We talked about sparkling wines yesterday, so let’s continue that conversation today – and throw in some interesting tidbits about billionaires’ tastes in wine and cocktails, and some helpful cleaning tips for their staff. [level-members] Let’s start by continuing on yesterday’s theme of sparkling wines, here’s a recommendation of sparklers outside the usual suspects you […]
Archive for December, 2017
Wine Stories Worth Sharing for December 14, 20
December 14th, 2017It’s That Sparkling Time of the Yea
December 13th, 2017Whether you have shop customers who are adventurous, well-heeled, or both, you can guide them to find the best sparklers for their tastes. And what to do after the inevitable spill … [level-members] For your epically adventurous shop customers always in search of the next big (or not so big) thing, there’s sparkling wine from […]
Compare and Contrast: Judging Wines on Their Own Mer
December 12th, 2017Does every Pinot out there have to measure up to the greatest Burgundies? [level-members] I would never argue in favor of not having benchmarks against which to judge, well, just about everything, we do ourselves and the wines we sell a disservice if we hold them to the loftiest of standards. The trick, then, is to […]
Wine Industry News for December 11, 20
December 11th, 2017A response to Tom Wark’s recent take on the three-tier system, as entertaining as it is vulgar. (And not without at least some worthwhile points of discussion. Also, when will the wine industry be rocked as politics and the entertainment biz have been? [level-members] First, the week’s most entertaining (and vulgar) discussion of the three-tier […]
Food & Wine Pairing: Fond
December 8th, 2017It’s retro, it’s kitschy, it’s just plain fun. Fondue is a tradition in our house … [level-members] on the day when our mixed-religion family goes to cut and decorate the Christmas tree. And there are dozens of variations on cheese fondue, to say nothing of chocolate and meat-in-oil fondues, but here’s a basic fondue recipe as […]
Wine Stories Worth Sharing for December 7, 20
December 7th, 2017A cellar full of wine and steeped in automotive history, a head-to-head comparison of very old and very new very expensive wine, the good and bad of sommeliers, and how different alcohols could affect our emotions. [level-members] As if 300,000 bottles of wine is lure enough, how about the possibility of an old Rolls Royce? […]
Wine Shop Marketing and Champagne Flut
December 6th, 2017Whether you vie Champagne flutes positively or not, they can be an interesting part of your tasting program. [level-members] Especially this time of year, when sparklers are in great demand, running tastings in which you not only pour different wines side by side, but you pour the same wines in different glasses. Flutes, coupes, or […]
Can You Be More Like Lo
December 5th, 2017Lou runs a successful wine shop in LA. You can probably be more like him – without trying to be him. [level-members] The key is to be more like you – the you that is passionate about certain wines, certain styles of wine, certain ways of thinking about wine. The Bon Appetit article is worth […]
Wine Industry News for December 4, 20
December 4th, 2017The recovery in California continues, the Dutch and Belgians combine on an appellation, and Amazon’s departure from the wine business leaves a void. [level-members] First, the new appellation: all the Dutch I know seem to prefer beer, but that probably says more about my choices in friends than anything about the Dutch … regardless, the […]
Food & Wine Pairing: Ham and Gruyère French Toast Sandwich
December 1st, 2017We’ve mentioned the Finger Lakes a few times recently, so how about pairing that includes wine from the Finger Lakes? [level-members] A perfect Sunday brunch pairing, a semi-dry Riesling is would be an excellent accompaniment. Best of all, it’s a simple recipe. Perfect for a relaxed Sunday. Ham and Gruyère French Toast Sandwiches [/level-members]