This wine and food pairing blog was inspired by my husband, Ron. Almost every night, he will look across the kitchen and…
Introduction to “What Are We Drinking Tonight, Honey?”
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ASW Blog
Jancis Robinson 2024 Wine Writing Competition – Big Old Bottle
Back in June, I entered the Jancis Robinson 2024 Wine Writing Competition. The theme was “Your Most Memorable Wine Mom…
An Invite to Indiana Wine
Although best known for car racing and Hoosier basketball, Indiana established the first successful commercial wine indu…
Amongst the Vines at Panther Ridge Vineyard
Suzanne Farver of Panther Ridge Vineyard invited me to harvest her Pinot Noir grapes. The time I spent there amongst the…
Reverie Winery Estate
Reverie Winery Estate is focused exclusively on Napa Valley single-vineyard Bordeaux-style wines: Cabernet Franc, Cab Sa…
Sam’s General Store in Napa Valley
Learn about the history & hospitality of Napa Valley’s high-end coffee café, Sam’s General Store, and adjoining luxur…
A Love Letter to Pinot Noir
Dear Pinot Noir, I do not remember exactly when we first met, probably at a party or a business dinner. But it was not l…
Idaho First Wine Producing State in Northwest
Idaho was the first wine-producing state in the Northwest. Today, there are over sixty wineries across Idaho, with the g…
The Mediterranean Inspired Meal
When I think of tomatoes in a dish, wines from Italy and Greece comes to mind. I decided on one I had been aging for som…
Summer Solstice Sampler
In this issue of Bottle Talk, I am sharing the list and descriptions of the wine served at this special and fun Summer S…
Hula Over to Wine from Hawaii
Hawaii is home to the southernmost winery in America: Volcano Winery. I visit MauiWine and review wine history on Maui a…
A Reverse Wine Pairing with Château Sansonnet
After accidentally opening a 2011 Château Sansonnet Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Bordeaux, I made a reverse pairing with Ro…
Dining Deliciously Gluten-Free
Learn about gluten, related health conditions, gluten-free foods, tips for dining out, and GF dishes at Napa restaurants…
Catalonia Wine Region of Spain
While traveling in the Northeast wine region of Catalonia, Spain, I plan to visit the two famous regions of Penedès and…
State of Georgia Wine Country
Not to be confused with the country of Georgia and its long history of wine making, Georgia, the state, was one of the t…
Seventy-Two Hours in NYC with Susan and Ron
Ron and I traveled to New York City for a three-day food, wine, and opera weekend. January is a great time to visit, as …
“Eat Dirt” at Priest Ranch Winery
Is there a more enticing pairing than wine & chocolate? Priest Ranch Wines has an “eat Dirt” experience emulating th…
April 2025 Wine Recommendations
In this April 2025 issue of Bottle Talk, my recommendations include easy-drinking wines, which have recently paired well…
Florida for Wine Enthusiasts
The idea of grapes being cultivated in the state of Florida for wine production may be hard to grasp. For some historian…
January 2025 Wine Recommendations
Happy New Year! In this January 2025 issue of Bottle Talk, I am looking back and sharing four wines that I especially en…
Delaware Does Wine
Delaware is the smallest wine-producing state with just five wineries: Nassau Valley, Pizzadili, Blend of Seven, Harvest…
The New Year: Embrace a Lifestyle, Not a Resolution
Instead of resolutions, let’s embrace a new way of living. Consider trying a Blue Zones and Mediterranean lifestyle this…
Connect with Connecticut Wine Country
The Passport to Connecticut Farm Wineries program includes all the state wine producers. Today there are over 40 farm wi…
Exploration into Colorado Wine
Today there are +170 wineries across the state, with the main production of the Colorado wine industry in the Grand Vall…
Greek Wine and Food Pairing
Greek wine and food are an inseparable pair, and Greeks rarely drink without food. Lamb is a perfect match for many Gree…
A Beginner’s Guide to California Wine
California is the king of American wine making, producing over 84% of all the wine in the US. California wines competed …
A Beginner’s Guide to Franciacorta
Franciacorta sparkling wine may be Italy’s best kept wine secret. This Italian wine has only in recent times found its…
Fish Cakes To The Rescue
To pair with the fish cakes, green salad, and sweet potato French fries, I chose a 2021 bottle of Marsannay white burgun…
Amazing Arkansas Wine
The most common grape in Arkansas wine is the Norton, producing the regional signature “Cabernet of the Ozarks” with…
10 Things You Never Knew About California Wine
California is a global powerhouse. If it were a country, it would be the world’s 4th-largest producer of wine behind F…
Beginners Guide to Barolo Wine
Barolo is a food wine best served with hearty meats, lamb stew, or rich pasta dishes. It is also one of the longest aged…
August 2024 Wine Recommendations
In the summer, I tend to drink white and rosé wine more often than red, but red wine still has a place on the table dur…
Marsala Wine Isn’t Just for Cooking
Today, most people think of Marsala wine as a cooking wine used to make sauces. Though, higher quality Italian Marsala i…
Summertime is Tomato Time
Summertime means fresh tomatoes! Here is a short review of the basic six types of tomato, each with a different preparat…
An Avocado a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Avocados are high in antioxidants and especially the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. Both of which are important to e…
A Beginner’s Guide to Arizona Wine
Arizona provides a perfect setting for growing a diverse set of wine grapes including Syrah, Malbec, and Viognier. Arizo…
Wineries in Alaska
Although Alaska leans more towards whiskey and beer production, there are still a few wineries in Alaska. Learn about cu…
All About Alabama Wine
Wine making in Alabama goes back to 1884 when the Alabama Fruit and Winery Association, composed of a group of Northern …
Summer in a Bottle: Rosé Wine
I love watching the sunset into the Annisquam River while sipping a glass of Rosé wine during the summer. When pairing …
Elegant Wine Tours
Today, Elegant Wine Tours has an expanded vehicle fleet. It can offer the right size ride for all occasions, including l…
Red Thread Wines
In 2013, Brian and Gretchen Brakesman embarked on creating Red Thread Wines in Napa Valley’s famed Howell Mountain. It…
Experience Wine and Caviar at Charles Krug Winery
Charles Krug Winery, established in 1861 and owned and operated by the Mondavi family since 1943, offers just that exper…
V. Sattui Winery
The V. Sattui winery story is historic and inspiring. Vittorio Sattui immigrated to the United States from Genoa, Italy,…
Cloud Nine Yoga
Laura Cropper, @NapaYogaGirl on Instagram, decided to become a yoga instructor based on her desire to bring others the e…
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery
Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, St. Supéry is a leading 100% estate-grown winery in the Napa Valley. With a vineya…
Materra Cunat Family Vineyards
Materra Cunat Family Vineyards began with a love and respect for agriculture that Brian Cunat developed while working on…
French Onion Soup Food and Wine Pairing
On November 30th of every year, I celebrate my dad’s birthday by asking my husband Ron to make his favorite dish, Fren…
Perfect Pairing with Shrimp Lettuce Wrap
We have beautiful lettuce the size of small elephant ears, well maybe palm leaves, growing in our window boxes on the fr…
A Stormy Night Called for Spring Vegetable Pasta and an Angel
Saturday, March 30th, 2024, the night before Easter, and although it is supposed to be spring, it certainly doesn’t fe…