Tempranillo as Tinta de Toro
SPANISH SHAPE-SHIFTER The grape we usually call tempranillo slyly changes its character and, especially, its name whenever it senses a new ethos. Probably native to northern Spain, where it is the dominant grape variety, it is Spain’s best grape. It is best known in the Rioja as tempranillo, and in... Read More
OBITUARY: Henri Krug 75
The former president of Maison Krug Champagne, died on Thursday, March 7. He was the fifth generation to oversee the production of the legendary Champagne, along with his younger brother Rémi. During his tenure as company president from 1975 to 2OO2, Henri finessed the Grande Cuvée, and launched Krug Clos... Read More
OBITUARY: Jim Barrett 86
The founder of Napa Valley’s infamous Chateau Montelena passed away on March 14. Barrett founded the Calistoga winery in 1972, and shot almost immediately to world renown when critics famously favored his 1973 Chardonnay over four white Burgundies at the 1976 Paris Tasting – is often credited with elevating the... Read More
ALCOHOL’S HEALTH BENEFITS JUST CAN’T GET NO RESPECT
Although happy to collect the taxes, our federal government has been most uncomfortable admitting that alcohol can provide any benefit, particularly to health. Divisions of the government, like the National Institutes of Health, and organizations it helps support, such as the American Heart Association and the World Health Organization, try... Read More
ENDANGERED COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH: MAKE MINE A MARTINI
Consider the Martini. Iconic, misunderstood, misconstrued. Of the all drinks in the cocktail cannon, the beverage you are often served as a martini could not be further from its classic incarnation. Here’s why: 1 A Martini is a drink, not a glass. Referring to the stemmed, conical-shaped vessel that traditionally... Read More
SENSATIONAL SOMMELIER
This is a man who knows wine. Paolo Basso has beaten off competition from 53 other hopefuls to be named Best Sommelier in the World. The 47-year-old Swiss-Italian was crowned champion at the 14th finals held by the Association de la Sommelerie Internationale in Japan. The global contest takes place... Read More
GROWLERS OF WINE
Over the last few years, the beer growler concept has become extremely popular. So if it’s good for beer drinkers, why not wine lovers? Well in Oregon it now is. The state Senate recently voted unanimously to let wineries, restaurants, grocery stores and wine shops dispense wine in consumer-supplied growlers... Read More
CHAMPAGNE HEIST
Apparently, even thieves have Champagne tastes. More than three and a half thousand bottles of Champagne worth €3OO,OOO (US $388,OOO) have been stolen from acclaimed grower Jacques Selosse in an extremely well-organized heist. The Avize-based domain lost well over 5% of its average annual production in the raid. Stolen bottles... Read More
DINNER WITH A RELUCTANT WINE EXPERT
On book tour mid-January, Eric Asimov, the new york times’ “Chief Wine Critic”, made a whistle-stop at Harvard Coop in Cambridge to reading from his first full-length wine book, How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto.* The book came about during Asimov’s current post as wine critic, held since... Read More
OPUS ONE
Every observer with even a passing interest in California wine knows the Opus One story of trans-Atlantic collaboration between two of the Twentieth Century’s most visionary wine personalities. What’s less clear to some is the status of the iconic Napa Valley winery since the passing of both Robert Mondavi and... Read More