by Lee Romano Sequeira
Ever picked up a bottle of Shiraz and thought, Wait, isn’t this just Syrah? Or maybe you’ve stumbled upon Garnacha and Grenache and wondered, Are these secret twins separated at birth? You’re not alone! Let’s decode the delicious mystery of why some wines seem to have aliases. It’s All About Geography, Darling. Just like your friend Ashley who insists on being called Ash in certain circles, grapes sometimes adopt new names based on where they’re grown. Take Shiraz and Syrah, for example. Syrah hails from France, where it thrives in the Rhône Valley. The name sounds sophisticated, doesn’t it? Très français. But take that same grape Down Under to Australia, and voilà—it’s Shiraz. Why the switch? Aussies liked the punchier name to match their bold, sun-soaked...
by Mirena Bagur, Croatian Premium Wine
Some topics are not for the Thanksgiving table. So, let’s talk turkey and what Croatian wines to pair with this American tradition. Due to the meal’s complexity, from appetizers to both white and dark poultry, to savory side dishes and finally to various desserts, it is not so easy to pair a single wine with the meal. These suggestions – from sparkling to white, rosé, orange and lighter reds – are based not only on great pairings, but also about great conversation starters. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family and let’s remember to be thankful for all the talented Croatian winemakers that enable us to have indigenous Croatian wines on this side of the pond – currently counting 101+ wine labels in our online store shipping to most US states. Rosé ...
by Miles Wagner
Ordering wine at a restaurant shouldn't be intimidating. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned wine lover, these practical tips will help you navigate the wine list with confidence and ensure you get the perfect bottle for your meal and budget. Start with Your Budget * Discuss the price range with your dining companions before the sommelier arrives * Look for wines in the middle range of the list—these often offer the best value * Don't be afraid to point to a price point on the menu when asking for recommendations * Remember that wines by the glass let you sample different varieties without committing to a full bottle ## Communicate Effectively with the Sommelier * Share your usual wine preferences and favorite varieties * Mention the dishes your table has ordered * Use...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
I’m a fan of learning from government experts: what’s in the water I drink, how to avoid excess sugar, and the like. With that in mind, I’m in favor of the government’s review every five years of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, which includes recommendations about alcohol consumption. We all need to be kept up to date on the latest research and have the information we need to make informed decisions. There’s usually some disagreement and controversy regarding what should be recommended in the Guidelines. But this time there’s something odd and somewhat clandestine going on. Typically the Guidelines are reviewed and updated jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That traditional review, which includes a review...
by Danny Klein
Many times, I have poured a glass of wine for someone in the wine industry… After a sip, their face lights up and they ask me where the wine is from. I reply, “New Jersey” and their lit-up face goes into puzzlement. “New Jersey? Yes, really New Jersey.” I’ve had this experience with many wine “rock stars” such as Peter Mondavi Jr, Chuck Wagner and Joel Peterson and many others deep in the wine industry. Once the puzzled look leaves their face, they turn to a “well how about that” expression as if they thought about it and it makes sense. Dave Wolin was first struck by the wine bug during the early 2000’s when he started visiting famous wine regions such as Rioja, Spain, Margaret River, Australia and Mendoza, Argentina. The NYC financial lawyer had visions of retiring...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
There’s been press about how some public health authorities and others have issued anti-alcohol warnings and recommended that people cut back on their alcohol consumption or stop drinking altogether. Wine is an alcoholic beverage. But arguably wine holds a special role in history and culture and has a unique ability to draw people together. A new campaign, called “Come Over October” strives to remind people of wine’s positive role and that sharing wine counteracts the epidemic level of loneliness, isolation, and division we’re currently experiencing. The campaign is the first of a new program called Come Together: A Community for Wine, created in May 2024 by three wine industry professionals, wine writer Karen MacNeil, author of the Wine Bible, Gino Colangelo, president of...
by Sakuto Knives
In the culinary arts world, knives are not mere implements, they are as much a part of a chef as his or her talent or finesse or even imagination. To anyone who takes cooking seriously, it’s important to understand the specifics of different knives, often used by chefs. No two knives are the same; each one has a particular shape to suit specific jobs and can be used effectively and safely in the kitchen. Starting with the standard chef’s knife and going through such specific utensils as boning knife and santoku, studying these tools reveals opportunities to delve deeper into understanding global cooking practices. Chef's Knife French knife also known as the chef’s knife is one of the most essential knives in a kitchen because of its effectiveness. Usually measuring from 6 to 12 ...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
New York’s Finger Lakes wine region is North America’s cool-climate region, with a history of winemaking dating back to 1829. Located in the Northwest part of the state roughly between Ithaca and Rochester, it comprises a group of deep, narrow lakes running North to South carved by glaciers thousands of years ago. The lakes create a “lake effect” that influences the grape growing and the wine. “The temperature changes from 85 degrees to 45 degrees at night because of the lakes, so the vines shut down at night, which preserves the acidity of the wine,” explained Josh Wig, vice president of winery operations at Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, on Seneca Lake. The resulting wines, similar to those in Germany and Alsace-Loraine, are known for their crisp, refreshing style wi...
by Stephanie Kalina-metzger
If you would have approached John and Noemi Halbrendt a decade ago and asked about their plans for retirement, it’s unlikely either would have predicted winemaking. The couple spent years in academia before launching Halbrendt Vineyard & Winery in Orrtanna, a five-acre, boutique winery located just seven miles west of Gettysburg in the scenic foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. On the surface, it seems as if the stars aligned to take them where they are today, but as their story unfolds, it becomes obvious that much more than luck was at play as they embarked on their ‘second act.’ A Symbiotic Relationship John and Noemi’s lives intersected on the job as they pursued their respective careers. Noemi earned her Ph.D. in plant pathology in Japan, before embarking on post-do...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
Would you pay more – or less – for wine depending on the gender of the winemaker? One study reveals that female winemakers may be at a disadvantage when pricing their wine, especially if they are associated with other female winemakers. Two researchers from the Kedge Business School in France studied whether the gender of a winemaker might influence how much a consumer would be willing to pay for the wine. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this had not been previously studied. They recruited male and female French-speaking consumers from France and Belgium because French is a gendered language, and only surveyed people who were relatively familiar with wine. They provided the respondents with sets of five identical wines. All of the wine labels were the same excep...
