ROME

ROME We prepared to go to Rome by reading a variety of books that were every bit as delicious as the foods and wines themselves. There is a movement in Italy toward replicating the ancient wines of the Romans, who were wine saavy from top to bottom. We set out to find and drink wines […]

ZINFANDEL: A PERSONAL HISTORY

ZINFANDEL: A PERSONAL HISTORY This most mysterious of grapes hasn’t changed much in the past 165 years, but the uses, perception and history of it have. As a student at San Francisco State University in the 70’s I proposed doing my history thesis on the zinfandel grape and was met with the stunned silence that […]

Wines for Thanksgiving

WINES FOR THANKSGIVING There is a chapter in my book Wine Maniacs: Life in the Wine Biz titled “ The 60 Days of Wine Mania”. Every November and December everyone suddenly emerges to have a glass of wine (for some their only glass of the year) preferably at your house, where they all land on […]

First Pairing

I have been doing this for many years and bring a different look to Maine. That look is in pairing food and wine as a teacher and professional in the wine business. There are food columns galore, a wine column, and nothing that does both. Let’s start at the beginning. As a student at San Francisco State University […]