And with Austrian wines today…
Austrians, however, have totally renovated and moved forward their wine industry, from the low-cost-driven sweet wine industry that prevailed in the 197Os and early 198Os to the dry, mid-priced wines that characterize today’s industry. The pivot point for this change was 1985 when unethical producers adulterated wine with di-ethylene glycol.... Read More
And making one really great Hooker in Connecticut…
Craft brewing is a New England tradition that took hold and made major inroads into big brewing. After Sam Adams came – among others – Harpoon, Ipswich, Tremont, and Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts; Geary’s, Shipyard, Sea Dog, and Atlantic in Maine; Catamount, Long Trail, Magic Hat, and Otter Creek in... Read More
Full Sails Brewing: Jamie Emmerson
Based in the heart of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, the Full Sail Brewing Company of Hood River, Oregon, is one of America’s oldest craft breweries. The brewery is an interesting melange of personalities and attitudes, ranging from assertive American-style ale lovers to hard core Germanophiles. Backed by its powerful... Read More
The Rest of the Gin Story.
DEAR SUBSCRIBERS Due to a production error, a very important ingredient was omitted from last month’s Gin article, unfortunately altering the ultimate flavor of its final presentation. With my apologies to you, our readership, Old Raj importer Henry Preiss, owner of Preiss Imports, and Robert Bradford, here is, in full,... Read More
Breaking the Rules with Tania Oseguera.
The private dining room at Casa Romero was small. The undertaking was not.Tania Oseguera, brand ambassador for Corzo and Cazadores tequilas, set the tone for the night when she notified the small group that tonight was “an opportunity to break the rulesâ€. Breaking is one thing, but she didn’t warn... Read More
Look Who’s Talkin’ Green
The notion of organic products is not a particularly new trend, nor is the idea of “going green†to reduce the all-important carbon imprint on a global level. But we’ve all noticed that efforts towards both endeavors have been significantly ramped up, especially in the last two years. This is... Read More
Profile: Max Toste
MAX TOSTE • 32 • Co-owner & Bar Manager • Deep Ellum, Allston, MA This destination bar has come a long way since opening after New Year’s 2OO7. These keen guys and gals, apprentice masters of good taste, could be top deejays. I spoke with candid, dedicated co-owner Max Toste... Read More
Value from the vine.
It’s no surprise perhaps that with all of the economic upheavals we’ve experienced, the first half of 2OO8 has seen some dramatic shifts in long term wine consumption trends. Whether or not we are in a recession or heading into one, it’s indisputable that the dollar is at one of... Read More
A Rodney Strong Showing.
Rick Sayre, the eloquent director of winemaking at Rodney Strong Vineyards of Sonoma, presided recently at one of the dinners of the Boston Harbor Hotel’s Boston Wine Festival, giving me a chance to catch up on the wines and on the estimable Daniel Bruce’s kitchen handiwork. Rodney Strong, the eponymous... Read More