Category Archives: Rants

In Vino Veritas

Posted on June 4, 2018 by

In vino veritas, the Roman author Pliny the Elder wrote. In wine is truth. It’s an old Latin phrase making fun of people who speak their minds under the influence of alcohol. The quote is buried in a rather hilarious … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Food and Drink, Rants, Religion, Wine, writers | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Vive la France!

Posted on June 7, 2015 by

Saturday’s D-Day commemorations and salutations on Facebook and other social media reminded me of my first visit to France, in 1997. We saw Ugly Americans treating the French poorly, and on one or two occasions we experienced anti-American sentiment. Mostly, … Continue reading →

Posted in Rants | Tagged | 6 Comments

50 States of Wine – Le Metro Underground Goes Cross Country

Posted on July 14, 2014 by

Earlier this year, after I wrote about the difficulty of finding the so-called “New California” wines, I was introduced to Aaron Epstein, a San Diego-based entrepreneur and new father who operates Le Metro. Wine. Underground, a subscription direct-to-consumer retailer. To use … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, California, Colorado, Eastern US, Local Wine, Rants, Riesling, Sparkling Wine, Texas, Virginia, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How much local is too much?

Posted on April 16, 2014 by

I find it amusing when people accuse me of not covering local wine enough in my weekly columns for The Washington Post. If anything, I’m leery that I may spend too much attention on local wines, which I find quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Local Wine, Rants, Wine | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

The End of Wine Blah Blahgs

Posted on April 1, 2014 by

April 1 – DATELINE: ONLINE – The wine blahgosphere fell eerily silent today when William Zinsser emerged from the heavens and told wine blahggers that the world isn’t all about them and they can only write about wine from now … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Rants, Weblogs, Wine, Wine Humor, writers | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Bordeaux: Too little, too late? It Depends(c).

Posted on January 28, 2014 by

My Washington Post column last week, which I posted here yesterday, generated considerable comment on the web and in emails back to me. Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast’s California reviewer, took issue on his blog with the thought that Bordeaux could ever appeal to U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bordeaux, California, France, Rants, Uncategorized, Washington Post, Weblogs, Wine, writers | Tagged , | 10 Comments

What’s ahead in 2014 for wine lovers?

Posted on January 6, 2014 by

New Year’s is crystal-ball season in a lot of respects – not just the ball that drops on Times Square, but all the figurative crystal balls that pundits and wine columnists gaze into to predict what the new year will … Continue reading →

Posted in Argentina, California, Chile, Local Wine, Portugal, Rants, Spain, Too Much Alcohol!, Wine | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Looking back on advice and predictions about Virginia wine

Posted on December 30, 2013 by

Recently I came across my copy of the Summer 2010 issue of Virginia Wine Lover, the enjoyable magazine edited by Patrick Evans-Hylton. Patrick had interviewed me for his “Quaff Quiz” feature, and reading it again I realized a few things. I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, DrinkLocalWine.com, Eastern US, Food and Drink, Local Wine, Rants, Regional Wine Week, Virginia, Wine | Tagged , | 17 Comments

The Mother Vine: Regional Wine’s Origin in the OBX

Posted on November 27, 2013 by

This article was the most fun I’ve had researching and writing about wine. It was my visit to pay homage to “the Mother Vine,” a side trip of convenience during my niece’s wedding last month on the Outer Banks of … Continue reading →

Posted in Eastern US, Local Wine, Rants, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

A Failed Tea Party with Hugh Johnson

Posted on November 21, 2013 by

When I first fell in love with wine, Hugh Johnson’s Vintage series ran on PBS stations here in the United States. I was enthralled by his presentation of wine’s history, its place in Western civilization and culture, and its romanticism. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Rants, Uncategorized, Wine, writers | Tagged , | 17 Comments