by Ron Barker, Cigarvolante Llc
As I traveled Virginia talking to wineries about the other end of the connection, the aesthetic of wine drinking combined with cigar smoking, I soon realized that the the link went deeper than the enjoyment of the two in Virginia. The two are inexorably linked here, especially in Southern and Southwestern Virginia where many of the new vineyards are grown on converted tobacco farms. Wineries and the wine industry are becoming an important part of a state’s economy In 1979 there were only 6 wineries in Virginia and now there are over 200, making it one of the fastest growing agricultural commodities. But, as recently as 2007 the value of grape production was only 3% of that of tobacco production in a state where agriculture is the single largest industry with no others even close. This li...
by Tracy Thurling
After being invited to participate in the St Vincent celebrations in the prestigious wine village of St Aubin in the Côte de Beaune, it would have been discourteous to turn it down. All wine villages in Burgundy hold their own private St Vincent celebrations, the week before the St VincentTournante . Tickets to these celebrations are not available to the general public as it is a traditional occasion similar to the old guild events in days gone by, however we were honoured by the host of this years St Vincent, in St Aubin, André Moingeon et Fils, and were absolutely delighted to accept. St Vincent is the patron saint of winegrowers and the 22nd of January is his official day. Tradition has it that if it is a fine day, the winter is effectively over - or if it is cold, the winter will ...
by Chef David Darugh
People travel for many reasons: to sight-see, relax or learn about a new culture. Many travel to explore exotic marketplaces, try new wines, and discover hidden restaurants. Call them foodies, bon vivants, gourmands or wine enthusiasts; but as long as there are new regions to be explored and novel foods to be eaten, culinary travelers will be there, forks in hand. Culinary adventurers are not seeking food and wine alone; they also try to connect with the people, places and stories behind the food and wine. They want to understand the farmer’s wisdom, the chef’s inspiration and the winemaker’s Mojo. The northeast Georgia Mountains are a Mecca to these travelers. Many guests at Beechwood Inn are seeking local and fresh products and share wanderlust for food and wine, so we provide f...
by Chef David Darugh
You don’t need to have an expensive Canon or Nikon digital camera to take great photos of food. However, if you advance to the professional level you will certainly be aided by the highest quality lens you can afford. But for most of us we can take some pretty awesome photos with a fairly inexpensive digital camera if we keep some useful photography tips in mind.Presentation: To take great photos the most important factor is to use good skills in food presentation and display. Just like a model has been dressed and had make-up applied food will look its best in photos if it has been properly arranged, placed in a wonderful setting, it has been appropriately garnished and useful props are added to the scene. This is characterized as “food styling” or “presentation.” In order t...
by Jeff Leve
The 2012 UGCB (Union des Grand Cru Bordeaux) North American Tour is almost here. Officially, the tour kicks off in Los Angeles, January 20. That is followed by stops in San Francisco, Saturday, January 21, Miama, January 23, New York, January 25, Chicago, January 26, Toronto January 27 and winds up in Montreal, January 28. That is a busy week for thirsty, curious Bordeaux wine lovers, chateaux owners and winemakers. For Bordeaux wine lovers and consumers who just like wine, this is the best wine event of the year! This year, the focus is on the extremely highly regarded 2009 Bordeaux vintage. Having tasted these wines multiple times from barrel to bottle, (most recently last June in Bordeaux) 2009 is an outstanding vintage for Bordeaux wine. The wines are sensuous, supple, opulent and si...
by Rosie Carbo
When you think of France, chances are you think of the Eiffel Tower, the Musée du Louvre and other landmarks. But what if you’ve never been to France? Wouldn’t it be great to journey there passport free? Well, that’s what happened to me when I visited French Country Wines recently. I had read an article that said the winery offered a free wine tasting each Saturday. So I jotted down the address and headed out. My GPS guided me to Kirby Drive, one of Houston’s most congested arteries. How could there be a winery here? But Country French Wines is tucked away on a quiet side street behind Goode Co. Texas Bar-B-Q. The nondescript building, with a splash of flowers out front, didn’t inspire a Voila! Upon entering, however, I was transported to another time and ...
by Kari Ziegler
Wine bars are popping up all over the place. They are the new "Starbucks" in fact, it seems, even Starbucks is thinking about serving wine and beer. So if everyone and anyone can open a wine bar, then having something special, something unique is what is going to set each wine bar apart from the rest of the five others on their block. What seems to be the big "bravado" trend is having 300+ wines open for the customer to choose from. I guess Costco and Bevmo have now hit the quaint local wine bar circuit.So, 300 open wines... I first stare with glee like a kid in a candy store when I am presented with the iPad menu of wines and then the reality hits. Is this too much?Open wines all have different aging issues, and there are lots of factors to how a wine ages. WineSpectator.com listed two ...
by Mary Webb
By Mary WebbThe thirteenth annual Giro D ‘Vino was anticipating precipitation, but Mother Nature traded in her halo wreath for a cycling helmet to provide us with plenty of clear day skies. Cyclists from all around the region met up at the Woodbridge winery in Lodi for a day of wine tasting, exercise and unmarked air. Woodbridge winery, located about 90 miles northeast of San Fransisco, CA., was the kick off and ending location for the Giro D’ Vino. Offering two “tasting tracks”, there was the 60k, which we participated in, or the 100K that extended another loop of wineries and roads east of Woodbridge.As with most cycling events, the participants exude a burst of positive energy. The Giro D’Vino was no exception. Blended with this positive energy was also an easy spirit; no cyc...
by Joseph Mclaughlin
Seth Mandeville is the sommelier at Sel de la Terre/Back Bay Boston. He shares his expertise in a passionate and energetic manner, and at a mile-a-minute pace. I am pleased that he agreed to slow down long enough for this interview.Eat Drink Travel Write (EDTW): What got you first interested in wine?Seth Mandeville (SM): I was bartending at Ten Prime Steak and Sushi in Providence and a person at the bar asked me the stylistic differences between two of the Pinots and at the time I had absolutely no wine knowledge and I froze. I don’t usually freeze when I’m behind a bar you know, so I made it a point to never let that happen again. And that decision kind of grew out of control from there and turned into something completely different. I had a kid, Scott Brenner, working for me w...
by Rosie Carbo
The 8th annual Savor Dallas celebration of fine wine and food is set for the weekend of March 30-31. And the price remains within the reach of wine aficionados and food lovers. Food paired with wine-tasting events is popular. Wine and food lovers discover these events advertised in upscale magazines, such as Wine & Spirits and Wine Spectator. But Savor Dallas is uncommonly extraordinary in a couple of ways. For one, the gastronomic soiree is one the least expensive in the country, according to Jim White, who together with his wife, Vicki Briley-White founded the event in 2004 as a way to showcase Dallas/Fort Worth chefs, restaurants and arts culture. But while it’s been called the “best food and wine event in Texas,” White said much of the credit goes to the e...
