In early March, Rudy Kurniawan’s house in southern California was raided by the FBI. But Kurniawan wasn’t wanted for any of the usual crimes such as bribery, extortion, or robbing a bank. Kurniawan was wanted for counterfeiting fine wines worth … Continue reading →

Two California farm supervisors charged in the heat-related death of a pregnant teen farmworker who worked as slave labor in the fields, were sentenced to community service and probation, angering farmworker advocates who had called for jail time. Maria Isavel, … Continue reading →

For wine lovers throughout the world, Jordan is always heard in high regard. The California winery has become a name for quality wine in the US. Jordan started 40 years ago on May 25. Tom and Sally Jordan signed the deed … Continue reading →

Michael Steinberger is an author and for nearly ten years was a wine columnist at Slate. Steinberger also contributed to publications such as The New York Times, Food & Wine, New York Magazine, Wine Spectator, The World of Fine Wine, … Continue reading →

There I was, standing in front of a wine display at a liquor store, wondering which of the white wines available would taste as good as that last glass of wine I had at dinner the other day. I was … Continue reading →

Yesterday I attended the Tuscan Wine Master Academy’s last session. It focused on Brunello di Montalcino. The best part of the session was the tasting portion (of course). We tasted 9 wines, 8 of which were 2007 (the last was … Continue reading →

Tuscany shall live in my heart forever. Heck, I barely escaped last time I was in Italy. Forty five days of Tuscany meant lots of Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and of course Brunello Di Montalcino. There is something … Continue reading →

I get lots and lots of emails from PR companies. This one was worth sharing. Campo Viejo, Rioja’s largest wine producer, is holding a killer recipe contest with a great prize. Your mission, shall you choose to accept it is to create a … Continue reading →

I LOVE WINE. All wine (except for white zinfandel; it’s tainted the zinfandel name and I think I can never forgive it for this). I think I may have fallen in love with Gundlach Bundschu Winery without having tasted their wines. … Continue reading →

If you are not familiar with Tim Ferriss, you should be. He is the Author of the 4 Hour Work Week (Read the book…I’m still working way more than 40 hours weekly), the 4-Hour Body and now the 4-Hour Chef. … Continue reading →

You will soon be able to get drunk on this tall drink of water. George Clooney has decided to get into the tequila market. Casamigos Tequila, takes after the name of the homes of Clooney and Rande Gerber (Cindy Crawford’s … Continue reading →

A huge problem for French wine sales in the US (and Sake…Sake producers…read this article and do as the French have done)  is verbage. The majority of Amercians are simply not familiarized with terms like Bordeaux or Burgundy. It’s really … Continue reading →

Wine Quote of the week. “A bottle of wine begs to be shared; I have never met a miserly wine lover.” – Clifton Fadiman What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch? ~ W. C. Fields “May our love … Continue reading →

I just got a message from one of my old wine industry buddies. There’s always some silly, idiotic legislation waiting to be passed to make their lives a living hell. This is one of them. If this proposed legislation passes; … Continue reading →

Princess Bride is one of the films that I just have to watch if it comes on TV. Just like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, The Last Dragon and Neverending Story (you should be able to figure out my age … Continue reading →

I had to share this with everyone. When my love affair with wine started, I took Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World wine course. It was wonderful, and expensive. I still recommend this as the best course for someone to … Continue reading →

I have been going to Spirits of Carmine for years. Their prices are fair, the staff (and owner) is friendly and knowledgeable. They even deliver to my place…which is not exactly close. I highly recommend this as a location to … Continue reading →

According to a recent CDC report, more than 38 million US adults binge drink about 4 times a month, and the largest number of drinks per binge is on average 8. But the shocker is the age group that binge … Continue reading →

I was out at one of my favorite wine restaurants, Spina on the Lower East Side this weekend. I’m friends with the somm there and he got together a few friends to conduct a blind tasting. We each brought in … Continue reading →

The  Sixth Annual Kosher Food and Wine Experience will take place at Pier 60/Chelsea Piers on Monday, February 13, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The event will showcase more than 200 wines from 40 wine producers as well as an … Continue reading →

Many people are intimidated by cuts of meat they are not familiar with. I know when I started to get into cooking lamb was one of those meats that intimidated me. That was until I was given this recipe. It’s … Continue reading →

Each year we come up with a list of Champagne cocktails for you to try in the new year. This year we have an even bigger list. Keep in mind that while these are “Champagne” cocktails, you can always substitute … Continue reading →

You all know I am a sucker for wine. The 2012 NY Wine Expo will take place March 2-4 (right around my birthday). If you’re new to wine, this is a great way to learn about it. Over 760 wines from nearly … Continue reading →

Many people call any sparkling white wine Champagne. While it’s become widely “accepted”, there is no such thing as “Italian Champagne”. Just like Highlander – there can be only one. In order for wine to be called Champagne, it must: 1. … Continue reading →

The White Castle hamburger chain is testing beer and wine sales at one of their Indiana outlets, charging $4.50 for wine and $3 for beer. Tracy Turner with The Columbus Dispatch claims the Lafayette location is a dual-concept restaurant that … Continue reading →

In an effort to stabilize riverbanks along the Napa River and restore salmon spawns, more than 40 landowners have agreed to convert nearly 135 acres of premium farmland to stop erosion in the heart of California’s premiere wine country. Napa … Continue reading →

Rarely do we find young red wines being honored with a celebration upon their release. This makes Beaujolais Nouveau a special wine in the roster of French wines. Beujolais Nouveau is made of Gamay grapes, grown in the Beaujolais region of … Continue reading →

November 17 is the day to celebrate the release of the new vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau. While this may not be my all time favorite wine, I never pass off an opportunity (or an excuse) to enjoy wine. If you … Continue reading →

This is a guest post by the talented Cyrille Hanson. Cyrille,  The Hotel Hanford’s wine and event manager, has  more than 25 years of experience in the wine industry (which makes me automatically like her). Cyrille is the mastermind behind the hotel’s wine, beer … Continue reading →

Picked up a bottle of this lovely Sake at my local wine shop for under $25. What a lovely surprise. This is a Nigori sake, basically that means it is cloudy. I chilled it and shook it prior to sipping. It … Continue reading →

Wine and food tasting events have never been better, especially when they are put together for a cause. The Susan G Komen for the Cure is America’s largest, most-followed organization for breast cancer awareness. The organization has been raising funds … Continue reading →

People have learned to embrace the partnership of food and wine; especially those living in New York where almost all restaurants offer wine pairing for their courses. This may be a big reason why people are interested in taking food … Continue reading →

New York is home to some of the finest restaurants in the U.S., featuring dishes from France, Italy, America, and many more. Many restaurants offer a selection of wines from their own collection, but only few are good enough to … Continue reading →

For those of you who read my post on Barone Ricasoli; you know I fell in love. If you’re interested in getting a taste of Tuscany; this is an event you should reserve for. On Monday, October 3rd at Zio … Continue reading →

Choosing wine at a restaurant can be intimidating to a novice. When I first got into the wine industry; I knew nothing (I mean nothing) about wine. All I knew was that I liked Chianti Classico. Pretty limited knowledge. Some … Continue reading →

On a typical Friday night, bars are packed with people ordering bar food and drinks that are loaded with calories. If you are watching your weight or are looking for a healthier option; look no further. The drinks that I am … Continue reading →

My quest for Italy’s best wines is just heating up. From the breath-taking land of Chianti, we are now traveling to another Tuscan town in Florence, Italy. The town of Montepulciano is a modern day celebration of the Renaissance period. … Continue reading →

Anyone could dream of living in a castle in a far away land. But for wine lovers, the fantasy is quite different: the castle is surrounded by beautiful vineyards and sprawling gardens. Perhaps this is why it was so easy … Continue reading →

Tuscany is blessed with land perfectly suited for wine; one of it’s most priced possession: Chianti. Probably, if not, the most famous area in Tuscany, Chianti never fails to mesmerize people with its charming landscape and sumptuous red wines. For wine … Continue reading →

Divine architectures, a delicious appetite for art, food and wine, and breath-taking landscapes that make a very gorgeous dream destination – this is how I would describe this Italian region called Tuscany. Italy is one of the world’s most important … Continue reading →