Is a top notch wine the product of countless hours of carefully coaxing out delicate flavors through years of toil from vines to wine, or does it depend on how the person tasting that wine subconsciously reacts to the visual, tactile, or sound stimuli in the room? Research has suggested
Until now, we had to wait 20 years for a vintage port to be ready to drink. Not any more. Now it’s more like ten years – or perhaps even less. Though I had experienced some of this condensed ageing time during my last few visits to Portugal, recently I
Sweet salinity in a bottle. Pears and honey sing the lead, salinity and ginger give a strong doo-wop backup. Mouth-feel is very round, gently coating the mouth. Acids give a zing that sneak out from under the fruit and leads to a sweet citrus driven finish, white grapefruit and key
Once part of the Venetian Republic that dominated part of Italy for a thousand years, today this region near Venice is best known for its masterpiece in the art of wine making: Prosecco. Prosecco is now consumed worldwide at parties, celebrations, friends' reunions, meetings, -- summer and winter alike. This
The view is breathtaking: in front of me are the rounded, rocky peaks of the Tofane ridges, while behind me the sharp ridges of Pomagagnon Mountain jut into the sky. I am in the Dolomites, just above the famous tourist town of Cortina d'Ampezzo which is as well known for
Bright enough to cut through thick gravy, deep enough to carry red meat, this is a wonderful wine for red meats with rich broths. The nose has aromas of cherries and birch beer, with sage and a touch of white pepper in the background. Fruits are richer on the palate,
If you play word association with a wine enthusiast and throw out the word "Oregon," chances are pretty high that the response will be "Pinot Noir." For good reason. In the 1960s, a handful of young vintners moved to the state, all passionate about wine and eager to be a
The nose offers strawberries and oyster shells. More tart on the palate, it has strawberry-rhubarb with a chaser of cranberry. Oyster shells linger in the background throughout. A hint of lime lingers on the finish. Dry and very crisp, this would pair well with a lentil salad. Try this lentil