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The right wine glass can make a big difference (10/8/14)Wine glasses are an integral part of the wine experience. That is a pretty strong statement but it is absolutely true. We spent many years scoffing at wine snobs with their special glasses but in truth, we were wrong; very, very wrong. We began our journey into wine glassware with a simple but very dramatic test. ...
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Taiwan brings their version of Scotch to the table (9/24/14)A third invasion of the United States began quietly on or around 1955 with the unheralded introduction of the Volkswagen. They appeared suddenly and their population grew in leaps and bonds. This was noticed by the Japanese who, in the mid '60s gave us the Datsun, now Nissan. ...
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Legendary wine maker continues his work (7/10/13)With the passing of Robert Mondavi, only one of stalwarts of the California wine industry is still with us, 90 year old Miljenko "Mike" Grgich who even at that advanced age is still involved in his wineries daily operation. The term genius is often misused to describe people but in the case of Mike Grgich, it is well placed. ...
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After all these years, Gallo is still king of the hill (7/4/13)Gallo, a name that has become synonymous with wine the world over. With the end of Prohibition on Dec. 5 1933, the Gallo Brothers, Ernest and Julio. went to a library and took out a pamphlet on making wine and from that simple beginning, a dynasty was born...
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Here's some suggestions in time to cool the summer heat (6/27/13)In the late 1800s, successful wine brokers the Flegenheimer Brothers had 12 wine stores in New York City. Does that name ring a bell? Just FYI and plus the fact we like dirty little tidbits, one of the most maniacal killers during the Prohibition era was Arthur Flegenheimer, better known to the world as Dutch Schultz; bootlegger, racketeer and founder of the infamous numbers racket. ...
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Let's celebrate summer with Barefoot Bubbly (6/19/13)Just in the event you haven't noticed, it's June, and in spite of all of the storms that have kept us inside for the beginning of the month, there is plenty of sunshine in our future. With June comes the time for marriages, sports events, outdoor parties and gala celebrations of all kinds...
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Some good things come in small (wine) boxes (6/6/13)Several weeks ago we wrote about the Big Green Box of wine. You know where there is a Big Green Box there will surely be a Little Green Box; and so there is. We held off telling you about the Little Green Box wines until the unofficial start of summer, the time of outdoor fun, food and games. ...
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Raise a toast to the wines of the Central Coast (5/29/13)Have you ever heard of the Edna Valley of California? It was, for many years during the Spanish Mission era, the prime wine grape growing region of California. Prohibition and the fruit products that replaced them all but eliminated grape growing in the area. ...
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2012 was a good year for California's wines (5/22/13)Just in the event that you have not noticed the 2012 vintages are now hitting the market and a fine vintage it is. Everything clicked in the grape growing regions of California; the weather, the temperature and even the cool evening breezes off of the Pacific Ocean all combining to produce one of the best growing seasons in a long time. The wines resulting from this gift from Mother Nature are now arriving on store shelves and in restaurants...
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Find inspiration with two new releases from Da Vinci (5/16/13)The Italians are coming! The Italians are coming! No wait a minute, they are already here. We are not referring to a sudden rush of Italian immigrants because the spaghetti crop failed but the latest imports of Italian wines. Italian wines are about as diverse as they come. ...
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Some accolades for new low calorie wines (5/8/13)It was inevitable, in this age of weight consciousness, that a low calorie wine would make its appearance; and so it has. Accolade Wines has just released a new line of low calorie wines called "The Light Grape" that have been made with flavor and aroma in mind as well as reduced calories...