by Ron Kapon
In late winter I was invited to spend 6 days at the 3rd International Wine Convention in Puglia, Italy (Apulia in English). There were 65 guests including members of the press (14), tour operators (8) and buyers (43) present. Each group had their own program and schedule while we got together for many meals and several meetings. I will concentrate on my group of journalists from Denmark, Netherlands, Czeck Republic, Australia, Italy, Great Britain, Norway, China and the USA.My home for 5 nights was Masseria Torre Coccaro, which with its neighboring Masserie Torre Maizza (same ownership) was fully booked by the Wine Convention. Torre Coccaro is a masseria (Apulian farm) a few steps from the sea, dating back to the 16th century and surrounded by olive, almond and carob trees. This tower, onc...
by Henry Weingarten
There is much discussion these days regarding wine labeling. In general we are in the camp that "more is better". Truth in labeling is historically important. But something too often overlooked is THE PURPOSE OF WINE. Should not the purpose of wine also be written on its label?While reading THE PHILOSOPHY OF WINE by Roger Scruton: “The Ancient Egyptians, incidentally, while they often labeled wines with the place of their production and would trade with all the best supplier around the Mediterranean, would classify wines by their social function. Archaeologists have recovered amphorae labeled as “wine for first-class celebrations”, “wine for tax collection day”, “wine for dancing”, and so on.”I had an AHA moment: Wine writers usually discuss WHY buy a particular wine. The f...
by Paul W. Jameson
When you visit a winery these days (at least in the United States), you are more likely than not to be charged for tasting their wines. You are also likely to discover that they have a wine club, and are given the opportunity to sign up on the spot. Should you join?While details vary, wine clubs tend to offer members free tastings when they come to the winery, and discounts of 15 to 20 percent or more off your wine purchases. In return, you agree to buy two or three bottles every two to three months, for at least a year (at the discounted price).First of all, obviously, you should only join a club if you like their wines. But if you really like their wines, and would buy them on a regular basis anyways, there are great advantages to wine clubs. I recently made a day trip to Santa Barb...
by James O'connell
IN LOVE AND TEQUILA: A TRUE LOVE STORYA Couple Finds Love, Reunites With Family, and Shares a Legacy with Señor Rio TequilaPhoenix, AZ – March 15, 2011 – They never could have anticipated the journey that lay in front of them - an adventure which would include falling in love, traveling to Mexico to reunite with an estranged father of 30 years and sharing a family’s generations-old passion for tequila with the world.The story began in Arizona in 2005, when former real estate agent Debbie Medina unassumingly knocked on the door of her newest client, Jonathan Gach, a former accountant originally from New York. Their relationship quickly grew into a friendship, and eventually romance.Later that year, Medina, a native of Chicago, was contacted by her father whom she hadn’t seen in 30...
by Uncorked And Decanted Wine Events, Frank & Maria Bramwell
In Search of Great Wine and Great Value California’s Central Coast Delivers California wine country is a phrase that, for most wine enthusiasts, clicks on one image—Napa Valley. True, there’s no place like warm, sunny Napa for the mighty Cabernet Sauvignon and oaky Chardonnay. But there are other great grapes and exciting growing regions in the state; and among the more interesting, less congested and less pricey, the Central Coast stands out as a force with which to be reckoned. With a trusty GPS and a sense of adventure, we recently set out on a week-plus tour of the Central Coast wine country. And we came back with a clearer picture and appreciation of the region’s wines, as well as quite a few cases. In fact, we found quality and value in good fo...
by Stefanie Phillips
Before you begin finalizing your wine cellar plans, it’s important to calculate the probable size of your wine collection. Figure out how large or small you would like your collection to be and the number of bottles you are currently storing. This will help you estimate the cost, size and materials needed to construct your wine cellar. A large-scale wine storage area isn’t necessary if you are planning on storing a few bottles in your home.For smaller collections, there are a few options. Consider smaller storage options or wine racks to store your wine in an existing space in your home. Wine should be stored away from heat sources and vibration if possible. Wine cubes also work well for smaller wine collections and can easily be incorporated into the décor of any room. Consider a lar...
by Bernard Kenner
“The Waiting Game: Age-worthy Brunello di Montalcino, ChiantiClassico and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano” Kevin Zraly hosted a very well attended seminar at the Hilton New York, on February 8, as part of the 2011 Italian Wine Masters. The annual event brings many great Tuscan producers, along with DOCG Prosecco to New York. This year Zraly was on hand to present two seminars: the morning focused on the Tuscan wines, and a later one on bubbly from the Veneto.He is a well known wine educator, with instant name recognition. I thought it would be a great opportunity to see him in action and experience some mature Tuscan powerhouses. I’d been waitlisted for the seminar, so I arrived early to make sure I got a seat if there were no shows, and my anticipation was great. From what I...
by Sidd Banerji
Indian history is almost as old as human history. We had well organized society with community functions in proper system and expert methods. Mahenzodaro and Harappa are the two archeological sectors, now within Pakistan territory, which has evidences of human dwelling in much advanced status, way back 5000 years.Unbelievable advancement in prehistoric period, in food and drinks astonish today's historians. We have mention of wine in Indian form, in mythology,of high order. Old scriptures talk in detail of the arena where specially alcoholic drinks out of grapes are discussed in length. Indian society had known the warmth and enchantments of the elixir long back, much in past when modern day's glitz and glamor were yet to peep into society. Probably the core benefits and its social values ...
by David Gaier
People ask me all the time about screwcaps on wine.Now, most people don’t think much about the science of wine; they just want to know one thing: can a bottle of wine with a screwcap be any good?Simple answer? Yep. Lots of really good wines today are closed with a screwcap, including so-called super premium wines, which can fetch $100 a bottle or more. But I’d like to qualify what I’m saying with a few points.First of all, the jury is out on whether or not screw caps will work effectively and enable some wines, particularly big, bold reds, to age in bottle for 10, 20, or even 30 years. We just don’t know, because screw caps haven’t been around that long and until recently, vendors were putting screwcaps mostly on whites that were meant to be drunk very young, typically within one...
by David Gaier
I have to say it: France, and specifically Bourgogne, what we in the great USA call Burgundy, is where the world’s best Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are grown. And I say “grown” because Burgundy is all about the vineyard rather than the chateau or winery.Not to say that there aren’t some excellent and least interesting Pinots and Chardonnays from other places – old world and new, oaked and unoaked, cool climate and hot climate, austere and crisp, or sweet, caramel-y, and in my view pretty much undrinkable—think Yellowtail. Or, actually, don’t.But seriously, I’ve tasted Pinots from New Zealand and Oregon that rival the best from Burgundy, and just this week I had a Chardonnay from Italy that I might have sworn was a Premier Cru from France.But the fact remains that for a whol...
