Pairing Maria Papoila Vinho Verde with Summer Pizza #WinePW

Lead by our host Cindy Rynning of Grape Experiences, this month the Wine Pairing Weekend bloggers are exploring the Portuguese wine region of Vinho Verde (pronounced vee-nyo-vaird). About Vinho Verde Vinho Verde is located in the cooly, rainy northwestern province of Minho. Its climate, affected by mountain ranges, valley and rivers, along with its mostly…

Why Lugana Should Be In Your Glass And On Your Italian Travel Itinerary

Last month I participated in the #Winestudio Lugana program.  While the theme was primarily focused on “One Grape, Five Wine Styles”, we were also introduced to the “Lugana Lifestyle”. More on that later. I’m love trying new-to-me grape varieties and wine regions. That’s what inspired me to try a wine called “Lugana” I saw on a…

Wine of the Day; 2015 Herdade Pegos Claros “Primo”

My WOTD is the 2015 Herdade Pegos Claros “Primo” which hails from the new-to-me Palmela DOC on the Setúbal Peninsula of Portugal. The star red grape (also new-to me) of the peninsula is Castelão, an indigenous grape variety which thrives in the peninsula’s warm, sandy soils, and can ripen to perfection, producing lovely, fresh, fruity…

Champagne Drappier’s Blanc de Quatre Blancs; A Taste of Champagne’s White Heirloom Grape Varieties #Winophiles

This month the French Winophiles are exploring “Unexpected Pleasures In Champagne”. Our event is being hosted by Gwendolyn of Wine Predator . And what are the “unexpected pleasures of Champagne”? In my case, it’s a “two-fer”. I’m sharing a wine made from unexpected heirloom grapes from a producer in an unexpected region in Champagne. The Aube –…

A Taste Of Chénas, Beaujolais’ Rarest Cru #Winophiles

We thoroughly enjoyed this alluring, delicious and food-friendly wine. This month the #Winophiles, a group of French wine, food and travel aficionados are exploring Beaujolais, and in particular Cru Beaujolais! I have long believed that Cru Beaujolais are among the most food friendly wines. But several years ago I attended a Beaujolais Wines & Japanese Cuisine Pairing…

A Cadre Of California Skin-Contact Wines Paired With Ethnic Fare #WinePW

Ultimately, what I love about skin-contact white wines is that they are über food friendly, and offer a complex array of aromas and flavors not typically found in either white, red or rose wines! On the second Saturday of each month, a group of bloggers who are passionate about pairing food and wine come together…

Preview: The Wine Pairing Weekend Introduction To Skin-Contact White Wines #WinePW

On the second Saturday of each month, a group of bloggers who are passionate about pairing food and wine come together around a wine theme and share food pairings related to that theme. Our theme for May is Skin-Contact White Wines. A Type Of Wine By Any Other Name… Skin-contact wines (a.k.a “orange wines,” skin-fermented,” “macerated”,…