Blog Archives

The Perfect Reds and Dazzling Whites of the Pacific Northwest

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Robert Johnson — Leave a comment

Whether you get your national weather report each morning from ABC, CBS, ABC, The Weather Channel or some other source, you’re probably never surprised when you hear that it’s going to be stormy in Portland and Seattle. But not all…

How to Pronounce Some Common Wine Words

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Robert Johnson

Why can virtually everyone look at a word like Champagne and pronounce it correctly, yet have so much trouble with other words associated with wine? The answer is simple: Pretty much everyone has heard of, sipped and enjoyed Champagne, but…

Tagged with: Loire, Malbec, Semillon, Shiraz, Vin de Pays, Viognier, wine pronunciation, wine words
Posted in Wine Buzz

Wine Is No Worry When You Ham It Up

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Robert Johnson

Things were going so well. I wanted to take the burden of preparing the Thanksgiving meal off the shoulders of my beautiful bride, so I’d been plotting my strategy for weeks. Basically, I would purchase a pre-cooked turkey that merely…

Tagged with: Beaujolais, cooking, ham, ham and wine pairing, holiday, holiday menu, sparkling wine, Thanksgiving, Viognier, Zinfandel
Posted in Wine Buzz

Embracing Columbus’s Sense of Adventure

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Robert Johnson

When I was growing up (which, admittedly, was a long, long time ago), we were taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Perhaps you had to memorize the same poem I did: “In fourteen…

Alexander Valley’s Ascent to Wine World Star Status

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Robert Johnson

In 1841, Cyrus Alexander arrived in an untamed valley to manage the Sotoyome Rancho, a Mexican land grant owned by a San Diego sea captain, Henry Delano Fitch, and his wife, Josefa Carrillo. As payment for his services, Alexander received…

Wines to Open With the Thanksgiving Feast

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Robert Johnson

No matter what some wine pundits may say, there is no one “perfect” variety of wine to accompany the Thanksgiving holiday feast. So, what to do? Here are two basic strategies: Pour your favorite vino — regardless of its color…

Sangria: Red or White, It’s a Fun Drink for Summertime… or Anytime

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Robert Johnson

It’s close to summertime, and in Spain, that means it’s Sangria time. Actually, the residents of Spain — at least the ones we encountered in Barcelona last fall — enjoy Sangria all year-round. And why not? It’s fun to drink,…

Tagged with: Barcelona, Pinot Gris, Riesling, sangria, Spain, Summer, Viognier
Posted in Food and Wine Pairings/Recipes

Seeing Red: A Varietal Struggle in Ribera del Duero

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Robert Johnson

A great deal of red tape must be cut through to make possible the making of white wines in the Ribera del Duero growing region of Spain. But, according to this report from Decanter, that process has begun. To clarify,…

Biltmore: A Unique Wine Field Trip for the Holidays

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Robert Johnson

No trip to North Carolina is complete without a visit to the Biltmore Estate in Ashville — especially during the holiday season, when the mansion is bedecked with sparkling lights, and the estate’s winery releases a bottling with a special…

Tagged with: Biltmore Estate, Chardonnay, Merlot, North Carolina, Riesling, travel, Viognier, William Cecil
Posted in Wineries of Distinction

Another Sauvignon Blanc-Friendly Recipe

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Robert Johnson

In yesterday’s blog, we talked about how challenging it is to pair wine with asparagus, and offered Sauvignon Blanc as a world champion pairing partner. But without some help, you may well have some leftover wine. What to do with…

Tagged with: food and wine, recipes, Sauvignon Blanc, scallops, seafood, Torrontes, Viognier, wine pairings
Posted in Food and Wine Pairings/Recipes

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