Labor day is time for Merlot!  Merlot is a relatively thin-skinned varietal and ripens earlier than its frequent blending partner, Cabernet Sauvignon.  Softer and lighter in tannins then Cab the mediu ...

Orange has been a republican town for many years and I am sure many of our residents don’t believe in climate change no matter what the scientists say, but this has been one of the hottest Julys I can ...

  Suddenly it is ok to drink pink!  Americans are rediscovering Rosé wines and they seem more and more popular every day.  What are they?  What are they made of?  Which ones are the good ones?  T ...

One of my favorite activities on Memorial Day is to clean off and fire up the grill.  I’ve had a long and happy relationship with grilling.  Grilling doesn’t require a lot of thought.  It’s a forgivin ...

New Zealand wineries originally set out to serve the small domestic market, operating within a highly regulated economy.  But in 1985 the government moved to speed up the removal of barriers against o ...

It may not look it for another week or so but Spring is here.  It is time for us to start to clean off our decks and make ready for the warm and lovely nights associated with Spring in Southern Connec ...

March is a great month to get ready for some wonderful Zinfandel!  Over the past twenty or thirty years there has been a good deal of madness associated with Zinfandel.  Where did it come from and wha ...

Sparkling wine is perfect for any occasion.  It is great for brunch or to start a great holiday meal.  For Valentine’s Day it is a must.  Sparkling Rose that is well made and not a sickly sweet wine i ...

On cold Winter nights big red wines are always a good idea.  They match quite well with hearty meat and pasta dishes.  Rather than the usual suspects, how about trying some of the wonderful big reds f ...

Thanksgiving At Plymouth:  In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers—an assortment of religious separatists seeking a new home where they cou ...

Burgundy is a small place in the south of France where excellent wines have been made since before Roman times. The primary white wine that has been produced in this region is White Burgundy which is ...

Washington’s first grapes were planted at Fort Vancouver by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1825. By 1910, wine grapes were growing in many areas of the state, following the path of early settlers. French ...

Frascati is a wine that was first grown in the town of Frascati on or about the 5th century B.C.! It has been around a long time and it is the great white wine of ancient Rome and one of the very favo ...

Easter is the celebration of new life and rebirth. Many times its timing coincides with Passover, and each marks the first feast of spring after many cold winter nights. Many families today observe tr ...

It is time to take a little different approach to wine for Valentine’s Day. A few years ago some nice sparkling wine may have filled the bill. Some Champagne or Prosecco would do nicely for a Valentin ...

Wintertime is a time for fantastic prime rib and steaks, chops and other big foods. When we come in out of the cold, (winter has finally become cold in Connecticut) the big hearty red meats seem to he ...

With the holidays and New Year upon us many friends and relatives will be serving wines at wonderful holiday occasions. Many will be waiting for the holidays to serve the best in the house. Perhaps it ...