People are often surprised when I tell them that I've been writing for more than a decade. What a journey it's been, and I continue to learn more every day. Since I was a little girl, I've loved writing and never imagined that wine would be a source of endless inspiration. In addition to the sheer beauty of wine, the people and places move me. Getting to share those stories with others is a blessing. I'm thrilled that my story Wine's Wild West appears in the April 2022 issue of Food & Wine magazine (page 65). It explores the wine... Continue reading

I recently had the honor of moderating the keynote discussion for the tenth annual Women in Wine Leadership Symposium (WWLS). The conversation featured Annette Alvarez-Peters, Jirka Jireh, and Mandy Oser, and covered a wide range of topics, including diversity, mentorship, work-life balance, and working relationships. Several years ago, I received my first invitation to attend WWLS and it has always been one of favorite industry events. Few wine industry gatherings can rival WWLS's combination of camaraderie, education, and networking. Having a seat at the table as a moderator, was truly a career highlight. The keynote discussion also inspired an article... Continue reading

image: Doug Young Photography A native New Yorker with Southern roots and the daughter of a professional chef, food & wine are an integral part of my life. Travel is also my passion and I love learning about the history and culture of a place through its wine traditions. I am the East Coast Editor at The SOMM Journal and the New York City Editor for Tasting Panel. I have contributed articles to Food & Wine and NAPA Magazine. In 2022, I served as an associate judge at Wine Without Walls in Verona, Italy. In 2015, I earned my Certified... Continue reading

Tis the season to sparkle, in your spirit and in your glass! Get into the festive mood of the holiday season with a bottle of Champagne Piper-Heidsieck. It’s impossible to be a Grinch when Piper-Heidsieck’s petite bubbles are dancing in your glass! I’m happy to say that I’ve lost count of how many glasses of Piper-Heidsieck I’ve sipped over the years. Consistently elegant and always intriguing, Champagne Piper-Heidsieck always makes me smile. Founded in 1785, Piper-Heidsieck elicits smiles around the globe; it is poured in over 100 countries! Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut ($60) is the House’s signature cuvée. Festive and full... Continue reading

Add some ooh la la to the holidays with the wines of M.Chapoutier! I’m a big fan of Chapoutier’s elegant, terroir-driven, and authentic wines; they always add a bit of magic to meals and time together with friends and family. I took this photo of Michel Chapoutier when we met in 2018. The Chapoutier family has been making wine in the Rhône Valley since 1808, but 1990 was a turning point in their history. With the bold visionary Michel Chapoutier at the helm, the family winery became a trailblazing powerhouse. Under Michel’s leadership, Chapoutier introduced Single Vineyard Selection wines that... Continue reading

Miguel Torres Maczassek, President, Familia Torres If you’ve been reading my wine musings for a fair amount of time, it’s no secret that I love Spain and I have great affection and respect for family-owned wineries with a long history. So, it was an absolute joy and honor to chat on Instagram Live with Miguel Torres Maczassek, fifth-generation vintner and president of Familia Torres. In 2020, Familia Torres Winery celebrated their 150th anniversary, but their winemaking roots in Spain can be traced back to 1557! Familia Torres produces quality wine from 9 DOs across Spain, and in Chile too, but... Continue reading

Greg Lambrecht, Inventor and Founder, Coravin Coravin wine preservation systems have become treasured tools for wine consumers and professionals by eliminating the worry of wasting unfinished wine. Until recently, that protection was limited to still wines, but the new Coravin Sparkling™ makes the dream of a reliable preservation system for bubbly a reality. The Coravin Sparkling™ Sparkling Preservation System ($399) preserves the crisp flavor and effervescence of sparkling wines for up to 4 weeks. To learn more about the Coravin Sparkling™, watch my Instagram Live with Coravin inventor Greg Lambrecht. During our chat, Greg demonstrated how to use the system.... Continue reading

Enrique Tirado, Winemaker, Don Melchor My recent Instagram Live chat with Enrique Tirado, winemaker for Don Melchor, reminded me that wine is one of the best ways to ponder the passage of time. Each vintage is a snapshot of that year. What was happening in the vineyard, the world, and even your own life? Drink and think! I first experienced the charms of Don Melchor about five years ago when I shared a bottle of the 2014 vintage over dinner with some friends. It was love at first sip, and I have tasted every new vintage since then. And thanks... Continue reading

Miren de Lorgeril, CEO, Maison Lorgeril Talk about Old World: the Lorgeril family has been making wine since 1620. But these prominent vintners are not stuck in the past. I recently had the pleasure of chatting on Instagram Live with Miren de Lorgeril, CEO of Maison Lorgeril, and discovered that the family enthusiastically embraces innovation without sacrificing authenticity. Lorgeril has expanded their footprint in the South of France, and they currently own six wineries in nine appellations of Languedoc and Roussillon. During our chat, we tasted Lorgeril's Domaine de La Borie Blanche 2019, AOP Mivervois La Laviniere (Grenache, Syrah, and... Continue reading

Tancredi Biondi Santi, Castello di Montepó Any discussion of Italian wine history would be incomplete without acknowledging the contributions of the Biondi Santi family. In the 1800's, Ferruccio Biondi Santi planted the first vineyard in Montalcino with a clone of Sangiovese. That grape was Sangiovese Grosso, the soul of the iconic wine Brunello di Montalcino. Bottles of Brunello bearing the Biondi Santi name have long captivated wine lovers, but the family has spread their wings beyond Montalcino to Maremma and their hilltop winery estate in southern Tuscany, Castello di Montepò. Castello di Montepò Sassoalloro 2015 ($35) is fresh and crisp,... Continue reading

Recently, I was a guest on the Inside Wine podcast, hosted by Joe Janish. The theme was Exploring Other Italian Wines and we focused on wines beyond the well-known Prosecco, Chianti, and Pinot Grigio. By the end of the chat, I hope you're inspired to pour a glass of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Greco di Tufo, Carricante, Verdicchio, Trentodoc, Francicorta, or Lambrusco! Click this link to listen! Continue reading

I had the pleasure of hosting an Instagram Live session for Premiere Napa Valley Wine Week. Napa Valley winemakers craft their finest, most innovative and creative wines exclusively for Premiere Napa Valley. Produced in lots of as little as 60 to no more than 240 bottles, these wines are not normally offered from the winery and will never be replicated. Visit the Premiere Napa Valley website and learn how to build your collection with these rare wines. To watch my interview with winemakers Paula Kornell (Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine), Wesley Steffens (Vineyard 7 & 8) and Jim Close (Gamble Family... Continue reading

“If we consider that Champagne is only tradition, we will create the old Champagne, and I never want to, because Champagne is a lively brand, a lively product,” she says.“This is bubbly; this is sparkling; this is crispy. So, it has to breathe, and it has to continue to evolve.” - Vitalie Taittinger I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Vitalie Tattinger, president and CEO of Champagne Taittinger, for The SOMM Journal. Founded nearly a century ago, Champagne Taittinger is one of the few remaining family-owned and operated Champagne houses. You can find the profile on page 4 of the... Continue reading

Sharing a bottle of Champagne with your beloved is always a good idea. And if the bubbly being poured is Rare Champagne Millésime 2008 ($210), the odds of your love being reciprocated may increase! Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but the exquisite nature of Rare 2008 can warm a cold heart and excite a jaded palate. True to its name, only twelve exceptional vintages of Rare Brut and Rosé Millésime have been declared since its debut in 1976. Since 2004, Régis Camus has been honored eight times as the Sparkling Winemaker of the Year by the International Wine Challenge.... Continue reading

How could I not be intrigued by Granbazán Albariño Don Álvaro de Bazán 2015 ($50)? This single-vineyard and six-year-old Albariño from Rias Baixas elegantly proves that Albariño can have aging power. We’re all familiar with the fresh charms of young Albariño, but when these wines are carefully crafted with aging in mind, they’re something special. Sourced from a single plot, the Albariño grapes were fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and aged on the lees for 36 months. The flirty, fresh, and pretty essence of Albariño remains, but extended aging takes the flavors and textures to the next level.... Continue reading

“Don Melchor is for me the constant search for the best expression of each of the vines within the vineyard, in order to achieve the beauty of the balance of the terroir of Puente Alto in each vintage. That is my true obsession. I use technology as a tool to achieve greater knowledge, but with this, observing and feeling each plant and wine is what allows us to achieve the perfect balance in each vintage." - Enrique Tirado, Winemaker & General Manager, Viña Don Melchor Is there a wine in your life that makes your heart skip a beat when... Continue reading

Katherine Power & Cameron Diaz, Founders of Avaline image courtesy of Avaline The response from the wine media was fast and furious when actor Cameron Diaz and entrepreneur Katherine Power introduced their Avaline wines to the world last year. Quicker than you could chill a bottle, Avaline’s "clean wine" claims were branded as misleading. It’s true that much of the language surrounding clean wines is cloudy; there is no legal definition of clean wine. Avaline's website states that “Avaline makes clean, delicious wines with organic grapes. Transparently produced, full of natural goodness, free of unnecessary extras.” It is wonderful that... Continue reading

“I am an artisan. What does it mean to be an artisan? It means to have my own project, that I like to do in my own way. The process starts in the vineyards, that is the most important for us, through the cellar until arriving in the market. My wish is to be able to give inspiration to my collaborators.” - Angelo Gaja Could winemaker Angelo Gaja be the antidote for Zoom fatigue? When an 81-years-young Angelo Gaja appeared on my computer screen from his vineyard in Piedmont, surrounded by yellow mustard flowers and imitating the buzzing sounds of... Continue reading

Eduardo Jordàn Villalobos, Winemaker, Miguel Torres Chile If you're a fan of Spanish wines, Miguel Torres is a very familiar name; the family-owned winery's legacy in Spain spans 150 years. Not content with making wine exclusively in their homeland, in the 1970s, they set their sights on the Southern Hemisphere, and Miguel Torres Chile was founded in 1979. Miguel Torres was the first foreign winery to arrive in Chile, bringing know-how, passion, innovation, and a respect for Chilean culture. I recently had the pleasure of chatting on Instagram Live with their winemaker Eduardo Jordàn Villalobos. Stainless steel vats and French... Continue reading

"I soon learned that wine is not merely learning about a beverage, but also understanding the history, language, culture, and traditions of the people and countries where each wine is made. Wine is a very complicated subject, one that reinvents itself every year with a new vintage; the fact that wines constantly change makes for a fascinating and a lifelong study." Kevin Zraly, Wine Educator and Author of the Windows on the World Complete Wine Course What a career and what a storyteller! The inimitable Kevin Zraly is an award-winning wine writer and one of the world's foremost wine educators.... Continue reading

image courtesy of Mionetto No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you; there's a flirty pink glow emanating from the Prosecco aisle of your favorite wine shop. Prosecco Rosé was officially approved as a DOC in 2020 and the wines have started arriving in the US. Wine lovers no longer have to choose between Prosecco's perky bubbles and rosé's blush-hued charms. To learn more about the new Prosecco Rosé category, I recently chatted on Instagram Live with Enore Ceola, CEO and Managing Director of Freixenet Mionetto USA. Enore Ceola, CEO and Managing Director of Freixenet Mionetto USA A native of... Continue reading

Michelle DeFeo, President of Laurent-Perrier US photo: Chris George A day that includes Champagne and compelling conversation is always cause for celebration, even when the bubbles are shared virtually! I recently had the pleasure of sipping Champagne Laurent-Perrier with Michelle DeFeo, President of Laurent-Perrier US, on Instagram Live. The elegant wines and sparkling conversation added some welcome ooh la la to my day. Watch our chat on IGTV or by clicking the video below. Founded in 1812, Laurent-Perrier remains family-owned. Following in the footsteps of the many dynamic women in the House's history, today Laurent-Perrier is managed by sisters Alexandra... Continue reading

Alexandre Relvas, Chief Winemaker & Co-Owner, Casa Relvas (Alentejo, Portugal) In 2018, I embarked on my first and only trip to Portugal to visit wineries in Alentejo and it was magical. But after chatting with fifth generation vintner Alexandre Relvas on Instagram Live, I know that my next journey to Alentejo would be incomplete without a visit to Casa Relvas. You can watch our conversation and tasting on IGTV, YouTube, or by clicking the video below. During our conversation, Alexandre described Alentejo's rich winemaking history and how wines made in amphora are an integral part of the region's legacy. We... Continue reading

Manfred Ing, Winemaker, Querciabella Hopping a flight overseas remains a daydream during these long days of social distancing, but thankfully traveling the world through wine is a reality. Recently, I took a virtual journey to beautiful Tuscany through the wines of Querciabella with winemaker Manfred Ing. Watch our Instagram Live conversation on IGTV, YouTube, or by clicking the video below. Founded in 1974 with a single hectare vineyard in Tuscany, today Querciabella has more than 100 hectares in Chianti Classico and Maremma. In 1988, Querciabella converted to organic viticulture and in 2000 they introduced a 100% plant‑based approach to biodynamics... Continue reading

Cristian Rimoldi, Export Director, Champagne Delamotte The 2021 season of Wine With Wanda on Instagram Live kicked off on a sparkling note with Champagne Delamotte. My special guest was the House's export director, Cristian Rimoldi. Founded in Reims in 1760, at more than 250 years old, Delamotte is the fifth oldest house in Champagne. Watch our chat on IGTV, YouTube, or by clicking the video below. In addition to discussing Delamotte's rich history, Cristian shared his personal and professional journey from the Argentinian Pampa to France. During out chat, we tasted Champagne Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV ($90.99) and Champagne... Continue reading