Wine is only as good as the people with whom it is being shared.
 
Category: <span>Wine Stories</span>

To Good Wine No Publicity

“To good wine no publicity.” This proverbial saying comes from a latin proverb written by Columelle: “Vino vendibili suspensa hedera non opus est”, which translates to: “To popular wine, hanging ivy is not necessary.” In older times, hanging ivy was used by wine suppliers and resellers to promote their wines. It …

Grape Harvest 2012 – Limited Vintage

French minister of agriculture, Stéphane Le Foll announced recently: “This year’s grape volume is exceptionally low.” What will be the consequences on the price of wine, and its quality? Bernard Germain (Director of the Wine Cooperative of Muscat de Frontignan) has rarely seen such an important downturn: “This year 2012, …

Phinney’s Wines [Part 1]

In my last post, I mentioned a Zinfandel/Cabernet Sauvignon blend called THE PRISONER.  I was first introduced to this wine around 2003.  It was the first Zin/Cab blend that I had ever had, and it was the first wine by Dave Phinney that I tasted.  Who is Dave Phinney you …

Experience The Difference

I was introduced to an incredible Zinfandel/Cabernet Sauvignon blend called THE PRISONER about 9 years ago when my local wine merchant suggested that I try it.  And I remember what I was told at the time of purchase: “Open the bottle, pour a little into a glass, take in the …

Words Of Wine

My 21-year-old son was in Italy this past year on a study abroad program through his school at CAL POLY POMONA.  And having grown up with wine around him much of his life (ahem… he didn’t taste anything until he was MUCH closer to his current age), he developed an …

Alleged Massive Wine Fraud Shakes Burgundy

How would you feel if after buying a Lexus HS 250h, someone told you the car you’re driving is nothing more than a Toyota Corolla? Even if this is partially true, you would still feel cheated and angry. This marketing sham is applied in various industries, and wine is no …

A Match Made In Heaven

Wine pairing success is fairly easy to achieve. There are many ways to make sure you open the right bottle of wine for the right meal. You can follow some basic guidelines about the principles of wine pairing, and chances are, you’ll pick the perfect wine for the occasion. That said, …