Italy produces a surprisingly large amount of sparkling wine with a combination of Moscato, Prosecco, Lambrusco, and other Spumante/Frizzante. Most of it is meant for daily consumption and is priced between $10 and $20, but an... Read More
Rieslings from Wachau offer a distinct perspective into the king of white grapes. Whereas the rest of Austria uses Germany's terms for ripeness (i.e., Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese), Wachau producers in western Niederösterreich... Read More
While many Champagne houses have gone the way of multinational ownership, Billecart remains a family business after more than 200 years. Established in 1818 with the marriage of Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth... Read More
In a world that wants the driest possible bubbly, there is such prejudice against off-dry Champagne. However, it was once the dominant style in the 19th century, and we still love it! Demi-sec is the last stop before Doux Champagne,... Read More
Sonoma's Old Hill Ranch dates back to 1851 but devolved into a 24-acre bushy junkyard until Otto Teller (Will Bucklin's stepfather) saved it in 1981. The Ancient Field Blend comes from a 12-acre plot planted in 1885. It... Read More
Saint-Estèphe doesn't have the prestige of its neighbor to the south, Pauillac, but it's a much more affordable AOC with some famous Chateaux like Cos d'Estournel. Incidentally, Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel... Read More
John Graham (of the Graham's Port dynasty) opened his Port house in 1981 and named it after his first wife, Caroline Churchill. About twenty years later, Churchill lost its fruit source but was lucky enough to purchase the... Read More
Coturri is like no other Zin you've ever tasted. In fact, you'll love this even if you can't stand Zinfandel. It's a wild ride from Sonoma Mountain with organic, chemical-free, old-vine, dry-farmed fruit that is... Read More
In the pantheon of dessert wines, there are French Sauternes, German Trockenbeerenauslese, TBA for short, and Hungarian Tokaji. They are also examples of wines made of botrytized (aszú) grapes, i.e., those withered on the... Read More
Cyril is the 5th generation of Audoins to work the family land in the village of Marsannay (at the northern tip of Côte de Nuits). There are now 34 acres that extend over parcels Champs-Salomon, Les Crais, Herbues, La Pucine,... Read More
There was a time when Châteauneuf-du-Pape was rustic and powerful, yet nuanced and complex after long aging. However, it was then influenced by reviewers, and winemakers began bombarding us with the same excessive fruit,... Read More
