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...

When your office throws a party, your bosses will ask you for wine advice, as you might expect. They’re generally looking for simple, tasty wines that are both readily available and — here’s the key — inexpensive. You need to look for wines that will be widely popular. This means that, while you may love Riesling, for instance, you’ll avoid it because many people don’t love it, or at least don’t know they’d love it if they gave it a chance. And because some people only drink white and some...

Pinot Blanc (or Pinot Bianco) is a semi-dry white wine that is often compared to Chardonnay. It is typically crisp and refreshing and, depending on where it's made, it can be sweet or have nutty flavors. It's very common for winemakers to use the Pinot Blanc grape when making sparkling and sweet dessert wines as well. You will find that Pinot Blanc is a fascinating little wine that doesn't get a lot of attention but is in more wines than you may think. In France, it is known as Pinot Blanc...

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we’re all on the hunt for that perfectly romantic bottle to share with our significant other. Rather than reaching for your usual weeknight vino, take the romance up a notch by choosing from one of these 10 romantically named bottles to set the mood. Light some candles, pop the cork, and get to sipping, because nothing says “I love you” quite like a bottle of (romantically named) wine. Chateau Julien French Kiss 2013 This delicious white blend of Viognier-Chenin Blanc from California is...

Wine tasting is a lovely way to spend a day or a weekend. So enjoyable, in fact, that wine tasting has become a vacation in itself. Wine tourism has grown in the last 10 years and many wineries around the world now provide exquisite tasting rooms with vineyard views, wine tasting dinners, and tours of the vineyards and cellars. An oeno-experience, one might say. And wine is a beautiful thing. It’s a perfect complement to a meal, and pleasant way to unwind after a day of sightseeing. Imagine lingering over...