As much as female winemakers are discussed today, the world of wine has historically been dominated by men. The phrase “& Fils,” appended to the family name of many French domaines, exemplifies the tradition of handing the family business from father to son, generation after generation. The southern Rhône’s Domaine de Montvac, however, follows a matrilineal […]
Everyone needs a bottle of wine that is dependable for all occasions, the kind that should be stashed in the fridge or the wine rack at all times for unexpected guests, impromptu get-togethers, or that “I deserve a glass of wine right now” moment. It should be affordable, versatile, and, above all, delicious. In the […]
Let’s be honest: There’s a lot of mediocre Côtes du Rhône out there. The large, hot region is full of vineyards that easily produce lots of very ripe grapes, and for that reason, the wines tend to be more value-driven than quality-driven. That’s not to say that the Côtes du Rhône is merely a bulk-wine […]
When I worked at a small, neighborhood wine shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, our most popular shelf by far was the $15-and-under rack.
Here’s an unpopular opinion: I hate New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a tendency to be completely overblown yet somehow also generic-tasting at the same time. Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is almost always overly fruity, aggressively herbaceous (if you can even categorize that signature jalapeño-cat pee stink as “herbaceous”), and far too boozy.
Pinot Grigio is often a wine thought of for porch sipping and garden parties. It’s been poo-pooed as of late as being not serious and over-ordered, and while it’s true that there are some seriously mass-produced bottles on the market, there are also still some stunners. Case in point, Scarbolo Ramato Pinot Grigio.
I drank a lot of Ravenswood in college. Mostly because I wanted to seem sophisticated and classy AF, but also because I just preferred it to beer. There was something to me that felt very adult about choosing wine over macro lager. But I was also on a budget, so while I had a taste […]
When it comes to Mexico, the two libations that get the most attention are beer and tequila. You might hear about mescal now and again, especially in urban areas. But the one alcohol that is almost always left out is wine. In fact, most people probably don’t even know that you can make wine south of the […]
There may not be a better widely available American white wine for versatile everyday drinking than Pine Ridge’s Chenin Blanc + Viognier blend. I’ve been sampling this wine for years, and the 2015 is as good as it’s ever been. Pine Ridge is a Napa Valley mainstay, best known for its reds, especially its Cabernet […]
