Spicy foods such as Mexican, Indian or Thai are so delicious, but finding a wine to match these is sometimes a challenge, especially if you prefer to drink mostly Chardonnay (dry oaky whites) or your typical Napa red (a tannic powerbomb), which are not exactly the best pairings. The problem is that heat clashes with oak, making your wines dryer and harsher, and tannins amplify your perception of heat and spice.  Alcohol,on the other hand, enhances the spiciness, increasing the heat even further, so stay away from that. I guess your best bet for spicy foods is to choose wines with relative ..read more

There’s nothing more boring than always drinking the same wine styles, especially when there are so many varieties to try, something like Mencía, a grape with a fantastic flavor profile and a very affordable price.  Originally from the Iberian Peninsula, two countries dispute the origins of this grape. On one side Mencía reigns in North Western Spain, where we can find some of the best samples, and more than 9,000 hectares of it, planted in the appellations of Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra, Monterrei and Valdeorras. Yet, DNA tests proved that Mencía is genetically similar to Portuguese Jaen, lead ..read more

Whether you are looking to treat your sweetheart or yourself, Valentine’s Day is a time to show your partner how much you care about them, but also a good opportunity to Wine indulge! Here are 5 recommendations that will surely impress your loved ones, besides being perfect pairings for any romantic meal. Any Valentine’s should start with a fantastic sparkling wine, such as this Bichot Crémant Rosé NV, a delicious Crémant de Bourgogne, featuring a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay grapes. It displays fruitful raspberry and strawberry notes, with a touch of zesty citrus and brioche hint ..read more

Often, when I write about appellations, I sound like a broken record, always repeating the same things over and over again, and this happens mostly because great wines share some common denominators, factors that directly impact their greatness. Among these, the topic of today’s post: Altitude. Allow me now, to put my wine nerd hat on to explain how Altitude makes great wines and how it has become a key element in vineyard selection, as altitude affects wine style, ripeness, freshness, acidity, tannins and flavor. All of us know that a successful wine usually comes from the right matching of l ..read more

I have to admit it, I love Crémants! not only because I love drinking bubbles any time/ any day but because they are a great value, with bottles costing less than $25 each, Crémants cost exactly half of any bottle of NV Champagne.  Of course the same can be said of Cava and Prosecco, some of which are even cheaper, but what makes Crémants so special is their finesse and quality! Though, they are not exactly French Champagne, but close and in some cases, as we will see, made from the same grape varieties. But most importantly, they are produced in appellations known for their wonderful sti ..read more

Spicy reds are full of personality, flavor and pizzazz. Textbook samples of spicy wines are those made from grapes such as Malbec, Barbera, Pinotage, Shiraz and of course Carménère! These happen to be some of my favorite grapes to enjoy in the fall, no wonder I keep coming back to these delicious wines every year, as we transition to cool weather. Originally from Bordeaux, Carménère, whose name derives from the French carmin (crimson), can be considered the Cinderella of grapes, mostly because at the beginning, Carmenère’s identity was ignored, misunderstood and mistaken to be something else ..read more

From the Valpolicella region, located to the north and west of the city of Verona, comes Amarone, a very powerful and expressive red wine, made from a blend of three native Italian varieties: Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, with the occasional addition of Oseleta and Molinara grapes. It’s surprising that such a concentrated red can be created but this happens thanks to the Appassimento process, in which grapes are laid out on bamboo mats or plastic bins and left to air dry for a few months, becoming raisins. When this happens the grapes lose about 40% of their weight (mostly wate ..read more

I first tasted and learned about Vermouth/ Vermut, through my paternal family. When I was growing up, my grandmother Rosa, known to her grandchildren as grandma Tota, drank Vermouth everyday right before lunch, she used to mix some Gancia, with a bit of seltzer water and ice and served it with cheese, olives and salami as an aperitif. Of course, my father picked up this habit soon enough, and drank Vermouth every noon himself, since enjoying vermouth hour was indeed very common in the 70’s and 80’s, a tradition copied from Spain, Italy and France, countries where this ritual continues today. V ..read more

Emilia Romagna, located in north-central Italy is the home of many food delicacies, including Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Prosciutto di Parma ham, Mortadella (known in the US as Bologna) and my favorite salad staple: Modena Balsamic Vinegar. It is also the home of a very special wine I’m drinking this summer: Lambrusco. Made from clones of the variety of the same name, Lambrusco wines were a huge success during the late 1970s and 1980s. Back then, Riunite Lambrusco was one the most imported and consumed wines in the US. As the years went by, Americans chose to move to other styles, yet,  ..read more

In all 30 years that I have lived in the U.S. I have never experienced a hot summer like this one, the humidity of last week alone was just too much to bear! And what is better to drink to chill us up on dog days like these? an appetizing glass of rosé! Rosé is and will always be a summer staple, here are 4 delicious European samples sent by Taub Family Selections. All available nationwide and at $21 or less.  Saget La Perrière “La Petite Perrière” Rosé 2022 (750ml/$13.99): The same family that crafts outstanding and flinty Sauvignon Blancs, also produces this juicy and precise rosé from ..read more