by Sean Ludford | Apr 4, 2025 | Wine
Many people immediately associate with Thomas Jefferson and wine with the bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite engraved with Jefferson’s initials that sold at auction (1985) for 105,000 pounds Sterling. Of course, later, the authenticity of the bottle(s) came into question in an extended investigation, but the images of the old, dusty bottles remain. Thomas Jefferson was America’s first wine connoisseur. Jefferson approached wine as...
by Sean Ludford | Mar 15, 2025 | Wine
I suppose we have made progress since we have to dig a bit deeper to uncover the unsung varietals of Italy. Not long ago, many grapes that now enjoy minor-celebrity status, like: Aglianico, Arneis, Cortese, Falanghina, or Verdicchio, were virtually unknown. (If you want to learn about these and more grapes read – Speak Italian Grapes and don’t miss our Italian Wine Primer.) Lucky for...
by Sean Ludford | Jan 7, 2025 | Wine
With cold days and colder nights in the heart of winter, we wanted to address the topic of fortified wines. We offer this fortified wine primer to get you started on your fortified wine journey. This is an introduction to the category, so naturally, many generalizations are made. We hope that this kickstarts your exploration of fortified wines. What are fortified wines? Sometimes, the...
by Sean Ludford | Dec 5, 2024 | Wine
Bubbly is welcomed on any day and at any hour. If you are waiting for a special occasion to enjoy a glass of bubbly, you need to make some serious life changes today! Bubbly can make any day feel like a celebration, and I can’t imagine kicking off a dinner with friends without bubbly. Of course, many will continue to associate bubbly with weddings,...
by Sean Ludford | Nov 19, 2024 | Wine
Colheita is a single-vintage Tawny Port. Colheita is Portuguese for harvest, and in this case, harvest is synonymous with vintage. Colheita Ports are vintage-dated and include the bottling date/vintage typically expressed on the back label. Some have called this lesser-known sub-category of Port the ultimate Tawny Port — we agree. Colheita must be aged for a minimum of seven years in cask, but they...
by Sean Ludford | Nov 12, 2024 | Beer, Food & Eating, Spirits, Wine
Pairing wine with your Thanksgiving dinner, whether it be traditional fare or your own twist, is always a challenge. Roasted turkey is straightforward enough, but the table is often filled with a wide range of flavors. Do yourself a favor and skip considering the sickening sweet dishes that find their way to the table when considering wine pairings. Nothing will pair well with candied...
