Today we are sipping alcoholic beverages that are a bit different than wine. One is perfect to sip before a meal and the other is just the thing to end a meal. Both are made using an infusion of botanicals, so they have some flavors in common, but they are very different from one another. We received both as tasting […] The post A Sip of Something Different — Select Aperitivo and Amaro Montenegro appeared first on Pull That Cork ..read more

Jake Bilbro is a fourth-generation winemaker from Sonoma. He learned winemaking from his father Chris, founder of Marietta Cellars, before he went on to purchase Limerick Lane. He appreciates the importance of sustainability and also enjoys outdoor sports — his love of the outdoors is something else Jake learned from his father. Revelshine brings together Jake’s winemaking experience with his […] The post Revelshine: California Wine Packaged in Aluminum Bottles appeared first on Pull That Cork ..read more

Today we are sipping French bubbles that are not champagne — one is a crémant and the other a non-alcoholic sparkling cider made in Normandy. We have tasted Crémant de Bourgogne before, but sparkling apple cider from Normandy is new to us. We received both as tasting samples. Cider has been made in France, primarily in Normandy and Brittany, since […] The post Sipping French Bubbles, But It’s Not Champagne appeared first on Pull That Cork ..read more

Unless you are familiar with Sicilian wines you might not be acquainted with the Frappato grape variety. It is indigenous to the southeastern corner of Sicily near Siracusa and Vittoria where it is mainly used as a blending partner for Nero d’Avola in Cerasuolo di Vittoria — Sicily’s only DOCG wine. But Frappato can also stand on its own as […] The post A Taste of Sicily: Gurrieri Frappato appeared first on Pull That Cork ..read more

Portugal’s Alentejo wine region sits in the southern part of the country. It is Portugal’s largest wine region and occupies 30% of the country’s land mass. In terms of acres planted to vines, Alentejo represents 13% of Portugal’s total acreage. But in terms of domestic sales, both by volume and value, Alentejo comprises more than one-third. Portuguese consumers know a […] The post Alentejo Wines: Taste them to Know the Region appeared first on Pull That Cork ..read more

The Hard Working range of wines made by McPrice Myers are, by the winemaker’s description, his value-driven wines. They are sourced from Paso Robles and the Central Coast. We received a selection of Hard Working wines as tasting samples. Mac, as he is known, has been making wine for more than 20 years. After making wine in a shared facility […] The post Hard Working Wines by McPrice Myers: A Focus on Paso Robles and the Central Coast appeared first on Pull That Cork ..read more

Ameri represents Domaine Bousquet’s top tier of wines. They are sourced from the Bousquet Estate Vineyard that was planted in 1998 and are made only in the best vintages. The land was untamed when the vines were first planted by Anne Bousquet’s father, Jean, and the vineyard has been farmed organically since the very beginning.  As you may know, Domaine […] The post Ameri: Domaine Bousquet’s Single-Vineyard Wines appeared first on Pull That Cork ..read more

One of the highlights of my wine year in 2023 was an introduction to Avignonesi and their single-vineyard Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines. I had the good fortune of meeting Xiaowen DU, Marketing Manager and Assistant Winemaker at Avignonesi, and Master of Wine student in April. We connected via Zoom, she in Montepulciano with Avignonesi’s vineyards over her shoulder and […] The post Dinner with Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appeared first on Pull That Cork ..read more

Tracey & John Skupny established Lang & Reed with the expressed goal “to explore the distinct charms of Cabernet Franc and to craft wines that are both expressive and enjoyable to drink.” Their appreciation of Cabernet Franc came from years of experience as sommeliers. Their appreciation of Napa Valley’s vineyards drew them to the region and they moved to Napa […] The post Lang & Reed and Rockhound — Two Wine Labels, One Family appeared first on Pull That Cork ..read more

Gianni Masciarelli is described by his family as Abruzzo’s first “garagiste”. He began as a home winemaker with a 6-acre family vineyard in San Martino sulla Marrucina in Abruzzo’s Chieti province. His first vintage was 1981, in a simpler time. He was a forward-thinking man (he introduced new vine-training systems, French oak barrels and higher density plantings in the vineyard), […] The post Masciarelli Winery’s Family Legacy Continues in Abruzzo appeared first on Pull That Cork ..read more