If you’re wondering why I’m devoting a post to Lambrusco you obviously haven’t tasted the real thing and today, Lambrusco Day, is your ideal opportunity to try it. Forget the weedy, sickly-sweet lambruscos you may have tasted in your youth - authentic lambrusco secco is seductively crimson, frothy and totally dry. Lambrusco is not only the collective name of several indigenous red grape varieties, such as Sorbara, Grasparossa, Salamino, Marani, Maestri, Montericco, Groppello Ruberti, Viadanese, and Barghi – to mention the 9 most common Lambrusco varieties grown in Emilia (Emilia-Romagna) and Mantova (Lombardy), it’s...

If you´re a chocolate lover, and you also happen to have a love for wine, then these pairings are going to blow your mind! Either if you´re planning a romantic dinner or you´re just planning to indulge yourself, wine and chocolate can be perfectly paired, but you do need to know how to make the right choice, this way you will have no regrets and will definitely enjoy more than you have imagined. I, personally, am a red wine type of person, and luckily for me, red wine is what...

Chardonnay is a grape variety that originated in Burgundy, France, and is now grown in most wine regions throughout the world. The chardonnay grape is also a major grape for the production of Champagne and sparkling wines and is one of the most widely planted grape varieties.   In the 80’s Chardonnay was on fire. People were buying it so fast wine merchants were having a hard time keeping their shelves stocked. Wineries were doing everything they could to increase production and things went bad…really bad. Some got careless and...

What's the best remedy for a long work week? Sauvignon Blanc!     Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words sauvage ("wild") and blanc ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France. It is possibly a descendant of Savagnin. Sauvignon blanc is planted in many of the world's wine regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine. The grape is also a component...

The word has always gone around that if you aren’t eating like the French, you aren’t eating at all. And the French love themselves some good cheese and well, unquestionably have a profound love for wine. Well, why wouldn’t they? Wine and cheese go together like Bonnie and Clyde, and are perfect for an evening soiree to match up with some classy music, but ask any wine lover around that even though this is the most exquisite and tasteful grouping, there are just some set of rules to pick out...

A serious, well-coordinated international celebration. Like an army strike, if that army just wanted you to drink good Malbec. Malbec World Day is celebrated on April 17, to commemorate the day when president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento of Argentina officially made it his mission to transform Argentina's wine industry. On that day, back in 1853, he tasked Michel Aimé Pouget, a French soil expert, to bring over new vines. Amongst his selection, was Malbec. Pouget continued experimenting with the adaptation of French varietals to Argentina’s diverse terroirs. A decade later, France...

Today marks the 275th Thomas Jefferson’s birthday. You might know him as the third President of our fine nation, as the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence, and the inventor of the swivel chair. This founding father was also America’s first wine geek. Actually, we have him to thank for establishing a taste for fine wine in this country. Today we share some of the more interesting facts surrounding his passion for wine. As Foreign Minister to France, he spent three months wine tasting Jefferson arrived in Paris in 1785 to begin his role as America’s Minister to France. Soon...

Spring is a transitional season for wines just as much as it is for those of us living somewhere with four distinct seasons. Implementing a seasonal rotating wine menu is a great way to keep customers engaged. Just like choosing the proper jacket when the weather can fluctuate 20 degrees in a few hours… selecting the right spring wine is about weight – not color. Implementing a seasonally rotating wine menu is a great way to keep customers excited.  The French have said time and time again: a proper spring...

Do you have a special bottle of wine that you want to enjoy by the glass? Do you live by yourself and rarely finish an entire bottle? Do you have guests over for dinner and want to serve different wines for pairing options? Wouldn’t it be great if we could do all of these things without having to worry about opened wine oxidizing or sparkling wine losing its fizz? The answer to your problem? Wine and sparkling wine preserving systems and methods.  What happens to opened wine and sparkling wine?...

National Mulled Wine Day is observed annually on March 3rd. This is a day for those 21 years and older to warm up from the winter chill with a nice glass of mulled wine. Mulled spirits are wine and liquors that have been heated and spiced. Mulled wine is usually made with red wine with various spices, fruits and sometimes slightly sweetened with honey.  Popular blends include cinnamon, nutmeg, citrus, vanilla, anise, cloves, raisins or pears.   Wine was first recorded as spiced and heated in First Century Rome The combination of the heated...