Chelminski and His Book
In his new book, I’ll Drink to That: Beaujolais and the French Peasant Who Made It the World’s Most Popular Wine, author Rudolph Chelminski charts the rise and fall and inevitable rise again (if he has anything to do with it) of the Beaujolais empire. The French peasant his too-long... Read More
Chianti Classico
For many years, Chianti Classico has wanted little to do with Chianti. From 1932 until 1996, Chianti Classico was legally a subzone of Chianti. Chianti Classico, however, felt and continues to feel that Chianti blemishes its image. The overall standard of quality of Chianti is lower than that of Chianti... Read More
Revisiting the French Paradox
Not quite the solution to the french paradox. Just before Christmas 2OO1, the research group led by Roger Corder, PhD, at the William Harvey Research Institute in London, stimulated a flurry of excitement by publishing a brief communication in nature. proposing an explanation of the French paradox and of the... Read More
Beer’s Future
THE HOP CRISIS The celebrations of craft beer producers have a darkening cloud hanging over them. The talk among brewers and distributors in recent months has turned from their recent successes to the possibility of a severe shortage of raw materials for use in the brewing process. While craft brewers... Read More
IT’S BEER by a BUBBLE
AFTER A RATHER DISCOURAGING couple of years, beer has something to cheer about. The annual Gallup Poll recently reported that beer edged out wine as the adult beverage of choice in the US. The percentage of Americans who drink any type of alcohol is stable, though the poll shows that... Read More
Cognac
Here, at the beginning of 2004, I confess to feeling like a total square. After weeks of research and interviews for this current, annual, in-depth Cognac category profile, any conceit that there might still be something hip and contemporary about me has been quickly shattered. By ROBERT BRADFORD I always... Read More
A Visit With Frank Duboeuf
We’ve all heard of the terrible, torrid summer of 2003 in Europe. It was not wholly a bad thing, for some good wine will come out of it. By HARVEY FINKEL Franck Duboeuf, son of Georges, the highly successful and respected Beaujolais negociant, visited recently, and I was able to... Read More
Brunello di Montalcino
Italy remains, by far, our number one source of imported wine in the United States. However, because consumers at the luxury end of the market remain largely unfamiliar with its multiplicity of names, regions and grape varieties, Italian wine is rarely a first choice at business gatherings or celebrations unless... Read More
Argyle’s Graig Eastman
Pulling holiday wines from the cellar brought to mind last spring’s tour of Willamette Valley, Oregon. (Argyle’s crisp and nutty 1997 Brut and plummy 2001 Pinot Noir would be gracing my festive sideboard of All-American entries.) By FRED BOUCHARD A visit to Argyle Winery, middle-aged by Oregon’s youthful standards at... Read More