A tale of two (wine) media
So…this happened: the wines I import from Domaine Marion Pla in the Languedoc got a lovely review in the Washington Post. I didn’t know about it, though, and was surprised when I started getting...
View Article21st century independence, French style
Back in one of my previous ramblings about what’s changed over the time I’ve been importing wine, I wrote that I thought there were more independent producers in the Rhône Valley and the Languedoc than...
View ArticleThanksgiving Roundup
Over the years of this blog’s existence, we’ve put out plenty of recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers, but not too many for Thanksgiving dinner itself. The rationale for this was simple: most of you...
View ArticleFour things I learned about wine this year
Another year nearly done. Time for another “Things I Learned” blog post, right? Unlike previous attempts, though, there’s a twist this year. All of these topics have pushed me to do more digging,...
View ArticlePlease vote for this blog!
You may have noticed the badge at the top of the column of links on the right of this page. I learned last month that I was a finalist for a Millésima Wine Blog Award in the Wine and Technology …...
View ArticleWhat I didn’t realize about the wine writing world
A bit more than a week ago, I went to Brooklyn for the Food Writers’ Workshop. I learned more than a few useful things, but those aren’t what struck me most. At the last wine bloggers’ conference I...
View ArticleHas wine marketing finally left the 1990s behind?
I got my first 2019 Father’s Day wine marketing e-mail today. As I read it, it occurred to me that this is the first time in all my years as a wine importer/retailer that the copy didn’t come across...
View ArticleWine isn’t always a luxury, but writing about it is
A couple of posts ago I wrote about a food writers’ workshop that was much more diverse than any wine writing event I’d ever attended. I’m sad to say it showed me that I’d never questioned what...
View ArticleTwo more reasons wine writing is less diverse than food writing
This is my third post about the lack of diversity in the wine writing world, especially compared to the world of food writing. The first post framed the issue and the second set out the financial...
View ArticleA stopped clock is right about sustainability
I never thought I’d find myself agreeing with Republican pollster and PR wordblitzer Frank Luntz. But in a recent Washington Post article, writer Dan Zak recounted some of Luntz’s testimony before...
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A holiday gift — be at peace with drinking wine just because you like it
I set out to examine why many wine drinkers seem to need their wine to be a health beverage. Part of it is wrapped up in the whole issue of what constitutes health, and why it has become a necessary...
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Limiting pesticides in wine — and a little of my skepticism, too
The Zero Pesticide Residue Label that will appear on wines certified by Nouveaux-Champs. The organization has begun to certify wines and one of the producers is a winery I used to import from. This...
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How dry we were?
For the past five years or so, the idea of alcohol-free Januarys has caught on in many countries. There are many motivations, but it’s mostly perceived as a health benefit. This particular photo comes...
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A smile for everyone on a ride around the world
Twenty-two-year-old Hideyuki Miyakawa on a round-the-world bike trip in 1960. Hide stopped in Turin to see the famed auto show, met an Italian woman, and stayed for decades. He’s the founder and owner...
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Why I love Wine PR — and why I’ll be writing more often
I rigorously unsubscribe from most e-mail lists, but I stay on the ones for wine-related PR because of pitches for things like this. A few days ago, Philadelphia-based fashion and culture bloggers Tom...
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Social Distancing Installment #2: The start of neo-prohibition?
Dr. Aiysha Malik discusses the potential for alcohol abuse during self-isolation from the Covid-19 outbreak. This has led some opinion writers to call for a ban on alcohol sales. In a recent op-ed...
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Social Distancing Installment #3: Cook with what you’ve got
Trying to cook with the ingredients at home these days — and no one is better at using pantry goods for meals than Jack Monroe. She has started a Twitter feed to help people with questions, and that...
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Social Distancing Installment #4: Sourdough madness
Although it has puffed up to about 2 cups, this is a cup of sourdough starter ready for use. I was reluctant to try it since lots of starter recipes waste flour. But with this one you start small and...
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Social Distancing Installment #5: Eat and drink what you like
If your fond memory of a perfect food and wine pairing — where each enhanced the other to the point of transcendence — also contained a view like this one, then you’re not likely to experience the same...
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Social Distancing Installment #6: Earth Day and wine
Clusters of new wine grapes in spring. This time of year the vines expend lots of energy and take more from the environment. Will the recent lockdown that has led to less transportation pollution have...
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