One of my (many) “new favorite things” from recent visit to Italy’s Alto Adige region was Moscato Rosa. I’d never heard of it before this trip, and, frankly, specific answers were hard to come by. Some said Moscato Rosa was an entirely different grape from the two usual suspects: Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains and Muscat [...]

So… anyone who reads this site knows that I’m a Calera fan. No point in trying to be coy at this point. And I recently tasted a batch of current releases that I’m going to rave about shortly. (As an aside, I actually did taste the new Calera Pinots blind, in a mix with other [...]

Thanks to a combination of the efforts of a diligent PR rep (thanks Thea!) as well as a couple of happy coincidence moments, I’ve tasted a handful of Picpoul de Pinets lately. Pic what, you say? Picpoul de Pinet. PICK-pool de pin-AYE. (I’ve never been too great at that phonetic spelling business, but I think [...]

Happy Labor Day to all! Since this day unofficially marks the end of summer, I thought I’d offer up a few summer refreshers as well as some luscious reds to get you ready for fall. Enjoy! WHITE Broadbent NV Vinho Verde ($11). Easy drinking, juicy peach and citrus flavors, with a clean, refreshing, lightly mineral-laced finish. [...]

This isn’t particularly wine related, but, to quote someone who completely entertains me, it gives me “a ridiculous amount of joy” — enjoy! Thanks Marcy (who rocks her own special tune at the Houston Wine Merchant). Hey, this is wine related!

Check out this refreshing, unoaked Chardonnay to see you through the end of this long, hot summer. It’s a great patio wine all on its own, but also matches nicely with seasonal fare like cold seafood salads, grilled prawns and picnic-style deviled chicken. Ad Lib 2008 Chardonnay Margaret River Tree Hugger ($17). Fresh and easy [...]

Premium-priced wine from Italy has had a rough time of it lately. Between the Brunello controversy, the questions currently circulating about the quality of the 2006 Barolo vintage, and the overall economic downturn and its effects on global wine prices, I would imagine that Italy may be in the unenviable position of being the exception to [...]