The language of wine can be daunting to one encountering it for the first time—such as when one visits a winery tasting and finds Mr. Know-It-All cross-examining the person behind the bar on the type of yeasts used in the fermentation of the Reserve Chardonnay.
That may have been what prompted the following question that came in recently from one of our faithful blog readers… Read more ›
When a recipe calls for wine, we typically suggest using the same wine that you intend to drink with the meal.
Members of our wine clubs have grown accustomed to this practice, either with the Tasting Notes they receive along with their wines, or through their exclusive Grapevine newsletter. It’s rare that we feature a recipe calling for “white wine” or “red wine”; whenever possible, we zero in on a specific variety. Read more ›
Here’s a quick statistical summary of the California wine scene.
Ken Levine has played a big part in some of my own personal “must-see TV” through the years. Among other series, he wrote for “MASH,” “Cheers,” “Frasier” and “Wings.”
Not a bad resumé, eh?
I’m one of those writers who believes that one can learn a lot by reading the work of other writers, so Levine’s blog is a daily “must-read” for me. Topics range from writing for TV (naturally) to baseball (he has been a broadcaster of Major League Baseball games), and from radio (he once was a deejay) to travel (he has published a book detailing his travel adventures). Read more ›
Alpana Singh is the youngest person—woman or man—to pass the master sommelier exam.
That landed her the sommelier’s job at Chicago’s four-star Everest restaurant, and then she became the wine and spirits director for the entire Lettuce Entertain You restaurant chain.
And because she’s smart and photogenic, she soon thereafter was named host of the restaurant review program, “Check, Please!” on Chicago’s PBS station. Read more ›
The 139th running of the Kentucky Derby took place last Saturday at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville.
The Derby is more than a horse race. It’s an American sports tradition—from the iconic twin spires that overlook the track’s homestretch to the 80,000 revelers packed into the track’s infield, and from the seersucker suits and frilly dresses worn by spectators to those iconic mint juleps.
But now that the race is over and the crowds have gone home, one can (and should) take the time to enjoy the culinary delights of Louisville, where Southern cuisine (both traditional and with a twist) dominates the local menus. Read more ›
When Mother Nature is of a mind, the sunsets on Red Mountain in eastern Washington state are nothing short of spectacular.
And should Mother Nature choose to be cooperative on the evening of Saturday, May 25, that would be reason enough to attend the 5th annual Revelry on Red Mountain. Read more ›
I’ve been a big fan of The Hess Collection for years and years. The wine made at the Napa Valley estate is superb, and the art collection of owner Donald Hess—a portion of which is on display at the winery—is extensive and amazing.
Now, according to long-time friend and colleague Jim Caudill, who heads up P.R. for the winery, there’s another reason to love The Hess Collection: its devotion to the planet. Read more ›
As the weather warms up, the grills emerge from hibernation.
So here’s a tasty dish to kick off the grilling season. It pairs perfectly with Sauvignon Blanc or Vinho Verde. This recipe makes 6 servings.
SHRIMP TACOS Read more ›
In days of yore, celebrities commonly got involved with products that might be called (no offense intended) utilitarian.
Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays sang the praises of Blue Bonnet margarine.
Joe Namath bestowed the virtues of Noxema shaving cream.
James Garner and Mariette Hartley hawked Polaroid cameras.
As time went on, celebrities not only endorsed products, they lent their names to them.
Paul Newman sought to help others with his food line called Newman’s Own.
Michael Jordan jumped for joy over the success of Nike’s Air Jordan shoes.
But no industry that I can think of has had an influx of celebrities to rival that experienced by the wine industry.
The list is long, impressive and ever changing. It includes, or has included, Mario Andretti, Dan Aykroyd, Antonio Banderas, Drew Barrymore, Raymond Burr, Mike Ditka, Ernie Els, Mick Fleetwood, Peggy Fleming, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer, Fess Parker and Boz Scaggs.
That’s a mere fraction of the full list, and includes only those who feature their names on the labels.
Now, we can add three more names to the celebrity vintner list: singer Fergie, and Hollywood “it” couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Read more ›
Vinesse specializes in helping wine lovers discover interesting wines. By sharing limited-production gems that generally don’t appear on the shelves of local stores, Vinesse has grown to become one of the largest and most respected wine club companies in the U.S.
From our base in Southern California, Vinesse cultivates relationships with some of the most respected winemakers in the world. These relationships are critical to supplying each of our ten wine clubs with exceptional wines from amazing boutique wineries.
In addition to sharing exceptional wine gems with our dedicated circle of members, Vinesse also offers wine collections, wine accessories and individual wine sales to wine lovers across the U.S.
