2010 Ridge Estate Merlot

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
The nose is sweet, Bing cherries cooked in brown sugar. ON the palate, the flavors are far more tart than sweet, sour cherry and redcurrant lead on the attack. Plum and hints of black fruit show on the mid-palate, along with touches of olive, rosemary, and tarragon. Tannins are big,

Bidding for Success at the Napa Wine Auction

Michelle Locke
Features
3 min read
It's a brilliant California day and it’s about 1000 degrees in the tasting tent at the annual Napa Valley barrel auction. I'm wilting in a plain summer frock and sandals. But my escort, vintner Jean-Charles Boisset, isn't even breaking a sweat despite being fully rigged out in dark slacks and

2012 Gruner Veltliner “Grooner”

Becky Sue Epstein
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Though it may be hard to imagine, the original, refreshingly light white wine spritzer was made in Austria, a mix of Gruner Veltilner wine and sparkling mineral water. It was enjoyed at summertime family dinners on outdoor patios and home and at taverns.  In this particular “Grooner” wine, faint meadow

Wine Blogging Grows Up

David White
Features
3 min read
Last week, about 250 wine bloggers gathered in Penticton, a small city in British Columbia, Canada, for the sixth annual North American Wine Bloggers' Conference. That so many wine enthusiasts would travel to a city five hours east of Vancouver isn't surprising. Held in a different winemaking region each year,

Riedel Graffigna Malbec Glasses

David Honig
Wine Reviews
2 min read
Readers of today story by Roederer Award winning writer Erika Szymanski, Glass Shape, Aroma, and the Game of Sensory Science, might be particularly interested in a new offer from Riedel, the well known Austrian glass maker. The new glass is a joint venture with Graffigna, a maker of fine Argentinian

Glass Shape, Aroma, and the Game of Sensory Science

Erika Szymanski
Features
7 min read
I’ve never actually attended one of the infamous Riedel seminars at which a sleek Riedel representative demonstrates the magic transformative power of their varietal-specific glassware – living in a small town has its limitations – but I can’t say that I see much point. I would go for the sake

Torbato: Grape, Winery, Many Wines

Elisabetta Tosi
Feature Stories
4 min read
As usual, before Vinitaly my email box is full of invitations to events: press conferences, round tables, seminars, workshops, etc. And as usual, due to lack of time, I have to decline the most of them. But this time there was an invitation that intrigued me: a tasting of torbato.

2012 Poças Douro Coroa D’ouro

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
This is a charming blend, layered and offering subtle nuances lending themselves to a broad array of food pairings. A soft nose offers up white flowers, pears, and Zweiback crackers. Apples, quince, and ginger snaps lead on the palate, finishing with lime and a touch of fresh ginger. Drink with crab