With their striking labels and unconventional wines, The Prisoner Wine Company has always prided itself on being different. Now they finally have a tasting room experience that matches their provocative spirit. Located on Napa Valley's Highway 29, The Prisoner Wine Company recently debuted their new Tasting Lounge and Makery. The ambitious project was a collaboration between San Francisco architect Matt Hollis and Richard Von Saal, interior designer and Napa Valley native. Drawing inspiration from The Prisoner's bold personality and the Francisco Goya painting that graces their often-photographed label, the exterior and interior spaces are a vivid tapestry of textures, colors,... Continue reading

Martini & Rossi dynamic duo Giuseppe “Beppe” Musso (Master Blender) and Ivano Tonutti (Master Herbalist). How fitting that my tasting appointment with the Martini & Rossi dynamic duo of Beppe Musso (Master Blender) and Ivano Tonutti (Master Herbalist) happened at The Aviary NYC, a veritable cocktail nirvana perched 35 floors above the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. These two charming gentleman showed me that there are truly no limits to the delicious drinks that can be created with Martini & Rossi Riserva Speciale Vermouth and Bitter Liqueur. Martini & Rossi vermouth and bitter liqueur are the important foundation to many... Continue reading

I had been warned that this would be no ordinary winemaker lunch but nothing could have prepared me for the force of nature that is Michel Chapoutier. Gregarious and unfiltered, this icon from the Rhône Valley shatters any image that you may have of a prim and reserved French winemaker. Michel lives life with gusto and if you choose not to go along for the ride, that's your loss! "A winemaker has to be obsessed by food," said Michel as we tucked into a superb lunch at Troquet, a charming and cozy French restaurant in NYC's Soho neighborhood. To reinforce... Continue reading

An eye-catching label is no guarantee that the wine within will captivate you but what joy when a bottle is beautiful inside and out! The best wines tell a story and the look of the physical bottle often conveys the winemaker's style and inspiration. I recently tasted two wonderful wines from California whose exterior and interior artistry were perfectly in sync. Meet My Favorite Neighbor and Faust! My Favorite Neighbor 2016 ($80) Paso Robles, California The holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on the importance of family, friends, and community. Great neighbors make an impact on our lives,... Continue reading

"Our future is in our past. Our treasures are the things we have from the past." Victor Urrutia Ybarra, CEO of CVNE Wines from Rioja are hotter than ever but don't dare call Spain's most famous wine region an overnight sensation. Way back in 1102 King Sancho of Navarra was so impressed by Rioja wines that he recognized them legally. The world has changed dramatically since the 12th century but tradition still matters in Rioja and respecting the legacy of the past is certainly at the heart of CVNE's winemaking philosophy. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Victor... Continue reading

image courtesy of Bodegas Salentein Don't let José "Pepe" Galante's quiet demeanor fool you - he's a genuine winemaking rock star. Widely celebrated as the father of modern winemaking in his native Argentina, Pepe has more than 40 vintages to his credit and shows no signs of slowing down. His illustrious career includes an impressive 30-year tenure as Catena Zapata's chief winemaker but since 2010 Pepe has worked in this capacity at Bodegas Salentein in the Uco Valley region of Mendoza. Today, the Uco Valley is a widely respected wine appellation but that wasn't the case in the late 1990's... Continue reading

In the rarefied world of champagne, Régis Camus garners genuine admiration and awe. Honored an astounding 8 times as Sparkling Winemaker of the Year by the International Wine Challenge, Régis joined Piper-Heidsieck in 1994 and ascended to the prestigious position of cellar master in 2002. Many were stunned when Régis announced his retirement from Piper-Heidsieck in 2018 but don't count him out; he's embarked on an exciting new chapter as cellar master for the House's exclusive line of Rare Champagne. Produced only in the most exceptional vintages, only nine vintages of Rare have been created in the last four decades.... Continue reading

“It’s exciting to share these women’s compelling stories through emBRAZEN wines. I hope these wines spark conversation among friends, family, co-workers or even in the wine aisle. I’m proud to have crafted these wines, providing a bold and delicious canvas for their voices to be heard.” - Olivia Teutschel, emBRAZEN winemaker I'll admit to being a bit skeptical when I first heard about emBRAZEN Wines. I actively avoid any wines that seem gimmicky or blatant in their pandering to women. But something about emBRAZEN caught my eye: the beautiful visage of one of my all-time favorite women in history adorns... Continue reading

Whether you're entertaining at home or looking for the perfect bottle to give your host, these seven wines perfectly match the flavors and mood of the holiday season. Cheers! Champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaïque ($45) France Greet your guests in style with this sophisticated bubbly. A classic blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier; it is fresh, crisp, and vibrant. Popping the cork on a beautiful bottle of champagne never goes out of fashion and is the perfect way to toast the joyous mood of the season. Valdo Cuvée 1926 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG ($19.99) Italy Who says Prosecco can't... Continue reading

Marta Sanvicente (chief winemaker, Pere Ventura Cava) and Pere Ventura (president and owner of Pere Ventura Family Wine Estates) Wine is very humbling -- there's always something new to learn. On a brisk fall night in downtown Manhattan, I learned that Pere Ventura is not just the brand name on a wonderful bottle of sparkling wine but also the name of a charming & creative Catalan gentleman. Mr. Ventura's business card boldly states "Yo Soy Pere Ventura" (I am Pere Ventura) to make it crystal clear that Pere Ventura the wine would not exist without Pere Ventura the man. His... Continue reading

A view from Domaine La Tour Vieille in Collioure - one of the wineries featured in Snooth's Roussillon Holiday Array 6-Pack. Collioure is a picturesque town in French Catalonia on the Mediterranean coast, just north of the Spanish border. Take the stress out of pairing wines with your holiday meals! My friends at Snooth are offering a wonderful six-pack of wines from the Roussillon region in the south of France for a budget-friendly $100 ($200 value). I had the pleasure of visiting Roussillon last year and spent time at some of the wineries featured in this impressive selection of whites... Continue reading

image courtesy of Val di Suga Speak with winemakers and you'll notice a common refrain is repeated around the globe -- great wine starts in the vineyards. Few would dispute that the tiny, yet majestic, hilltop town of Montalcino in Tuscany is home to some of the finest vineyards in the world. And from those prized vines, Sangiovese Grosso grapes provide the foundation for one of Italy's most acclaimed wines - Brunello di Montalcino. But no two vineyards in Montalcino are the same and in a land of phenomenal wines, Val di Suga has a unique advantage: they are the... Continue reading

Countess Ginevra Venerosi-Pesciolini represents the 26th generation of her illustrious Tuscan family to lead Tenuta di Ghizzano. Ginevra Venerosi-Pesciolini doesn't need to introduce herself as a Countess to impress you. In fact, it wasn't until days after our meeting that I realized that the very cool lady that I had spent two hours wining, dining, and laughing with was in possession of a noble title and a family tree that includes Tuscan royalty, poets, and more than one palazzo. Ginevra's humility is certainly endearing and her wines don't need pomp and circumstance to get your attention because as she proudly... Continue reading

For Proust, a bite of a madeleine cookie triggered a flood of memories. For me, it was a sip of Secastilla Garnacha 2010 that transported me back to a very special day in Spain. Around this time last year, I made my second visit to Somontano, in northeast Spain, to tour Viñas del Vero's majestic Secastilla vineyards. A few nights ago, vivid memories of that trip came flooding back as I sat in my Manhattan living room sipping Secastilla Garnacha. Secastilla Garnacha 2010 ($39.99) I could smell the fertile fragrance of Secastilla's rain-drenched air and hear the staccato pitter-patter of... Continue reading

Nobilo winemaker David Edmonds doesn't hesitate when asked what his biggest challenge is -- "It's letting people know that all Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are not the same." Because Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is so popular, many people mistakenly believe there's only one uniform style. Often described as grassy, zesty, and easygoing; that's only one facet of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and David is determined to showcase the diversity and elegance of his homeland's most famous wine. image courtesy of Nobilo Wines By the age of 15, David was already certain that he wanted to be a winemaker but... Continue reading

Every so often this native Manhattanite needs to be reminded that there's more to New York than my little island. The five boroughs that form the Big Apple may get a disproportionate share of the glory but the Empire State is a sprawling and multi-faceted tapestry. Home to concrete jungles and Mother Nature's majestic masterpieces, New York State has it all, including acres of vineyards and a vibrant wine industry. And the Finger Lakes is one of New York's most exciting wine regions. From indigenous grapes to varieties from far-flung corners of the globe, winemakers and grape growers from the... Continue reading

It takes a sparkling personality to make sparkling wine! Winemaker Giorgio Castagnotti has worked for Martini & Rossi for 35 years and is still passionate about his job. Their catchy jingle has been stuck in my mind for decades, but now it's the Martini & Rossi wines that I can't stop thinking about. I was too young to really appreciate wine when the vintage "Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante, When You've Got Good Taste it Shows" commercial was a television staple, but I was absolutely old enough to dig a disco-ish jingle celebrating the pleasures of sparkling wine. That commercial... Continue reading

So much wine, so little time! My cell phone is filled with photos of almost every bottle that I taste but it is impossible to write about each one. Inspired by the childhood game of Spin the Bottle, instead of spinning an actual bottle and kissing the person that the bottle points at, I've opted to take a spin through my wine photos until one gives me that tingling feeling that reminds me of how delicious it was. After all, a great glass of wine is almost as good as kissing (sometimes better)! Meet my new wine crush - Viña... Continue reading

"We don't just want to share the calm side of Tuscany, we want to share the adrenaline, the competition of the harvest, the emotion." - Gabriele Tacconi, Chief Winemaker, Ruffino Italy is renowned for its legendary winemaking families that span generations and centuries. But it isn't just shared DNA that defines a family, familial bonds are also built by a mutual commitment and passion for a common cause. So I don't doubt Ruffino winemaker Gabriele Tacconi's sincerity when he strongly proclaims "We are proud. We are the family." The we that Gabriele speaks of, the winemaking team at Ruffino, may... Continue reading

Whether I'm wining & dining with friends or just relaxing at home, wine is an essential part of my life. When a wine makes me lift up my glass and say WOW, I have to share my tasting notes with you. Cheers, Wanda Donnafugata "Floramundi" Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG 2016 ($30) Donnafugata means "woman in flight" but you should run towards, not away from, this elegant and sultry wine from south-east Sicily! A blend of the indigenous Sicilian grapes, Nero d'Avola (70%) and Frappato (30%); Floramundi is a lighter-bodied red that you can serve slightly chilled on a hot summer... Continue reading

Was it destiny? Beronia winemaker Matías Calleja was born to a winemaking family in Ollauri, the historic town in La Rioja where Beronia is located. Matías has completed 36 harvests at Beronia! Winemaker Matías Calleja is endearingly modest when he talks about his impressive career. Considered one of Rioja's innovators, Matías has been at the acclaimed Beronia winery since 1982 and became Technical Director in 1996 -- that's pretty impressive considering that the winery was founded in 1973. His long tenure at Beronia has had a definitive impact not only on their wines but on winemaking throughout Rioja and all... Continue reading

Emilia Nardi, the youngest daughter of the founder of Tenute Silvio Nardi, began managing the winery at the age of 30. Emilia Nardi proves that authentic power isn't loud and flashy. Soft-spoken with a commanding presence, Emilia's charisma lies in her elegant demeanor. It's no wonder that Emilia is one of the most respected women in the wine world and a true leader in the prestigious realm of Brunello di Montalcino. Continuing the family legacy that began when her father Silvio purchased the Casale del Bosco estate in 1950, Emilia has led Tenute Silvio Nardi since she was 30 years... Continue reading

Which 12 different bottles of wine would you choose to create your own mixed case? I would definitely fill mine with a mix of sparkling, white, red and rosé; a few serious wines and some everyday easygoing sips. If you're looking for inspiration to create your own delicious dozen, keep reading for tasting notes on twelve winning wines that I recently sampled from Italy, France, Argentina, Germany, and the USA. Cheers! Sparkling DUBL di Feudi di San Gregorio Sparkling Falanghina Brut ($25) Italy A very unique sparkling wine that applies the traditional Champagne method to Falanghina, an iconic grape of... Continue reading

Blame it on Alentejo. I'm no daredevil but somehow found myself soaring in a hot air balloon, gliding above the Portuguese countryside and hovering a little too long over one of Europe's largest man-made lakes. Invigorating yet serene, retro yet innovative, that sky-high adventure encapsulates the feeling of my entire Alentejo experience. Hugo Domingos, hot air balloon pilot and proprietor of Emotion Portugal, made my first ever balloon ride one to remember. Once safely on the ground, our capable and charming pilot celebrated the moment by popping the cork on a bottle of local wine. (Speaking of cork, Alentejo is... Continue reading