I tend to avoid politics here (and most everywhere else, to be honest), but I think this issue needs comments from all corners. HR 5034 is a bill working its way through Congress. It was introduced by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and is supported by the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America — [...]

Looking for a juicy, easy-drinking red for summer? And at a bargain price? You could hardly do much better than this eight-buck deal from Australia — perfect for summer grilling for a crowd! Alice White Shiraz South Eastern Australia ($8). Fresh, smooth, offering blackberry, currant and plum fruit on a medium-bodied frame. Refreshingly moderate in [...]

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down to lunch with James Hall, cofounder and winemaker at California’s much-esteemed Patz & Hall winery. For more than 20 years, James and his partners Donald Patz, Anne Moses and Heather Patz have focused exclusively on making Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They use grapes from many of California best [...]

Skip the boring, bottled cocktail sauce the next time you have a shrimp boil – instead add one (or more!) of these quick and flavorful dipping sauces to elevate the whole thing to flat out fabulous! Recipe: Sauce: Nuoc Cham This mouthwatering dipping sauce is a cinch to make – and combines the mouthwatering citrus and [...]

My first favorite rosé of the summer — and a bargain at just $12. Juicy, crisp, refreshing and works with more types of food than you might think. Try it! Jean-Luc Colombo 2009 Vin de Pays de Mediterranee Rosé Cape Bleue ($12). Easy to like (perhaps too easy!), with aromatic crushed strawberry and red cherry [...]

Time to stock up on bold reds to pair with summer grilling, but that doesn’t mean you have to cheap-out on plonk. Here are a few impressive wines that make delicious pairings with your backyard feast: Solena 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Grande Cuvee ($35). Very nice, with lovely bright cherry aromas and flavors accented with [...]

Upscale. Wildy popular. Boatloads of wine and food. Good cause. Sound like your cuppa? Then head to this year’s Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, running over Labor Day weekend, September 3-5. Here’s the skinny: The three-day, grape-to-glass harvest celebration combines the prestigious Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Ranch® and the iconic Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction [...]