I don’t often rant about stuff, but this has been bothering me for a while.  I’ve worked in restaurants and wine shops for years.  I’ve managed wine lists with hundreds of selections, and done over $1 million in wine sales per year at the last restaurant I worked at.  As a wine buyer, you become aware of the concept of “buying power.”  It’s kind of a game really, one of those “you scratch my...

There has been much buzz on the new bill, HR 5034, introduced by Congress on April 15.  Essentially what the bill does is cease all direct shipping from wineries, distilleries and breweries to consumers.  Do you belong to a winery’s “wine of the month” club?   Do you order online directly from your favorite distiller or winery?  Well, this might all be coming to a halt. If you want to read through the entire article,...

I tend to drink more bubbly in the warmer weather.  Everyone seems to drink their sparkling wine out of flutes (the long slender glasses).  This is fine for the cheapo bubbly, but not for the good stuff.  Top Champagne producers will tell you to drink high quality sparkling wine out of a regular wine stem.  This allows more aromas to be released. The design of the champagne flute is meant to hold more of the carbonation in, while...

Many have preconceived notions of Absinthe, and just as many of us have had personal experiences with the green fairy.  Can we really go insane from imbibing?  Possibly, but it’s not from the liquor.  I recently had a chance to sit down with Erich Harbowy, a distiller at the local Leopold Bros. Distillery.  While we tasted, we discussed the lore behind this almost mythological spirit. Traditional absinthe is distilled with the...

Organic foods are no longer a trend, it’s a way of life for many.  Wine is no different, as many consumers are shopping specifically for organic wines.  But there’s much confusion between the different levels of “organic” wines.  Here’s a little insight. SUSTAINABLY FARMED This refers to a range of agricultural practices that are not only ecologically sound, but also economically viable and socially...