by Stephanie Parra
In the last couple of years, you’ve probably heard of organic, biodynamic, or natural wine. These buzz-worthy terms may sound conceptually similar, and may even overlap, but mean completely different things. Still, don’t let the possibility of confusion deter you from discovering the perfect wine! Summertime is the best season to explore these wines because they are often lighter, refreshing, and interesting enough to spark a lively conversation in between bites of brie, a fresh Caprese salad, and even cooling oysters. Let’s dispel the flurry on these definitions! Here’s a primer to understand the differences between organic, biodynamic, and natural wines. Organic Wine Organic wine is tricky. At face value, organic wine is made by adhering to the tenets of organic farming: no...
by Sam Hoffman
Cocktails are fun and everybody loves them. Whether you are planning a celebration or a party, gathering your friends for a cocktail party is always a great idea. Preparing a famous cocktail together with your friends can be easy, fun and very affordable. You only need to stock your bar with the basics and a little bit of enthusiasm. Here is your super-cool guide to show off your bartender skills and impress your friends with a fancy cocktail knowledge. The most popular and most loved cocktails of all time are here, simple and easy to prepare. “Copyright: Unsplash/author: Kobby Mendez / I License: CC0 Public Domain” Classic Margarita Done Right This all time favorite cocktail requires good blanco tequila. Mix the tequila with freshly squeezed lime juice and add a little bit ligh...
by Pete Ricci
Showdown at Bourbon Corral! I love this part of my job! Tasting wonderful foods and awesome libations and sharing my experience! This time I had a couple of friends help out with the blind taste test - Chris & Tony. And it's only fair because it's Chris' Bourbon! Pennsylvania Bourbon Resurgent Bourbon 100 Proof Custom Cask Made in the style of Kentucky Bourbons with a few exceptions: One, it's from Pennsylvania, two it is made from virgin oak and three it's white oak. I am happy there is such a nice spirit coming out of The Brandywine Valley. If the bite is something you don't like about bourbon, then you may like this. It has a sweet, berry and almost creamy vanilla finish - replacing the traditional bite. The white oak probably helps and the virgin wood allows the sweetness of ...
by Mark Aselstine
Every industry, has its own set of dirty little secrets. My dad owned an ice cream franchise in a mall, the common drains had to be covered up because the rodent problems were so bad. Gross right? Likewise, I worked at a defense contractor for a summer. Some of the reported successes of their technology, didn’t match what we were seeing. Unfortunately, the wine industry has its own set of issues. Here’s 3 of the dirty little secrets of the wine industry. People Make Nothing. Literally Nothing. You know the tasting room staff that you adore at your favorite major winery? Yeah, they’re making minimum wage. The cellar master that takes care of so much of the day to day operations in the winery itself? Yeah, he (unfortunately it is almost always a he) makes pretty much nothing...
by Mark Aselstine
So one interesting part of Christmas dinner, when compared with say Thanksgiving, is that so many different people eat different things. At Thanksgiving, even if you’ve never met your neighbors, you have a pretty good idea about what’s on the table: turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Sure, the other sides change but over the years, the basics have been remarkably stable. Christmas is an entirely different thing. Some families circle back to turkey. Others have roast beef or ham. Heck, in my house we even mix in tri tip in some years if the weather is nice enough to get the BBQ going. So how can we suggest wine pairings with such a diverse set of foods? The first rule for pairing wine with Christmas meals is simply, to make sure that you’re opening wi...
by Stuart George
On the whole, 2018 was a year to forget. It saw a dreadful accident in Genoa and the ongoing tragedy of Syria. The Skripal poisoning in the usually benign English city of Salisbury caused relations between the British government and the Russian President Vladimir Putin – who was elected for a fourth term – to hit their lowest point in many years. The journalist Jamal Khashoggi went inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul and was never seen again. There was an unexpected summit in Singapore. A man widely regarded as a dangerous lunatic who has a nuclear fixation and a terrible haircut met with the North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. “Peace in our time”, perhaps. November 11th marked the centenary of the end of the Great War. Apparently the sixth in line to the success...
by Porto Planet
The mild sweet climate of fall in Greece is what makes short journeys to the sea and the mountains so tempting. The country’s landscape is in transition, from its summer to its autumn look. Read up on the renown destinations that we gathered just for you and plan your trip to our Greece. Chania As summer in Crete lasts a bit more than anywhere else in Greece, you will enjoy the sea and the wonderful mainland throughout October on this island. An excellent place to choose for your upcoming autumn holiday in Chania. Don’t miss out on: – a stroll around the old Venetian Harbour of the town of Chania with its renown fortress and lighthouse. – a visit to the city’s market and taste the drooling culinary delights of Crete. – canyoning at Samaria Gorge and exploring an impressive ...
by Porto Planet
Historical evidence and mythology have extensively proved Cretans’ nutritional preferences throughout the centuries as well as their fondness for basic products. I would like to introduce you to one of the tastiest and healthy cuisines in the world but also to a magnificent ancient civilization. Learn about the art of Cretan vegetarian nutrition and cooking. Their diet is typically based on products that originate from the island’s farmlands and mainly includes plates of raw or home cooked greens, grains, pulses, vegetables, olive oil, and fruits. Cretan diet is based on fresh and natural products that are cooked in their original form without any addition in the preparation of the recipes of processed or complicated sauces and only enriched with fresh spices and aromatic herbs that ...
by Porto Planet
We have all heard that ‘an apple a day, keeps the doctor away’, but lately, more and more studies show that wine can bring many benefits to the body and make a significant contribution to maintaining our good health. So how can wine help us when we drink it regularly, but in moderation? Let’s see in detail! 1. LIVE LONGER! It is known that in Ikaria people live longer than anywhere else in the world. Daily consumption of wine is part of a diet that can enrich the lives of those who follow it because it is less reliant on animal feed and more on plant foods. The inhabitants of Crete and Sardinia, known for their longevity, enjoy red wine almost daily, appealing to the main part of their anti-aging lifestyle. A 2007 study shows that procyanidins, the compounds found in tannins of th...
by Porto Planet
Sunny valleys rich with volcanic soil, a Mediterranean climate of mild breezes, Greece has ideal conditions for making wine. It’s no wonder that vineyards have been thriving there for thousands of years. Despite its long history of grape cultivation, Greece was long overlooked by traveling wine connoisseurs. The country has finally begun to take its place as a world-class wine destination. Here are some of the top wine tasting destinations to visit in Greece if you enjoy wine. Nemea and Nafplio in Peloponnese The region around Nemea is a classic destination for wine enthusiasts. The mountains and valleys create ideal climates for various grapes. Differences in elevations and direct sunlight bring out the many personalities of the local grape, called Agiorgitiko. Vineyards at the botto...
