Category Archives: France

Wine’s Cornucopia: An Illusion?

Posted on January 23, 2013 by

Do you feel overwhelmed when shopping for wine? The sheer magnitude of choices is daunting. There are wallabies and penguins and rabbits, oh my! Do you prefer to go Barefoot or wear Flip Flops, socialize with Old Farts or Fat … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap Wine, Eastern US, France, Rants, Washington Post, Weblogs, Wine | Tagged | 15 Comments

What’s Your Sign? Sun or Soil?

Posted on January 6, 2013 by

There are wines of the sun, wines of the soil, and wines of the test tube. I enjoy the first, love the second, and try to avoid the third. It’s not that simple, of course. Wine never is, or we … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, France, Wine | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Winemakers do a number on Wine Spectator

Posted on September 18, 2012 by

Call Central Casting and request a flamboyent French winemaker who epitomizes joie de vivre and bonhomie, and they’d probably send you Jean-Charles Boisset. Boisset is the scion of a famous Burgundy family who in recent years has embarked on a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Film, France, Humor, Wine, Wine Humor, writers | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Finally, the perfect Champagne glass

Posted on July 7, 2012 by

I’m not a nerd about wine glasses – most in my collection are freebies from wine festivals and tastings, embossed with a winery or sponsor name. (My favorite for years has proudly boasted Kroger, and I don’t even shop there.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, France, Sparkling Wine, Wine | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Rooting for Chenin

Posted on March 19, 2012 by

I always root for the underdog grape varieties. In a simplified consumer culture where red wine means Cabernet Sauvignon and merlot and white wine is synonymous with chardonnay, it is easy to lose sight of the amazing diversity wine has … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Food and Drink, France, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Winemaker’s Hands 2: Domaine Trapet

Posted on March 1, 2012 by
At the Renaissance des Appellations tasting, Vinexpo 2009, Bordeaux.

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Gallery | Tagged | 1 Comment

Spicing up your wine life: Explore new frontiers

Posted on January 10, 2012 by

This is the third in my series of New Year’s suggestions for spicing up your wine explorations in 2012: Explore a new wine region. Do you love Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon? Try something different – a cabernet from the Santa … Continue reading →

Posted in Alsace, Burgundy, California, France, Germany, Wine | Tagged | Leave a comment

Sneak Preview Wine: Little James’ Basket Press 2010 Viognier-Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on January 2, 2012 by

Now that the holiday splurge is over, it’s probably time to be looking again at bargains in the wine aisles. Here is a sneak peak at one of my Bargain Bottles recommendations (formerly Recession Busters, but I wanted to feel … Continue reading →

Posted in Bargain Wines, France, Wine | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Worth Reading This Week: Natural Pinot, natural wine, and au naturel (almost) winemakers

Posted on December 31, 2011 by

Some interesting reading from this week in the wild world of wine: Palate Press reposts an interesting piece from earlier this year by Evan Dawson on a backlash from California winemakers about the popular “slander” that Cali pinot is routinely … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, France, Humor, Uncategorized, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Wine Camp 2011: This wine’s from WHERE?

Posted on December 29, 2011 by

Something extraordinary happened this Christmas. Not birth-of-the-savior extraordinary mind you, but something so unexpected that I had to rub my eyes before I could believe it actually happened. I was served a Virginia wine at “Wine Camp.” Wine Camp is … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, Eastern US, France, Italy, Local Wine, Parker, Rhône, Virginia, Wine | Tagged , , | 6 Comments