Reviews of wine related trips and accessories.
’Tis the season for a glass of Port. The weather is chilly, you’ve just finished a hearty meal and there is a fire in the fireplace. A glass of Port is just the thing to end your meal and help you settle comfortably into the rest of your evening. Port wine is made in several styles and all are fortified, […]
Lori Budd and I have at least two things in common — a love of Cabernet Franc and the same “gateway” Cabernet Franc wine. For both of us, the Cabernet Franc that first grabbed our attention was made by William Harrison Vineyard and Winery in Napa Valley’s St. Helena. It’s a small wine world. Lori and her husband, Mike, have […]
Do you remember the first books you consulted when learning about wine? I do. What I remember is struggling to find a book that gave me just the basics, a place to start learning how to understand what I was tasting and what I liked. I remember being overwhelmed by the vocabulary and the size of most wine books. I […]
We recently received three wines from the Hess Collection’s new vintage release as tasting samples, giving us the opportunity to share our tasting notes and a brief history of the property. This tasting offers a tour of Hess Family Wine Estates’ Napa Valley vineyards as well. After tasting these wines I feel the need to visit the historic, family-owned property […]
When a recent opportunity to receive tasting samples of Montinore Estate wines presented itself, I was quick to respond in the affirmative. I recognized the Montinore name immediately. Last August I enjoyed a bottle of 2015 Montinore Pinot Gris we received through one of our wine club memberships. The Pinot Gris caught my attention for several reasons. First, it was […]
The theme for this month’s Wine Pairing Weekend is American Wine for an American Holiday. Thanksgiving is fast approaching and it is just about my favorite holiday, so I’m happy to put together a paring around a Thanksgiving theme. This will be a paired-down pairing with three wines made by the Mercer family from Washington state. The Mercers were kind […]
Josh placed a small wine glass containing a generous taste of a chestnut-colored liquid on our table and stood back. This was a surprise, we hadn’t ordered another wine. After a pause, Josh said, “Taste this. If you can tell me what it is, I will buy your dessert.” Pete and I looked at each other and smiled. We had […]
Bubbles. Who doesn’t love them? The lively effervesce that comes with a sparkling wine is an excellent way to introduce a bit of variety into your wine enjoyment. And, in general they’re very versatile food partners. We recently had the opportunity to taste two sparkling wines, which we received as tasting samples, made by Bervini 1955. The winery is located […]
If it’s October, then it’s time to celebrate Merlot. For the past five years the Merlot Movement has gained momentum with Merlot tastings and social media sharing during October using the hashtag #MerlotMe across social media platforms. The effort is supported by a group of California and Washington state wineries who have declared October International Merlot Month. You will find […]
I need absolutely no excuse to enjoy a glass of Champagne. Like almost every other wine lover I know, I closely associate Champagne with celebrations. In fact, the last time I enjoyed a bottle of Champagne was on our wedding anniversary in August. But, I also love Champagne with a meal. And Champagne can make the occasion just as easily […]
We enjoy wine, food and travel. Pull That Cork is a chronicle of our wine adventures, the food and wine pairings we create and our travels which are increasingly organized around wine.