We can all remember the atrocities NFL player Michael Vick committed against man’s best friend.  Back in 2007 he was found guilty of animal cruelty, as he was involved in illegal pit bull fighting.  Luckily for the pups, 22 of them were rescued and are undergoing rehabilitation at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in southern Utah, where they currently reside. The Carivintas Winery in Southern California has dedicated a series to these...

Sake is quickly becoming a staple in the world of wine.  As sushi grew in popularity over the past decade, so did Sake.  There’s many varieties of Sake, just like wine.  And much like it’s grape-based counterpart, there’s the right way to drink Sake, and there’s the wrong way. Sake Types There are many types of Sake, ranging from dry to sweet, and filtered to unfiltered.  Some are pure rice wine, and some have...

There’s much discussion whether the shape of a wine glass affects the flavors and aromas of the wine.  It sure does.  I’ve done a test with many of my employees, in which I have them taste the same wine out of two different glasses.  One glass is always a cheapo, the type that are made of thick glass.  The other is a nice crystal stem, meant for a specific grape varietal.  90% of the employees would prefer the wine in the...

I’m constantly on the hunt for rich, full bodied wines for under $20.  Most just don’t deliver.  The majority of bargain wines are made from bargain grapes.  Flavors are not as concentrated, which means they can not be extracted as much during the wine making process.  The end result: light bodied, fruity wines with little to no character. I recently picked up a bottle of 2008 Bitch Grenache, from Southern Australia. ...

One of my readers recently asked me about red wine headaches: “My friend has migraines.  She was told to only drink red wine with no sulfates.  She has been buying organic wine that says “no sulfates” on the label.  Personally, I thought all grapes produced sulfates when they ferment.  Are there any red wines that are readily available that she can order at a restaurant that do not have sulfates?” Great...

We are all familiar with California Cabernet Sauvignon, Oregon Pinot Noir, and Washington Riesling.  But how about Pennsylvania Grüner Veltliner?  With almost 150 wineries, and over 12,000 acres under vine, Pennsylvania is searching for it’s “signature” grape varietal.  In an effort to draw more attention to their wines, they are strongly considering both Cabernet Franc, and Grüner Veltliner as their signature...

Harvest has begun in Napa Valley.  2009 has been a fairly mild growing season, contrasting last year’s damaging frosts and fires.  This growing season has brought slightly higher yields compared to ’08, with some hot days towards the end of the season.  So far rain has held off, which can be detrimental during harvest. Araujo Estates began harvesting Sauvignon Muscat today.  Other vineyards will begin harvesting Sauvignon...