We celebrate Drink Wine Day this Saturday, February 18. The origin of this seems to be National Drink Wine Day in the United States, but we're going to join our Australian friends at Travelling Corkscrew in taking this thing global with our recommended white, red, and rosé from Australia's Strathbogie Ranges, Spain's Toro, and the state of Arizona in the American southwest. We love this lineup because we've either tried each bottle personally with the winemaker, or have visited the winery ourselves.
Read moreA Lover's Guide to Champagne
Champagne is the much talked about, much written about, much enjoyed ambrosia from the gods. So, what makes Champagne so special? In this post, we will explore how Champagne is made, and attempt to uncover the sweet mysteries behind this magical beverage that makes us all love it so much. Let’s dive right in with some of the most important things to know about the bubbly beverage that will improve any day of the week.
Read moreRe-visiting Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, lighting the fire with two new vintages in Virginia Wine Country
Zephaniah has begun pouring two new vintages -- 2015 Steamship White and 2013 Three Captains Red -- since we last covered them. With Valentine's Day fast approaching, and cold weather decidedly upon us at least for a bit longer, we wanted to encourage your visit to this most special of Virginia wineries.
Read moreBodegas Arrocal in Spain's Ribera del Duero produces richly textured Tempranillo wines
The sun had begun its long fall across the western sky, destined to cross that stark threshold of color where sapphire blue meets the autumnal yellow tree tops that rise out of rough hewn grass and brown clay upon which is built the worn red tiled roofs of Gumiel de Mercado. Here we found Bodegas Arrocal, a winery where several generations work side by side embracing modern technique to produce beautiful Old World wine.
Read moreOur Top 5 Wines for February each come from a different country. None are American. All are great.
Casual wine drinkers, aficionados, and beginners alike: Each month we expose you to new things, educating and diversifying your palate with a lineup of our monthly wine picks. It's February, so we've in part continued our January theme of wines that we want to drink watching the snow fall (Edelzwicker), in a wine bar with friends after trudging through that snow (Ben Marco Malbec), by the fire (Quevedo LBV), with those great winter meals you eat long after the sun has set (San Román), or (in a slight departure from our January themes) with your Valentine's Day dinner (sparkling, of course). Enjoy!
Read moreLovely wine, gorgeous country, and barrels of living history at Portugal's Quevedo Port Winery
It was quite easily one of the most stunningly beautiful vineyards we'd ever seen. Vines covered in autumn's reds, yellows, and oranges stretched in neat rows towards green fields beyond, a country road turning around the next vineyard where houses dot the hillside, river and mountains beyond, white clouds streaking across the crystal blue sky above, all seen through the floor to ceiling window in the tasting room at Quevedo, one of the Douro's finest port wineries.
Read moreExpand your palate by adding cheese and chocolate pairings to your next Wine Night
I recently discussed hosting your own wine night to expand your wine knowledge and preferences. This week I want to share one of my favorite ways to host a wine night: hosting a wine, cheese, and chocolate night. The idea expands the basic wine night. Instead of asking your friends to bring a bottle of wine along a theme, ask your friends to bring a favorite cheese or chocolate and a wine that pairs well with it.
Read moreMeet the stunning San Román wines of Toro, Spain
You will find Bodegas San Román, of Bodegas y Viñedos Maurodos, here in Toro amongst country that would have been wasted on anything less than the vineyards where stunning wine gets its start. San Román and its cousin, Prima, are remarkable characteristic examples of what makes wine from this region so unique: Delightful fusions of Old World grapes and technique with the big and bold qualities so loved by many wine drinkers.
Read moreExpand your wine knowledge with "Tuesday Wine Nights", any day of the week
The rules were simple. Everyone brings one bottle of whatever is good, red or white, and reasonably priced. If you didn’t know what to pick, you are allowed to ask for suggestions from others, including people at the wine shop. The variety in both people and theme week to week meant we tasted many different wines-some we liked and some we didn’t.
Read moreElegant and intimate, new Joselito Spanish restaurant is an instant best of Washington, DC
The great European cities -- and much of the American variety they inspired -- are marked by their great restaurants, places of elegance or intimacy that wrap you up inside, and treat you to an irresistible menu of food and drink. Step through the door of newly open Joselito: Casa de Comidas in Washington, DC's Eastern Market neighborhood on Capitol Hill, the essence of a classic city in a delightful restaurant serving all Spanish food and wine.
Read moreDig in for winter with our top five wines for January
Casual wine drinkers, aficionados, and beginners alike: Each month we expose you to new things, educating and diversifying your palate with a lineup of our monthly wine picks. It's January, so we've looked for wines that we want to drink watching the snow fall, in a wine bar with friends after trudging through that snow, by the fire, with those great winter meals you eat long after the sun has set, or as you dream of spring.
Read moreHow to get a second date with Kathleen: Be willing to try new things
To get a second date with Kathleen, you must be willing to try new things. The guy in question got a second date but didn’t last much longer than that for one simple reason: he wasn’t willing to move past boxed wine. Anyone can learn to enjoy a glass of wine. You just have to be willing to try new things and expand your palate beyond the boxed wines out there.
Read moreStunning wine, breathtaking view, attention to detail at Quinta do Pôpa on Portugal's Douro River
Perched high on a strikingly steep mountain rising above the winding Douro River in northern Portugal -- one of the most stunning sites I've ever seen -- terraced rows of vines etched into the hillside lead up a winding road to the Quinta do Pôpa winery. They could trade on the scenery alone, but offer guests to the visitor-friendly tasting room excellent wine and an inspiring family story. This is mustn't-miss wine in the countryside east of the city of Porto.
Read moreBest wine of 2016: Top 10 picks for the ultimate Wine Flight
We've tasted some extraordinary wine together with you, Wine:Thirty Flight readers and writers, in 2016. Today, the second-to-last Wine Wednesday in December, we're sharing our top ten wine picks for the year. These are the best that we've reviewed the last twelve months, and we hope you'll move meticulously-terraced mountains upon which vineyards grow (and wine shops) to find them yourself!
Read moreNew Chimichurri Grill on Upper East Side expands our favorite New York dining experience
Whether you seek irresistible steak, a delicious all-around menu, the warmest hospitality, or Argentine cuisine in particular... Chimichurri Grill's new location on 61st between Park and Lex in Manhattan is where you need to be. Same great menu as the original at 43rd and 9th, same warmly candlelit ambiance, but with much more space and a toasty fireplace!
Read moreFive tips for picking great wine to give as gifts during the holidays and year-round
Wine makes a great gift during the winter holidays, or for birthdays and special occasions year round. It has the advantage of being easily getable yet also encompassing a lot of diversity to satisfy the eclectic tastes of both the gift giver and recipient. But it's not as easy to give a good gift as it is to find just any bottle; too run of the mill and you come off as unthoughtful, but too exotic takes you into risky territory. These five tips will help.
Read moreBodegas Elias Mora are brilliant Toro wines from this Spanish region known for striking reds
You will find the winery Bodegas Elias Mora at the end of a narrow road up the hill from the tiny town of San Román de Hornija in Spain's Toro DO winemaking region. There's a purity to the winemaking here, all made from Tinta de Toro grapes grown in vineyards no more than a ten minutes drive from the winery. Happily, Elias Mora wines are available in the United States. Go try for yourself.
Read moreTop five December wine picks to celebrate holidays and keep warm in the winter that follows
Casual wine drinkers, aficionados, and beginners alike: Each month we expose you to new things, educating and diversifying your palate with a lineup of our monthly wine picks. We've had a lot to balance in making our December wine recommendations, namely which incredible bottles to choose from our winery travels in Spain and Portugal, how best to satiate the palate of cold or white wine drinkers, and -- of course -- the best with which to celebrate the New Year. Enjoy!
Read moreSpanish Wine 101: Understanding regions, grapes, classifications, labels to help you choose the best
A little 101 on the basics of Spanish wine, looking at Spanish wine regions, grapes, and labels to help you navigate the Spain section of any wineshop, and to help you better understand all of the great wines we'll be sharing over the next several months. This is essential reading for anyone seeking to get your arms around the basics of Spanish wine.
Read moreBest wine pairings for Thanksgiving dinner: Hearty Rosé, Oregonian Pinot Noir, Touriga Nacional
Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with friends, family, and feasting next week. We're making Thanksgiving wine recommendations for WTF readers who will complete their turkey, stuffing, and pies just the right pairing selection. We'd start with something sparkling, serve hearty rosé and Oregonian Pinot Noirs at dinner -- consider getting creative with a still Touriga Nacional -- and finish it off with a glass of Port.
Read more