by Marla Durben Hirsch
Many people these days prefer digital gifts over physical ones. They are convenient, easy to carry on a mobile device, and hard to lose. Gift-givers like them too, since they can typically be ordered online and delivered quickly to the recipient. But since there are so many digital gift options, how do you choose? One easy way is to look at what’s new. That way your gift recipient is less likely to already have it. Here are five new digital gifts for your favorite wine lover. These are all items that we have used personally and recommend. Wine Passes Wine passes, which provide great deals for members, are a super digital gift for your favorite wine lover. No more need to remember to grab that little card when venturing to the wineries; the app can simply be downloaded to ...
by Sidd Banerji
PART I History A country renowned for her glorious history,well recorded over 7000 years, has evidences of wines too,in somewhere or other in its past. In more practical term it's during Moghul period 15th to mid 19th century we have plenty of evidences of wines coming to this part of the world.Neverthless, it was never the land to make wines. Alexander the Great,renowned for his love of wines ,came upto the western border of India, way back more than 2000 years. For sure,he not only carried his stock of wines,must have had many sessions with local chieftains,kings and social lords. I've a strong belief of wines first peeping into India during his time. The real and continuous flow thru gifts first and as a trading commodity later, started from days of Moghul emperors. S...
by Sidd Banerji
PART I History A country renowned for her glorious history,well recorded over 7000 years, has evidences of wines too,in somewhere or other in its past. In more practical term it's during Moghul period 15th to mid 19th century we have plenty of evidences of wines coming to this part of the world.Neverthless, it was never the land to make wines. Alexander the Great,renowned for his love of wines ,came upto the western border of India, way back more than 2000 years. For sure,he not only carried his stock of wines,must have had many sessions with local chieftains,kings and social lords. I've a strong belief of wines first peeping into India during his time. The real and continuous flow thru gifts first and as a trading commodity later, started from days of Moghul emperors. S...
by Jamie Knee
As a Wine Educator, I’ve often encountered wine enthusiasts staunchly proclaiming their allegiance to the “Anything but Chardonnay” (ABC) camp, convinced that chardonnay is simply not their cup of… well, wine. But what if I told you that a transformative experience awaited you in France in a quaint corner of northern Burgundy? Here, in the enchanting realm of Chablis, yes, it’s not only a grape but a place, I discovered a chardonnay that defies expectations and pleases even the most adamant of ABC adherents. Some may even be surprised to learn that chardonnay and Chablis are from the same grape. Nestled along the gentle slopes that overlook the serene Serein River, the Chablis region harbors a secret that every wine lover should uncover. Contrary to the heavy oak and buttery ...
by Jamie Knee
The holidays are upon us, and it’s a time of delightful chaos. There’s the turkey to roast, gifts to hunt down, parties to attend, and family clamoring for an invite to the American Riviera for the holidays. As a local Montecito wine specialist, clients often turn to me to curate their wine pairings for festive dinners. It’s a magical time of year, and let’s be honest – the last thing you want to worry about is what wines to serve at your holiday party. As your personal sommelier, the “Petite Wine Traveler,” I’m here to ensure your holiday dinner and party wines are nothing short of pure joy. Thanksgiving, the holiday that kicks off the holiday festivities, is first up. As far as I’m concerned, this holiday, a favorite among many, deserves a sparkling start. There’s ...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
When it comes to winemaking, you may not think of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). So imagine my surprise to learn that NASA not only has an interest in the wine industry, but is actively involved in fighting wine grape disease. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory teamed up with researchers at Cornell University and elsewhere to test whether one of NASA’s pioneering optical instruments could detect a grape disease called Grapevine Leafroll virus that causes billions of dollars in annual crop damage. They used NASA’s next generation Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-NG) flown via airplane over 11,000 acres of vineyards in Lodi, California and artificial intelligence/machine learning to review the data. Lodi is a major producer of...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
Nova Scotia, Canada may not be on your radar when thinking of wine tourism. You may want to reconsider that, especially if you’re going to be in Atlantic Canada, also known as the Maritimes. Called “Canada’s Original Wine Region” because the country’s first vineyard was planted there in 1611, Nova Scotia’s wine region is an emerging wine tourism area established around 40 years ago. There are about 25 wineries, most of which are small family-run boutique places. Many of them are clustered in the Annapolis Valley, which is only about an hour from Halifax, the province’s capital, so it’s an easy day trip from that city. Nova Scotia is accessible via land, sea, and air. My mother Benita and I ventured to the wineries in Annapolis Valley as a shore excursion while on a ...
by Claire L. Torbeck, Dipwset And Certified Sommelier
As part of a road-trip around France, I planned a short stop in Sancerre to taste the wines and learn more about the producers. While the landscape greeting us was miles of gently rolling hills dotted with farms and small towns, the sight of fields of rapeseed was breathtaking (canola oil is a vegetable oil made from the pressed seeds of rapeseed). It looked like millions of fluorescent highlighters had been dumped in the fields. Blooming during April and May, we caught the crop at its brilliant best! Drawing close to our destination, the landscape began to change, vineyards popped up and we began our climb up the hill to the town of Sancerre. It is stunning as it rises from the plains of the Loire Valley as if to proclaim its position as lord of all it surveys. Clearly it was a strongh...
by Bernard Kenner
Shochu (pronounced show-chew) is Japan's leading spirit and ranks second to beer in alcoholic drink popularity in its homeland. Its flavors are varied and as a result, might seem hard to pin down, but that variety is what makes it so very special and allows it to be paired and enjoyed in many ways. Unlike bourbon, single malts or most other distillate spirits whose flavors cluster around a typical center, the primary carbohydrate source is not limited to a narrow range of mash bills. That and a unique Japanese process makes shochu, especially honkaku (authentic/artisanal) shochu such an intriguing drink. A multitude of vegetable starch sources (53 are permitted) can be used because the sugars needed by fermenting yeasts are made available by exactly the same process that allows sake ...
by Mike Reifeiss
Have you considered joining a wine club but are unsure it’s worth it? How do you know if a wine club offers enough benefits to make you want to join? Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a novice who is beginning to learn the difference between a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Pinot Noir, a wine club membership has many perks for you, and a hand-picked winemaker’s selection isn’t the only benefit of joining a club. It also comes with other perks such as: • The opportunity to sample new releases you won’t likely find at your local wine shop. • Receiving wine recommendations you may not have thought of trying yourself. Aside from the allocation of wine, wine club memberships will usually offer an array of winery and vineyard experiences. To learn more, we invite you to c...