Portugal has delicious wines; many are hidden gems because the popularity of larger European countries overshadows them. However, Portugal has been on the rise as a travel destination due to its affordability, rich history, beautiful landscapes, culture, and cuisine. Although Portugal is famous for...
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Do you know the secret code on champagne bottles?
Big champagne houses like Mumm, Veuve Clicquot, and Moët et Chandon use grapes from different vineyards they don’t own to produce a house style with a unique and consistent taste, quality, and style. All good things. On the other hand, Grower Champagne is terroir-forward and reflects the...
What lies at the foot of the mountains?
You will find Italy’s preeminent wine region at the foothills of the Italian Alps, appropriately called Piedmont, literally pie-d-mont, meaning foot of the mountain. Piedmont borders France and Switzerland and is influenced by both culture and cuisine. Like France’s Burgundy wine region, Piedmont relies on...
Has Donny found a new favorite wine?
Our old family friend Donny (aka the Ump) was over, and there we were at the appetizers, enjoying cream cheese-stuffed mini peppers, tiny toast, cured meats, and cheese, when suddenly Donny’s face lit up. With a wide-eyed look of wine shock, he asked, “What is...
Do you know Nero d’Avola, the black grape of Sicily?
If you have enjoyed a Nero d’Avola you know it’s as big as a California Cabernet or Australian Syrah.