UNLOCKING FRANC MEMORIES I think all the time that goes into the making of a wine, the complete and whole terroir of it, meets up with the complete and whole terroir of our own lives. For example, trying to pinpoint a smell that is familiar. You search your mind for...
peggy
Grab a Grenache!
THE MANY FACES OF GRENACHE Hi everybody! Here we are again. I know the pandemic continues and “the world situation is desperate as usual” to quote Tom Robbins. But what are we to do? No, I don’t mean politically. I mean when we are sitting, thinking, fretting,...
Pandemonium
OF SOLITUDE AND SIPPING Hi. For the last little while, due to our viral situation, I’ve had some time off from writing these columns. But, I’m still here, back now, trying to write some thing more thoughtful. And while drinking and driving is a no go, drinking and...
Oakey – Dokey
OF WINE AND OAK The iconic oak barrel. And all its associations to the world of wine. How did it come to be so? Why is it used for wine? Was it always used? When did it come about? Who started it? As Mr.Peabody might have said, “Set the Wayback Machine to the ancient...
Let’s Talk Terroir
THE MYSTERY OF TERROIR Terroir. It’s kind of a mystery. And not well understood by most. And that’s because... magical harp music here, taking us far back into the Land of Discovery... Because...the word terroir has no exact English equivalent. And, like many French...
Ice Wine Nice Wine!
Oh my. It's December already, the year has flown by on super accelerated wings, the holiday season is here and no one asked if I was ready for any of this. Well, time waits for no woman. Least of all me. (Ask Bob.) So might as well enjoy it with...what? Hmmm...cheery...
2020 Thoughts
2020. Can you believe it? Remember 2000? When the world as we knew it was going to end? Well, here it is 20 years later and, at least those of us reading this, are still here. A TIME FOR RESOLUTIONS And how many of us still make resolutions? I was never big on them...
The Allure of Pinot Noir
Many moons ago, when I didn't really know anything about wines, I was looking to bring a bottle for Thanksgiving dinner at our friend's house. It was going to be a smoked turkey. What wine, I asked the local grocery store wine guy, can I bring to pair with that? After...
What Grandpa Taught Me
Why can't I focus on wine today? Because it's over 80° in the shade? Because I am exhausted from my two week vacation visiting my family in Chicago? Because one of my cats is mad at me? A GLASSFULL OF MEMORIES I have to confess, I'm still sipping rosé. Nice and...
What the heck, have some Malbec!
As most of you know, Northwest Cellars has a 100% 2014 Malbec wine. I hope you have all tried it, not only because it is just plain delicious, but it will treat you to one of the many expressions of this grape. Here's a little history and information if you are...