by Sean Ludford | Oct 11, 2022 | Wine
We have said this before on the pages of BevX but it’s worth repeating — If we had to restrict ourselves to the wines of just one nation it would be Italy. Why? For starters, Italy has more wine varietals than all other wine producing nations combined. Variety being the spice of life, we choose variety in flavors and styles and can do so...
by Sean Ludford | Jul 18, 2022 | Wine
If you love wine, or perhaps you’re just considering a relationship with wine, you will certainly come in contact with the wines of France. Many Americans are deeply intimidated by French wines. That’s understandable as the names are foreign to American eyes and ears and the all familiar grape names are missing. These French – it’s like they speak another language. In general terms...
by Sean Ludford | Jun 14, 2022 | Wine
When the days are warm to hot and the sunsets linger longer nothing refreshes like Campania’s (Italy) quartet of ancient white grapes: Coda di Volpe, Falanghina, Fiano, and Greco. These lovely white varieties are found in wines produced throughout the region sometimes in white blends and frequently as single varieties. All four of these varietals have their own personality and flavor profiles that cannot...
by Sean Ludford | May 15, 2022 | Wine
I am a confessed lover of Côtes du Rhône wines – especially the Côtes du Rhône Villages and Cru (areas that have earned the right to have their names stand alone on the label) appellations. These are wines with gusto and personality free of pretense. Here Grenache is king but this great varietal has a lot of support with the likes of the Rhone’s northern...
by Sean Ludford | Dec 27, 2021 | 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 7, 2021 | 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...