Author: Rich Mauro
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Wine Guy: This year, Italy is my choice for summer bubbles
By Rich MauroSpecial to The Gazette While sparkling wine is most often associated with special occasions — weddings, holidays, New Year’s Eve — it is appropriate for any occasion. Luckily, effervescent wine is so popular that there are versions made all over the world. Sparkling wine is the ultimate warm-weather pour and is almost always…
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Wine Guy: Fresh, crisp Italian white wines suited for summer’s hot weather
By Rich MauroSpecial to The Gazette There is a cornucopia of budget friendly, Italian white wines – small production, regional, native varieties – that are ideal for warm weather drinking. If there is a common thread along the peninsula, these all offer dramatic aromas and crisp, refreshing character. Pinot Grigio. If you are used to…
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Aspen Food & Wine Classic again an elevated experience
By Rich MauroSpecial to The Gazette The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen again put on a spectacular event over Father’s Day weekend with countless wine and food seminars hosted by culinary personalities. Highlights included “Wines of Georgia Presents: 8,000 Years in 8 Glasses.” Sommelier Erik Segelbaum explained that Georgia was one of the originators…
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When it comes to wine, ‘passion is no ordinary word’
By Rich MauroSpecial to The Gazette “Passion is no ordinary word.” I have long thought this line from the Graham Parker song of the same name also applied to wine. There is something about wine – how the grapes are grown, how the wine is made, the diversity of tastes and styles, how it complements…
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Sauvignon Blanc continues to grow in wine popularity
While consumer white wine continues to be Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc enjoys an increasingly strong second place. It is one of the world’s most widely planted grape varieties, originating in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley, also notable in New Zealand, Chile, South Africa and Australia. The grape’s flavor profile comes in several styles, though it’s usually…
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Cabernet sauvignon finds a prestigious home in California’s Napa Valley
Cabernet sauvignon from California (especially Napa Valley) wasn’t always the most popular red wine in America. Having established its pedigree centuries ago as a foundation of Bordeaux, the grape began to be planted in Napa Valley in the late 1800s. Following Prohibition, the quality of Napa cabernet gained increased attention. Then, in 1976, a Stag’s…
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Wine Guy: Chardonnay continues to shine in Cali
Despite its generally recognized wine characteristics of butter, vanilla, rich texture, citrus, apple, tropical fruit, etc., the chardonnay grape presents essentially a blank slate for producers. Sometimes this unfortunately means winemakers are tempted to imprint their own personality or respond to perceived consumer preferences. But with the wines below, winemakers attempt to express the source…
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Wine Guy: California is home to acres and acres of fine pinot noir
Over the years, pinot noir in California has had its ups and downs. But these days, you can find outstanding wines in just about every region of the state. Seek out as many of these wines as you can find: Anderson Valley 2022 Goldeneye Gowan Creek ($90), estate vineyard part of the Duckhorn portfolio; focused,…
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Wallet a bit light? Try these wines that offer good value
Early in the year, I tend to look for value wines to ease the strain on my wallet from the holidays. That means budget-friendly wines ideal for everyday drinking. These wines from my tastings deliver a lot of quality for the price. Three producers emerged with multiple recommendations. Several brands from Bogle Family, a longtime…
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Wine Guy: Have a sparkling new year
Although sparkling wine is appropriate for any occasion, even weekly dinner, the holiday season – especially celebrating the New Year – is its prime time. Champagne is the world’s most prestigious bubbly. Produced with pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot meunier grapes by a process where the bubbles develop in the bottle, it also is the…