A Taste of Iris Vineyards

These are delicious, high QPR wines showing ripe fresh fruit flavors buoyed with shimmering acidity and modest alcohol. I’m wrapping up Oregon Wine Month with Iris Vineyards, a new-to-me winery that, for me, is a microcosm of the wines that the Willamette Valley in Oregon are most renown for and does best; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay,…

Naked Sparkling Fun for Valentine’s Day or Singles Awareness Day!

Sure everybody knows about Valentine’s Day, but did you know there is a “Singles Awareness Day” (S.A.D.) too? It’s celebrated tomorrow, or the 14th, or the 15th.  Makes sense too…there are plenty of folks who are single and not involved in a romantic relationship. I say celebrate either way!  And nothing says celebration like a…

How To Sensibly Pair Food and Wine

It’s my pleasure to share this post of mine recently published by 12most. 12 Most Practical Guidelines for Wine and Food Pairing Pairing wine and food has been around a long time. For individuals who’ve grown up in homes where wine is a daily part of life, wine and food pairing can come pretty naturally because…

T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like…Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut Cava

Elyssia is separate label produced by Freixenet (pronounced ‘fresh-eh-NET) one of the largest producers of sparkling wine in the world.  You may know Freixenet from their ubiquitous black Cordon Negro Cava, which is the #1 imported sparkling wine in the world. This Cava is different in that none of the grapes used in the traditional…

T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like…NV Blason Cremant de Bourgogne Blanc De Noirs

This week’s sparkler hails from Burgundy region of France.  It is produced by Blason de Bourgogne.  I picked it up at Trader Joe’s on a whim because I recognized the Blason name.  It’s a name I associate with value wines.  According to the Blason website they represent 800 wine-growing families throughout Burgundy.  Beside this Blanc de Noirs,…