Sundays Are For Sebastian #414 Sebastian is our seventeen-year-old son, and he says some of the funniest things–we have no idea where he gets his material since his mother and I are rather boring, serious people. For years, I have been trying to get my sons to learn how to cook. Nathan, who is away at grad school in Ohio, laments now that he never took me up on the offer.

Sundays Are For Sebastian #414

Sebastian is our seventeen-year-old son, and he says some of the funniest things–we have no idea where he gets his material since his mother and I are rather boring, serious people. For years, I have been trying to get my sons to learn how to cook. Nathan, who is…

Tales From: The Wachau, Austria (Part Two) A few months ago, I was sent a few wines from Austria to sample. I immediately recalled my only trip to perhaps Austria's most famous wine region, the Wachau Valley (even though none of the wines I received were from that region, but why get bogged down in details?). So, I thought I would republish the story of that fateful day along with the tasting notes of the wines (those are at the bottom of the page if you want to skip over my inane drivel).

Tales From: The Wachau, Austria (Part Two)

A few months ago, I was sent a few wines from Austria to sample. I immediately recalled my only trip to perhaps Austria's most famous wine region, the Wachau Valley (even though none of the wines I received were from that region, but why get bogged down…

Tales From: The Wachau, Austria (Part One) A few months ago, I was sent a few wines from Austria to sample. I immediately recalled my only trip to perhaps Austria's most famous wine region, the Wachau Valley (even though none of the wines I received were from that region, but why get bogged down in details?). So, I thought I would republish the story of that fateful day along with the tasting notes of the wines (those are at the bottom of the page if you want to skip over my inane drivel).

Tales From: The Wachau, Austria (Part One)

A few months ago, I was sent a few wines from Austria to sample. I immediately recalled my only trip to perhaps Austria's most famous wine region, the Wachau Valley (even though none of the wines I received were from that region, but why get bogged down…

Weekly Cellar Round-Up Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a few have been given as gifts).

Weekly Cellar Round-Up

Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a…

Muret-Gaston is French for Old Friends (not really, but it should be) Deuxième Partie Way back when, shortly after starting this website, the indefatigable Amy Johnson, half of the power duo that makes up Purple Star/Muret-Gaston Wines, contacted me and asked if she could send me samples. At the time, I had only received samples from, well, fringe wineries (one memorable bottle actually glowed in the dark so that it would be "easier to find in late-night hot-tub session"--I really wish I was joking).

Muret-Gaston is French for Old Friends (not really, but it should be) Deuxième Partie

Way back when, shortly after starting this website, the indefatigable Amy Johnson, half of the power duo that makes up Purple Star/Muret-Gaston Wines, contacted me and asked if she could send me samples. At the…

The Rise of Australian Wine Beyond Shiraz, Some Wines from Victoria (The Reds) This is the continuation of an article I published a couple of weeks ago... OK,  I'll admit it. Even though I author of one of this country's preeminent wine blogs (haha), until relatively recently, when I heard "Australian wine" I couldn't help but immediately think "Shiraz". And while it is true that what just about everyone else in the world calls "Syrah" is Australia's most-widely planted grape (and grown in just about all of the country's 65 wine regions), there is obviously much more to Australian wine.

The Rise of Australian Wine Beyond Shiraz, Some Wines from Victoria (The Reds)

This is the continuation of an article I published a couple of weeks ago... OK,  I'll admit it. Even though I author of one of this country's preeminent wine blogs (haha), until relatively recently, when I heard…

Weekly Cellar Round-Up Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a few have been given as gifts).

Weekly Cellar Round-Up

Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a…

Sundays Are For Sebastian Revisited (#291) I am out in Sonoma for the week, and as I sometimes do while traveling, I revisit a Sundays Are For Sebastian. This comes from exactly five years ago when Seba was twelve. Sebastian is my twelve-year-old and he says some of the funniest things–we have no idea where he gets his material since his mother and I are rather boring, serious people…

Sundays Are For Sebastian Revisited (#291)

I am out in Sonoma for the week, and as I sometimes do while traveling, I revisit a Sundays Are For Sebastian. This comes from exactly five years ago when Seba was twelve. Sebastian is my twelve-year-old and he says some of the funniest things–we have no…

Muret-Gaston is French for Old Friends (not really, but it should be) Way back when, shortly after starting this website, the indefatigable Amy Johnson, half of the power duo that makes up Purple Star/Muret-Gaston Wines, contacted me and asked if she could send me samples. At the time, I had only received samples from, well, fringe wineries (one memorable bottle actually glowed in the dark so that it would be "easier to find in late night hot-tub session"--I really wish I was joking).

Muret-Gaston is French for Old Friends (not really, but it should be)

Way back when, shortly after starting this website, the indefatigable Amy Johnson, half of the power duo that makes up Purple Star/Muret-Gaston Wines, contacted me and asked if she could send me samples. At the time, I had only…

The Day I Owned Paris (Almost) I recently found out that I will be heading back to Paris soon. Without a doubt, Paris is my favorite city in the world and although I have never technically lived there, I couldn't begin to estimate how much time I have spent in the French capital. Back when I was leading bike tours, Paris was the home base and most "down time" was spent there.

The Day I Owned Paris (Almost)

I recently found out that I will be heading back to Paris soon. Without a doubt, Paris is my favorite city in the world and although I have never technically lived there, I couldn't begin to estimate how much time I have spent in the French capital. Back when I was…

Weekly Cellar Round-Up Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a few have been given as gifts).

Weekly Cellar Round-Up

Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a…

Sundays Are For Sebastian #413 Sebastian is our seventeen-year-old son, and he says some of the funniest things–we have no idea where he gets his material since his mother and I are rather boring, serious people. Me: "When’s the last time you took the garbage out?" Sebastian: "Tuesday." Me: "Today’s Tuesday." Seba: "I didn’t say which Tuesday." 

Sundays Are For Sebastian #413

Sebastian is our seventeen-year-old son, and he says some of the funniest things–we have no idea where he gets his material since his mother and I are rather boring, serious people. Me: "When’s the last time you took the garbage out?" Sebastian: "Tuesday." Me:…

Discovering Le Cimate: Tradition Meets Modern Winemaking in Italy This past summer, I was fortunate enough to spend three weeks in Italy, much of which I have chronicled in this space. The first week I was there was spent in Umbria, with several wine professionals in a beautiful villa close to the middle of nowhere. One of the days during that week, we left the cozy confines of our little slice of Italy and headed to Montefalco, the center of Umbrian wine production and famed for Montefalco Sagrantino.

Discovering Le Cimate: Tradition Meets Modern Winemaking in Italy

This past summer, I was fortunate enough to spend three weeks in Italy, much of which I have chronicled in this space. The first week I was there was spent in Umbria, with several wine professionals in a beautiful villa close to the…

The Rise of Australian Wine Beyond Shiraz, Some Wines from Victoria OK,  I'll admit it. Even though I author one of this country's preeminent wine blogs (haha), until relatively recently when I heard "Australian wine" I couldn't help but immediately think "Shiraz". And while it is true that what just about everyone else in the world calls "Syrah" is Australia's most-widely planted grape (and grown in just about all of the country's 65 wine regions) there is obviously much more to Australian wine.

The Rise of Australian Wine Beyond Shiraz, Some Wines from Victoria

OK,  I'll admit it. Even though I author one of this country's preeminent wine blogs (haha), until relatively recently when I heard "Australian wine" I couldn't help but immediately think "Shiraz". And while it is true that what…

Weekly Cellar Round-Up Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a few have been given as gifts).

Weekly Cellar Round-Up

Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a…

Wine Review: Pisoni Family’s Exceptional Lucy Line

As I have mentioned several times in this space, my love for wine was born in Europe when I spent the summer months as a cycling tour guide, mostly in France. I was teaching at a boarding school in New York at the time and I doubt there was a…

Tasting Lake County Cabernet: A New Frontier? Not too long ago, I was invited to partake in an online tasting of wines from Lake County, California. What? Where? Yeah. I know. Lake County is not on the tip of anyone's tongue when it comes to California wine. In fact, I could count on one hand the number of wines that I have tried from Lake County.   But.

Tasting Lake County Cabernet: A New Frontier?

Not too long ago, I was invited to partake in an online tasting of wines from Lake County, California. What? Where? Yeah. I know. Lake County is not on the tip of anyone's tongue when it comes to California wine. In fact, I could count on one hand the…

Weekly Cellar Round-Up Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a few have been given as gifts).

Weekly Cellar Round-Up

Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a…

Praising … Arizona?

When I first started this blog, I was living in Pennsylvania, which has a vibrant wine industry, which, depending on which source you use, usually ranks fifth in total wine production. But let's face it, a lot of the wine produced in the Keystone State is, well, not very good.…

Lessons from Lincoln: A Journey Through the Loire Valley Growing up, I was absolutely fascinated with Abraham Lincoln. I am pretty sure ole Honest Abe was not much of a drinker, but back then neither was I (I was seven); the allure was centered around his writings and sayings. I read pretty much anything I could get my hands on concerning our 16th President. Primary, secondary, tertiary sources? It didn't matter; I wanted to read it.

Lessons from Lincoln: A Journey Through the Loire Valley

Growing up, I was absolutely fascinated with Abraham Lincoln. I am pretty sure ole Honest Abe was not much of a drinker, but back then neither was I (I was seven); the allure was centered around his writings and sayings. I read pretty much…

Craig Camp: Champion of Sustainable Winemaking

In a world that seemingly has decided to focus on the negative, I tend to relish every bit of good news that comes across one of my various screens. A handful of days ago, however, I did not have to search far as some great news was waiting for me in…

Weekly Cellar Round-Up Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a few have been given as gifts).

Weekly Cellar Round-Up

Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a…

The Random Samples—9/19/2025

It is time for another edition of “Random Samples”–I occasionally get samples from marketing agencies and/or producers. These can often be grouped together into some sort of over-arching theme: Drink Them and It Will Come, Summer is Here, So That Means (More) Rosé, If…

My Wine Wall of Shame: The Heavy Bottle Dilemma in Wine Industry Last week, I tried to figure out when I started mentioning bottle weight in my tasting notes. It has certainly been for several years now and I distinctly remember being out on a bit of an island when I began mentioning it. Now, others much more prominent than I have also taken up the cause, Jancis Robinson, Karen MacNeil, and Dave McIntyre, to name three.

My Wine Wall of Shame: The Heavy Bottle Dilemma in Wine Industry

Last week, I tried to figure out when I started mentioning bottle weight in my tasting notes. It has certainly been for several years now and I distinctly remember being out on a bit of an island when I began mentioning it. Now,…

Revisiting the 2008 Vintage in the Willamette Valley Normally, I try to keep up with "vintage reports", the assessments by "professionals" of the overall quality of a given region in a given year. They are meant to give the consumer an idea of what wines to buy and when to drink them. Generally speaking, wines from "good" years might be able to improve over time and wine from "not-so-good" years should wither be consumed in the short term or maybe avoided altogether.

Revisiting the 2008 Vintage in the Willamette Valley

Normally, I try to keep up with "vintage reports", the assessments by "professionals" of the overall quality of a given region in a given year. They are meant to give the consumer an idea of what wines to buy and when to drink them. Generally…

Sundays Are For Sebastian #412

Sebastian is our seventeen-year-old son, and he says some of the funniest things–we have no idea where he gets his material since his mother and I are rather boring, serious people. This past Spring, Sebastian was a camp counselor of sorts when the eighth grade at…

The Random Samples—9/12/2025

It is time for another edition of “Random Samples”–I occasionally get samples from marketing agencies and/or producers. These can often be grouped together into some sort of over-arching theme: Drink Them and It Will Come, Summer is Here, So That Means (More) Rosé, If…

From Panic to Success: A Wine Dinner Journey A few years ago, I was slotted to conduct a paid wine tasting and I had it all planned out; I had two mini-verticals (three bottles each), two different varieties, two producers. Since I didn't have to deal with the food at all, I was pretty proud of myself that I had it all planned out with three to four weeks to spare.

From Panic to Success: A Wine Dinner Journey

A few years ago, I was slotted to conduct a paid wine tasting and I had it all planned out; I had two mini-verticals (three bottles each), two different varieties, two producers. Since I didn't have to deal with the food at all, I was pretty proud of…

Are Wine-Based Cocktails the Future? My Tasting Experience Not too long ago, I was getting offers to review way more wine than I could realistically handle. While I still get plenty of wine, those offers have certainly subsided over the last couple of years. I guess I could examine why that is the case, but this little blog is actually more popular than ever (going by the statistics here on WordPress, so I am not too worried about it.

Are Wine-Based Cocktails the Future? My Tasting Experience

Not too long ago, I was getting offers to review way more wine than I could realistically handle. While I still get plenty of wine, those offers have certainly subsided over the last couple of years. I guess I could examine why that is the…

Tasting Notes: Rodney Strong and Davis Bynum Wines While I have been fortunate enough to receive wine samples for some time now, I still find it fun  when I get handed a box of bottles from the man in brown. Sure, there is responsibility involved as the producer is expecting me to taste and evaluate the wine (and hopefully write about it), but I can't lie, it is a bit like Christmas morning, ripping open the package to see what is inside.

Tasting Notes: Rodney Strong and Davis Bynum Wines

While I have been fortunate enough to receive wine samples for some time now, I still find it fun  when I get handed a box of bottles from the man in brown. Sure, there is responsibility involved as the producer is expecting me to taste and…