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36 results across all types
- news
Paul Cullen Finds a New Rhythm Beyond Bad Company
More than ten years ago, I met Paul Cullen, former Bad Company bassist who had entered his next stage as a chef focusing on Italian recipes paired with Italian wines. At the time, Paul already had a reputation on the East Coast of being engaging and entertaining but also as someone who had an art […] READ MORE The post Paul Cullen Finds a New Rhythm Beyond Bad Company appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Pour a Glass and Open the Door for Come Over October
Who’s ready for a glass of wine shared with a friend or two? I always am, but often daily life unfolds into a very busy 12+ hours. Before I know it, the wine window is closed! However, I am diligent about making time with friends and family for a conversation, a lunch or dinner, and […] READ MORE The post Pour a Glass and Open the Door for Come Over October appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Provence Cuisine Meets Tuscan Wine with Savory Mushroom Galette and Bell’Aja 2021 Bolgheri Superiore
An anytime favorite in my house is a savory baked mushroom galette accompanied by a spinach salad for lunch and/or roasted herb chicken for dinner. Of course, a glass of Bell’Aja 2021 Bolgheri Superiore from Tuscany is poured no matter which meal! French cuisine and Italian winemaking style is always a flavorful taste sensation. My […] READ MORE The post Provence Cuisine Meets Tuscan Wine with Savory Mushroom Galette and Bell’Aja 2021 Bolgheri Superiore appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Four Israeli Wines Rooted in Faith, Heritage and History
Just when we were ready to throw in the towel and choose another Chardonnay or Pinot Noir to sip with dinner, the Israeli Wine Producers Association (IWPA) graciously sent to me (as samples) four bottles of intriguing wines. Thank you! It has been quite a while since I have had wines from Israel and I […] READ MORE The post Four Israeli Wines Rooted in Faith, Heritage and History appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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An Evening with Resident in New York City Showcases the Art of Pairing Food and Wine
On a balmy Wednesday evening in August, I made my way to an address in Manhattan I knew well enough but had never visited before: the Copper building on 1st avenue on the east side. This building is quite the architectural marvel, more like two pillars of copper precariously balanced against each other, one inclined […] READ MORE The post An Evening with Resident in New York City Showcases the Art of Pairing Food and Wine appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Fifteen Years of Grape Experiences: Savoring the World, One Glass at a Time
September 2016 marks a milestone, both personal and professional. It is the anniverary of 15 years of writing consistently about wine, food, and travel on my site, Grape Experiences! At its inception in 2011, I was still teaching Early Childhood Special Education in the public school system but had officially scheduled my retirement for four […] READ MORE The post Fifteen Years of Grape Experiences: Savoring the World, One Glass at a Time appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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A Toast to 110 Years of Gil Family Estates
Gil Family Estates, an award-winning wine producer from Spain is celebrating its 110th anniversary. The tradition of winemaking began in 1916 when Juan Gil Gimenez, the great-grandfather of the current generation, built the original winery in the Jumilla region of southern Spain. Continuing the family endeavor was Juan Gil Guerrero and his sons, Juan Gil […] READ MORE The post A Toast to 110 Years of Gil Family Estates appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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La Farra Prosecco Superiore Sparkles With a Low Country Seafood Boil
Summer is starting to wind down with children returning to school, sunsets beginning a few minutes earlier, and the weather starting to cool off (in some parts of the world!). In the United States, Labor Day weekend signals this shift and although many of us aren’t quite ready for pumpkin spice, we can at least […] READ MORE The post La Farra Prosecco Superiore Sparkles With a Low Country Seafood Boil appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Mendes & Symington’s Contacto Alvarinho 2025 is a Brilliant Expression of Vinho Verde
Elegance and authenticity are in each bottle of Alvarinho produced in the northern areas of Portugal. Having visited the regions four times, my fascination with this indigenous grape is endless. When I received a recent opportunity to taste Mendes & Symington’s Contacto Alvarinho 2025 ($22) as a sample, no hesitation was needed. If this grape […] READ MORE The post Mendes & Symington’s Contacto Alvarinho 2025 is a Brilliant Expression of Vinho Verde appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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At Cattleya, Names Have Meaning, Wines Have Soul
I always look forward to the opportunity to chat with and sip wines produced by Bibiana Gonzalez Rave, founder and owner of Cattleya Wines. Our latest conversation was with a handful of journalists who had been sent four bottles of beautiful Cattleya wines (as samples) for tasting and learning. As always, Bibiana was as comfortable […] READ MORE The post At Cattleya, Names Have Meaning, Wines Have Soul appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Paris Welcomed Us to the Table at Le Fumoir, a Hidden Gem to Discover
This past spring, eight ladies including me spent a luxurious five days discovering nuances of Paris that are not on the typical play list. Planned one year ago, I hosted this band of Francophiles who clearly, by the end of the trip, exuded a true joie de vivre. For four full days and an evening […] READ MORE The post Paris Welcomed Us to the Table at Le Fumoir, a Hidden Gem to Discover appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Understanding Italy through Wine – What Makes Italy the Most Diverse Wine-Producing Country on Earth?
What do Italian cars have to do with Italian wine? Everything, apparently. Turns out, Italian cars are as fundamental to the DNA of Italian culture and way of life as Italian wine! The brand Fiat, for example, is as synonymous with Italy as is say, Barolo, Brunello, or Chianti. Now, you may be wondering why […] READ MORE The post Understanding Italy through Wine – What Makes Italy the Most Diverse Wine-Producing Country on Earth? appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Finding Stillness Through MindTravel Silent Piano Concert and Luxury Candlelight from Trudon
How do you find calm so that you can truly relax? With a good book, a meandering stroll in the neighborhood, a perfect dinner and glass of wine, or…? I have many ways to unwind and during the last week, I found two more that soothed my senses and spirit. Asked to attend for media […] READ MORE The post Finding Stillness Through MindTravel Silent Piano Concert and Luxury Candlelight from Trudon appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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10 Reasons Peter Stafford-Bow’s Black Odesa Is a Deliciously Unpredictable Read
Our favorite wine buyer and scofflaw, Felix Hart, is at it again. Peter Stafford-Bow’s latest novel, Black Odesa, is about the ever-so-randy Hart; it is Stafford-Bow’s fifth in the series of highly entertaining tomes. Stafford-Bow explains, “Felix Hart, a handsome and morally flexible wine executive, finds himself arrested, fired from his job and penniless. Tempted […] READ MORE The post 10 Reasons Peter Stafford-Bow’s Black Odesa Is a Deliciously Unpredictable Read appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Latest Pours from Cantina Tramin, Alto Adige’s Legendary Cooperative
Chilled white wines (sent as samples) were poured and on the table as our group of journalists, as part of a virtual tasting, swirled, sipped and learned about Cantina Tramin, a highly regarded wine cooperative in Tramin, Alto Adige located in northern Italy. Cantina Tramin is noted for its quality whites cultivated in cool climate vineyards […] READ MORE The post Latest Pours from Cantina Tramin, Alto Adige’s Legendary Cooperative appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Echoes of Wine on SOMM TV Lingers Long After the Credits Roll
Many of us know how wine is made, but how many of us understand where wine was conceived? Now, thanks to two time James Beard award winning producers Christine and Jason Wise of SOMM TV, Echoes of Wine, their latest film, reveals not only the secrets of Georgia’s viticulture but the humble people who reflect […] READ MORE The post Echoes of Wine on SOMM TV Lingers Long After the Credits Roll appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Pour Provence Rosé and Let the Celebration Begin
Decades ago, I spent a summer in Paris between my junior and senior years in college. As I immersed myself in French culture from sun-up to sundown, my love for travel was solidified as was my new-found adoration of good wine paired with food. A particularly fond memory of that summer was the annual Bastille […] READ MORE The post Pour Provence Rosé and Let the Celebration Begin appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Pedroncelli Courage 2022 Zinfandel Captures the Soul of Dry Creek Valley’s Family-Owned Wineries
Just recently, I enjoyed dinner with good friends at the Navy Pier Marina in Chicago. An array of items including appetizers, sushi, Italian beef, salads, sides, and desserts were offered buffet-style to those of us with palates needing to be satiated after a few hours of boating, conversation, and laughter. Each of us, some wine […] READ MORE The post Pedroncelli Courage 2022 Zinfandel Captures the Soul of Dry Creek Valley’s Family-Owned Wineries appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Sangiovese Finds Its Magnificent Expression at Fattoria della Talosa in Montepulciano
Located in Montepulciano, a historic Italian town between Valdichiana and Val d’Orcia, is one of its most prestigious wineries, Fattoria della Talosa. Along with superior wines are barrel cellars and a tasting room in underground tunnels excavated by the Etruscans over 2200 years ago, then used as military bunkers during World War II. Intrigued? After […] READ MORE The post Sangiovese Finds Its Magnificent Expression at Fattoria della Talosa in Montepulciano appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Grill, Pour, Repeat! Find the Perfect Red for the Barbecue
It’s time to fire up the grill, don the apron, and wield the flipper and fork to make the juiciest steaks, kabobs, or barbecued chicken in the entire neighborhood. Right now, I’m thinking of a sizzling rib eye and a few cheeseburgers to tantalize a few friends and family this weekend. Of course, this festivus […] READ MORE The post Grill, Pour, Repeat! Find the Perfect Red for the Barbecue appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Affordable Wines Worth Seeking are w/o Wines from Sicily via Laithwaites
Direct from Sicily (and with a little help from Laithwaites Wines) are w/o wines. Third generation winemaker Dino Taschetta has crafted three wines sent as samples and reviewed below with the mantra of “wine without compromise.” And what does this mean? Those at w/o wines encourage wine lovers to enjoy sips that offer the essence […] READ MORE The post Affordable Wines Worth Seeking are w/o Wines from Sicily via Laithwaites appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Two Standout Wines of Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough in New Zealand
When you’re looking for a wine that is guaranteed to delight, look no further than the diverse array of wine varieties and styles from New Zealand. Although New Zealand produces only 1% of the world’s wine, I know that you’ll find one to appreciate and thoroughly enjoy. How about Sauvignon Blanc (the variety that put New […] READ MORE The post Two Standout Wines of Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough in New Zealand appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Winemaker Jeremy Ligon Raises the Bar at Barrel Oak Winery in Virginia
It’s always a pleasure to learn about then taste wine from my home state, Virginia. Although I live in sunny California where so many wines are stunning, I must admit that there are many excellent examples of our favorite beverage within the Virginia wine industry. One of those producers includes Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery […] READ MORE The post Winemaker Jeremy Ligon Raises the Bar at Barrel Oak Winery in Virginia appeared first on Grape Experiences .
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Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2016: A Horizontal Tasting Showcasing True Tuscan Excellence
I have been to my fair share of wine trade events in the past few years and most of them have followed the same format. However, I did not expect what was in store for me when I attended the Chianti Classico Grand Tasting event at Ai Fiori in New York City, a few weeks […] READ MORE The post Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2016: A Horizontal Tasting Showcasing True Tuscan Excellence appeared first on Grape Experiences .