Until not so many years ago, Planeta was probably the only Sicilian winery that most people — even many wine professionals — could name. In the last few years, there have been a lot of new names and wines coming from Sicily — many of which are very good and helping to shatter the longstanding, oversimplified image [...]
Read more →Fall is in the air in New York, which for some reason made me remember the first time I visited Blue Fin restaurant. Three memories stand out: the great service, the delish lobster roll, and those addictive seeded flatbreads — hope they’re all still there! Here’s the scoop: A recent weekend of holiday insanity in New [...]
Read more →Here’s a video showing David Munksgard, master winemaker at Iron Horse Vineyards in Northern California, giving a quick overview of disgourging and bottling sparkling wine. Interesting!
Read more →A recent tour of Mendocino & Anderson Valley (more about that to come) ended with an overnight at C. Donatiello Winery in Healdsburg. Founded in 2006 and lodged in a beautifully redone winery that used to house Belvedere (indeed, Bill and Sally Hambrecht are partners in the new winery), C. Donatiello specializes in Russian River Valley [...]
Read more →Fall is officially here — which doesn’t necessarily mean cooler temperatures everywhere (yet!), but does seem to turn the page from the search for affordable whites to the desire for affordable reds. Here are five I’ve tasted lately — each for less than twenty bucks: Dievole 2007 Fourplay Sicilia ($18). A Nero d’Avola blend, this offers [...]
Read more →Here are two tasty reds from Layer Cake — both carrying $15 pricetags. One is from Australia and is super ripe and lush (but not overly alcoholic), the other is a restrained Primitivo (aka Zinfandel) from Italy. Enjoy! Layer Cake 2008 Shiraz South Australia ($15). Lush, lipsmacking black fruits, blueberry pie and intense dark chocolate pick [...]
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