Chile’s investment in grapes pays off
Chardonnay fans get value-buy list
A recent Uncorked column on chardonnay had many readers sending feedback on the continued love of this grape (making me realize I may not be writing about this superstar enough). Along with various emails praising a column devoted solely to chardonnay came a flurry of requests for more values and fewer splurges. Many readers also wanted more 1.5-liter and box options for large parties and cost savings. I put my palate to the test and searched our market for the best chardonnays that fit into a price range under $15 for standard bottles, boxed for $25 or less and 1.5-liters for less than...
read moreWedding time: Let’s find a wine
Brides are finalizing their spring and summer wedding plans — some with extreme relief and others with overwhelming stress. With a wealth of wedding planning advice, most have confidently confirmed the dress, flowers and cake, but the celebratory drink sometimes is a last-minute thought. The most important first step in choosing the ideal wine is your budget. Knowing how much you want to spend for your wine and beverages is the starting point for your caterer, retailer or consultant. Exactly how much wine to buy depends on the time of day, number of guests and overall format of your...
read moreAll chardonnay is not created equal
If cabernet sauvignon were known as “king” of the wine world, then chardonnay would be “queen.” Like a chameleon tweaking its pigmentation to blend into its environment, chardonnay’s versatility knows few bounds. It can be left “naked” or treated with oak, undergo malo-lactation, be aged sur lie (French for on the lees, the sediment of grape particles and dead yeast cells that accumulates during fermentation) or even blended with other grapes, with each bottle revealing a diverse profile. It’s a happy-go-lucky grape known by many as the “vineyard growers dream” — easy to...
read moreEaster swine calls for a special wine
Ham at Easter dinner is a common tradition the world over, and the American table is no exception. However, ham tends to be a tricky match for wine. Cooks in many parts of the world, particularly those who have been curing ham and making wine for centuries, have mastered this task. Prosciutto, jamon and presunto — with their straightforward smoky, salty flavors — are not frequently mismatched at Easter tables in Italy, Spain and Portugal. It’s primarily at the American table that things get complicated. When you add ingredients such as honey and cloves, or serve a ham with a brown...
read moreHints for pairing wine with entree
Finding the perfect wine to enjoy with your meal can range from an all-out ordeal to a matter of blind chance. With the vast array of wine and food choices, the combinations are seemingly endless. However, some wines complement a wider variety of foods than others. Committing these top 10 food-friendly wines to memory (or at least making a list to keep handy) can help ease the uncertainty when faced with a wine list at a restaurant or picking up a bottle to go with dinner at home. Dry rose deserves recognition for its versatility. This style matches effortlessly with salads or mildly spiced...
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