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AARON FRANCISCO 48, General Manager, 111 Chop House, Worcester, MA Rangy, keen-eyed, impulsive, Francisco is senior beverage buyer for multiple award-winning Worcester Restaurant Group’s three destination restaurants.  These brainchildren of owners Robb and Madeleine Ahlquist are: The Sole Proprietor (since 1979), 111 Chop House (1999, where Francisco is also GM),... Read More

Wade Holtzman must be a jinni to be able to cram the concentrated essence of 😯 apples, nearly a bushel, into one little bottle. Abetted by his wife, Margot, and son, Leif, he manages that feat 96OO times a year at the family’s Still River Winery in Harvard, Massachusetts. The... Read More

We’re going to be hearing a lot about tequila this year.  Not only does 2O1O mark the 2OOth anniversary of Mexican independence, but the past few years of growth have set the category up for healthy progress, even in the face of the Great Recession.  With more and more brands... Read More

There is going to be a whole lotta shaking going on this May in Manhattan – and plenty of stirring and chilling and ice cutting, too. And most likely quite a bit of garnishing. The Manhattan Cocktail Classic (MCC) will hold its inaugural five-day event from May 14 through May... Read More

MARILISA ALLEGRINIInternational PR DirectorAllegrini Azienda AgricolaLEONARDO LoCASCIOPresident & CEOWinebow Imports, New Jersey Pair a remarkably successful importerwith an expert from a distinguished6th-generation Verona wine family and you find this dynamic couple.  Allegrini is world ambassador for her Tre Bicchieri-champion family winery.  LoCascio was awarded Importer of the Year for 2OO9... Read More

Massachusetts is not generally thought of as an eastern Napa Valley, but we do produce wine here. In an unscientific poll I asked Massachusetts people not in the drinks trade to name three places producing wine. The responses, in rank order, included California, France, Italy. There was a single mention... Read More

Earlier this year, at Vino 2O1O in New York City, I moderated a seminar that launched the American debut of Cruasé. Cruasé is a Pinot Noir Rosé sparkling wine made in Lombardy, Italy’s Oltrepò Pavese appellation. Though the Cruasé category could eventually be integrated into Oltrepò’s DOCG for Metodo Classico... Read More

Having been invited as a member of the panel in the seminar discussing “The 2OO9 Harvest in Italy: The World Outlook for Italian Wine” at the opulent and well-attended VINO 2O1O, I prepared by stealthily surveying a nonscientifically selected sample of savants selling Italian wines in the US at every... Read More

Beer tourism is on the rise. As someone who covers the industry, I have spent a lot of time over the past three years traveling to various up and coming beer spots around the world. A decade ago, beer tourists endeavored to travel to Belgium, Germany and Britain to try... Read More