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...
by Sean Ludford | Nov 1, 2024 | Wine
Everyone can name an actor, or band, that consistently does good work but is — sadly — most often associated with something that is trivial at best or embarrassing at worst. While the entire body of work is admirable, the public will forever associate them with one viral moment. Such is the plight of Beaujolais — a beautiful wine-growing district producing wines of character...
