Wine
Posted on: July 8th, 2018
by Tom Peiffer
The 2015 vintage year in Sonoma County’s Russian River appellation, like many others in California, was a little tricky. But in Russian River, the weather was perfect for Pinot Noir, bringing out some of their best qualities, featuring red berries and spices. If you want to get a broad brush of what happened in...
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Posted on: June 10th, 2018
by Tom Peiffer
Not many people know that Italy’s Tuscan region actually offers some very classy Rosè wines, but it does. Among these are special blends from Frescobaldi’s South Tuscan “Ammiraglia Estate” that are crafted in this coastal territory using both Syrah and Vermintino. Even though Syrah by itself would be a little heavy for a hot...
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Posted on: April 17th, 2018
by Tom Peiffer
When exploring Napa Valley, California, one of the best little side trips for the morning is to drive up Mount Veeder and visit the winery operations that cling to the hills at about 1,600 feet. This is an environment that is noticeably different from the valley floor below, and it also reflects in the...
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Posted on: March 25th, 2018
by Tom Peiffer
One topic that comes up a lot in tasting rooms is the absence of vintage years printed on bottles of Champagne and sparkling wine. Most of the time, the reason given is that the fruit used in creating the bubbly in your bottle comes from more than one particular year’s harvest, so it’s better...
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Posted on: March 4th, 2018
by Tom Peiffer
One of the first things you’ll notice with skillfully created Chardonnays like Michael Mondavi’s “Emblem”, is the pronounced presence of a tart backbone. This one tilts more toward the “Burgundian Style”, even though it is a California wine. As such, this Chardonnay is produced with a carefully controlled mix of Malolactic and normally fermented...
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Posted on: January 14th, 2018
by Tom Peiffer
As the production of American Zinfandel wine continues to grow in all areas, it is always interesting to take a look back at one of the Napa classics, Frank Family Napa Valley Zinfandel. Once affectionately product-coded as “LPR” by the winery staff, it now has moved into the mainstream of availability. Sure, they offer a Reserve Zinfandel, but the standard offering is quite excellent. This is especially true for outdoor cooking, or just for “cutting the...
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Posted on: December 23rd, 2017
by Tom Peiffer
We don’t see too many wine labels featuring the Patron Saint of Wine. But in Austria, they have a brand or two that place top honors on the wonders of the grape. Not too gaudy or ostentatious. Rather, these are softly-stated bottlings are covered with words that don’t make much sense, until you start...
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Posted on: December 15th, 2017
by Press Release
When the Jewish holidays come around, be it the Jewish New Year, Hanukkah or Passover, many people choose to serve wines that are kosher-certified. So, just how different is kosher wine from the non-kosher stuff? “When it comes to taste, there’s no difference between kosher and non-kosher wine,” says Jay Buchsbaum, Executive VP Marketing...
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Posted on: December 3rd, 2017
by Tom Peiffer
Of all the white wines, Chardonnay is certainly the best known. You can find it everywhere in the world, and on more wine lists than can be counted. But what makes it so interesting are the “variations on a theme” that every pour exhibits. Sure, geography and vintages play a big role in the...
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Posted on: November 21st, 2017
by Shoshana Leon
Food is a big part of any holiday celebration. For many people, the wine is just as important as the food. When you are hosting a holiday meal at your home or going to someone else’s holiday event, you may be wondering what kind of wine to serve or bring. Pairing wines with food...
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