Author: Nancy (CSW)

Pasqua Famiglia Pasqua Amarone della Valpolicella featured photo

Pasqua ‘Famiglia Pasqua’ Amarone della Valpolicella

Today’s cellar note has us sipping a wine made in Valpolicella, north of Verona, near Lake Garda in northern Italy. Amarone della Valpolicella is a wine with ample body, intense flavors and a warming finish. It is just what you want to sip on a rainy, cold winter’s evening. We received this wine as a tasting sample.  Valpollicella is located […]

Domaine de la Grand’Cour, Le Clos, Vieilles Vignes, Fleurie

Today’s cellar note continues our experience with Cru Beaujolais. After years of thinking we did not like Beaujolais, we are discovering that when it comes to Cru Beaujolais we are almost never disappointed. We now look for them on restaurant wine lists and instead of dreading that a Beaujolais might be included in a wine club shipment, we look forward […]

Domaine Bousquet Reserve wines and Savory Tray Bake

Domaine Bousquet Reserve Wines & Savory Tray Bake #winePW

This month’s Argentine wine theme for Wine Pairing Weekend pleased me to no end. A few months ago we received tasting samples of the Reserve range of wines made by Domaine Bousquet at their winery in Tupungato, Mendoza. It was an easy decision to feature these wines for Wine Pairing Weekend. We have tasted most of the wines made by […]

Prats+Symington featured photo

A Taste of Portugal’s Sunny Douro

If you can’t pack a suitcase and head off to a sunny location in winter, then pouring a glass of wine that brings the sunshine to you can be a liquid substitute. Today’s cellar note brings you exactly that…not Port wine, as you might expect, but dry red wine made by Prats & Symington in the Douro. We received both […]

Tanteun e Marietta Farouche Rouge, Vallée d’Aoste featured photo

Tanteun e Marietta Farouche Rouge

The minute I stuck my nose in the glass I knew I would love this wine. I had already noticed the translucent ruby color of this wine in the glass. Many red wines that are translucent enough to read through make me happy once I taste them. This lovely 2016 Tanteun e Marietta Farouche Rouge is no exception. 2016 Tanteun […]

Concannon Vineyard Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon

Concannon Vineyard Clone 7: History & Cabernet Sauvignon

There is a story behind just about every glass of wine. Some are more interesting than others, to be sure, and Concannon Vineyard is more interesting than most in terms of history and contributions made to the wine industry. Today we are sipping Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon from Concannon Vineyard that we received as a tasting sample. It is the […]

Champagne Bruno Paillard featured photo

Champagne Bruno Paillard: Make Any Occasion Grand

Champagne is the most luxurious and celebratory of libations and the standard against which all other sparkling wines are judged. This is the perfect time of year to luxuriate with a glass of Champagne and today we are sipping one of my favorites, Champagne Bruno Paillard, which we received as a tasting sample. Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru […]

Sparkling Wine for the Holidays featured photo

Bubbles for Your Holiday Celebrations

The holiday season is upon us and that means more gatherings with family and friends than usual, which also means more opportunities to enjoy sparkling wine. We have four sparklers to share with you today that we received as tasting samples. I hope you have your wine glass ready. Côte Mas Brut NV St. Hilaire, Crémant de Limoux — medium […]

Nino Franco Presecco and Maple Cinnamon Prosecco Cocktail

Sipping Into the Holidays with Nino Franco Rustico

I have been determined to ease into the holidays this year. We spent Thanksgiving with friends, as we often do, and then spent the rest of the long weekend at home — out of the way of shoppers looking for the best deals. I savored the last of a fall season that seemed very brief this year. I’m glad I […]

German Wines

Two Styles of German Wine and a Meal for Both #winePW

Every time we participate in a Wine Pairing Weekend (#winePW) event it is a learning experience with regard to pairing food and wine. I learn from my successful pairings and from those that are not so successful. I always learn about wine too. This month’s theme, German Wine Exploration, was particularly challenging for me. I admit to finding German wine […]