Classic Wines

Or, Why It's Not A Frat PartyOne of the most exciting trends in the world of wine these days is the popularity of tastings. And not the kind that most people imagine—those gatherings of ascot-clad men pretentiously picking apart the relative meri... read more

The New Neighborhood Watering HoleThese days, it seems, wine bars are opening at a breakneck pace. From Philadelphia to Chicago to Los Angeles, some of the most exciting new hangouts are built on the idea that people want more options when it comes to ... read more

The wine world, mercifully, is changing. And it's not happening a moment too soon, because for a while there, it looked as if it might get crushed beneath the weight of its own pretensions.This, of course, was always a problem in America: We just could... read more

The Beauty of Affordable BurgundyI recently had a bit of a wine revelation, which I hadn't realized how much I'd needed until it happened. After all, these days it seems as if most of the wine world is in a tizzy over one thing: Prices.Sure, there's al... read more

Bella Sera Is Just The BeginningThe pinot grigio days of summer are upon us. This is, of course, an annual occurrence, as unavoidable as high temps, unremitting humidity, and once-beefy guys strutting down the street in muscle shirts, showing off their... read more

Barbecue-Friendly Reds for your Holiday Gathering this 4th of JulyThe Fourth of July holiday is upon us - a time to take the day off from work, eat all kinds of grilled flesh and salads with way too much mayonnaise (macaroni, potato), and spend the day... read more

The Benefits of Drinking Those Prized Older BottlesThis past weekend, I was reminded yet again why it pays to invest in a wine-preservation system, hold onto a few bottles, and wait until they've reached maturity to drink. This, of course, is one of th... read more

Back Away From That Bottle of Chardonnay...Standard wine logic dictates that you mostly drink reds in the winter and whites in the summer. This, of course, has always been a flawed outlook: Is there anything better with barbecue than a rich, spicy Cali... read more

What To Drink With Your Next CigarThere's nothing quite like enjoying a great cigar in the summertime heat. I think it has something to do with that Cuban fantasy all stogie lovers share, but I could be wrong here. It's probably nothing more than the f... read more

Warm Weather Sparklers on a BudgetFor a while there, it seemed as if winter would never end: The cold air hung around like a creepy ex that just wouldn't take the hint that enough was enough already. But now-finally!-springtime is here. If that isn't c... read more

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Find the Perfect White WineWhen most people think of white wine, there are two main types that come to mind: Crisp and fruity, like a Pinot Grigio, or rich and oaky, like a California Chardonnay. And while these can ce... read more

Real men don't cry at sad movies, have a miserable time shopping for shoes with their girlfriends or wives, and wouldn't be caught dead sipping a glass of pink wine. That's just the way it is in this red-blooded, red-wine-obsessed country of ours.Yes, ... read more

Wine lovers with an eye on both quality and the bottom line have gravitated toward Spain for years. And, truth be told, we were more than happy to keep that wonderful Iberian secret all to ourselves—why would we want everyone else to know? The price-va... read more