France’s Loire Valley is probably best known for two of its white wines: Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume — both Sauvignon Blanc-based wines, and both often fetching premium prices. But outside those two communes is a host of white wine choices made from Sauvignon as well as Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne and even some Chardonnay (usually a small percentage in [...]

I recently had lunch with Mike Martini and tasted through the range of Cabernets from historic California winery, Louis M. Martini. Lunch was great fun (thanks Mike!), and the wines were — as usual — very nice. The main thing that always strikes me about Martini Cabs is that there is a quality wine available at an [...]

I recently received a lineup of samples from Paso Robles winery Minassian-Young Vineyards. According to the winery’s website, Minassian-Young is owned by husband-wife team David and Amparo Young, who also make the wines. Grapes are sourced from a 12-acre estate vineyard that used to be part of the Peachy Canyon holdings that the Youngs purchased [...]

This is shaping up to be a summer-of-Feta for me… Seems every year some one ingredient captures my summer mood and holds it for the season — some years it’s cantaloupe, or tomatoes, or mint. This year, Feta. Apparently, in the EU, the term “Feta” is legally protected and can only be used for cheese [...]

This yearly contest is great fun — check it out! America’s unsung dinnertime heroes are invited to test their skills in the fourth annual Rías Baixas Albariño Recipe Pairing Contest, a challenge that pairs amateur chefs’ original recipes with this versatile white wine. This year, contestants will go head-to-head in the kitchen for a chance [...]

If there’s anything better than baby lamb chops hot off the grill, I have a hard time imagining it… On those rare occasions that I can stop myself from just eating them out of hand, directly from the platter, happily risking singed fingertips, I like to toss together this quick couscous side to go with. [...]

Yes, it’s true… I’m still bringing back content from the “old” site. (Will it ever end?) Now I’m wading through the former “Soup to Nuts” feature to bring you some tasty Nibbles. I have the opportunity to taste a slew of gourmet goodies that run the gamut from nuts to spirits to sweets and everything in [...]