014
  • by Kristina Manning

• The Best Wine Travel Destinations – Part I

  Who ever heard of ugly wine country?  For any true lover of wine there’s really no bad wine travel destination, but some are better than others.  It depends upon what you like.  If you’re the Disneyland type, leave the passport home and head on up to Napa Valley: you won’t be disappointed.  For a more Read More

  Posted in Interesting Wine Info, Wine Regions

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  • May 16, 2014
  • by Don Lahey

• Grilled Fish and “Chips”

  “This is a nod to the nostalgia of our childhood TV dinner. But the difference here is fresh fish and our special tartar sauce, easily created from ingredients you likely have in the fridge.” Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds fingerling potatoes, sliced lengthwise About 2 tbsp. olive oil, divided 2 tablespoons capers, chopped 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1 Read More

  Posted in Recipes and Pairings

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  • May 12, 2014
  • by Kristina Manning

• Champagne Deserves Better

  Conventional thinking tends to relegate Champagne and other fine sparkling wines to special occasions, late night parties, and New Year’s Eve celebrations.   But I think Champagne deserves better.  As a young man, I came to fully appreciate the wonderful unique wine called Champagne while working in Champagne.  Champagne, the original and finest sparkling wine from Read More

  Posted in In the News, Interesting Wine Info, Notes from the Panel

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  • May 9, 2014
  • by Don Lahey