Recent Blog Posts
ROSE CHAMPAGNE NOT JUST FOR THE LADIES
January/February 2017 Glass of Bubbly Issue 16 Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis Despite the general perception, Rose Champagne is not for ladies only, although the very thought of it brings mouthwatering visions of decadence and frolic to mind. Rose is actually the weightiest and richest of Champagne styles, is made in non-vintage, vintage and luxury […]
LE MESNIL’S RISING STAR
November/December 2016 Glass of Bubbly Issue 15 Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis With a budget of $400 US, or $850, one can easily obtain one of the best Champagnes in the world, a bottle of Salon or Krug Clos de Mesnil. With any luck, the Grand Cru Chardonnay-based bubbly will be expressive, generous and fine, though […]
BOTTEGA LIQUID METALS
September/October 2016 Glass of Bubbly Issue 14 Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis Are you gold, rose or platinum? Like the iPhone 6sPlus, Bottega Liquid Metals offers choices of platinum, gold and rose gold metal coated bottles to showcase their premium Italian sparkling wines. The innovative and eye-catching packaging includes Moscato (platinum), Prosecco (gold) and sparkling […]
SMALL DISCOVERIES
January/February 2016 Glass of Bubbly Issue 10 Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis With its iconic hand painted flower bottle, Perrier Jouet’s Cuvee Belle Epoque, formerly known as Fleur de Champagne, is one of the world’s most recognizable luxury brands, let alone Champagnes. To make their current releases even more memorable, the house teamed up young designers […]
AUSTRIA’S WALTZING VARIETAL
February/March 2016 The SOMM Journal planet grape by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF RIESLING Benchmark old world Riesling is one of the world’s great vinous treasures, and Austria delivers it in spades. Supremely intense, rich, pungent and dry, quite different from the lacy, low alcohol, delicate, minerally, acidic […]
NO MORE GEEK SPEAK
February/March 2017 The SOMM Journal planet grape by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis FOR SOMMS ON THE FLOOR, HOSPITALITY COMES FIRST Food servers have it down to an art, whether by training, instinct or experience. No server would earn big bucks by selling the restaurant’s food with ego-infused technical geek speak. Beyond that, no chef would […]
BEYOND TAPAS
December/January 2016 2017 The SOMM Journal planet grape by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis BASQUE PINTXOS TAKE IT UPSCALE Tapas, simple bites such as cured meats, chorizo sausage, olives, or fried seafood have their origin in Southern Spain. One story claims that King Alfonso X stopped in Cadiz to rest from a long journey and ordered […]
WHERE VIOGNIER SHINES
October/November 2016 The SOMM Journal planet grape by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis THE ANCIENT GRAPE IS AT ITS BEST IN CONDRIEU AND SOUTH WEST FRANCE Viognier (vee oh nyay) was grown in the Northern Rhone during the Roman Empire. When the Romans were forced out of Gaul in the 5th Century, the vines remained uncultivated […]
OUT FROM UNDER THE SHADOW OF NAPA VALLEY
August/September 2016 The SOMM Journal planet grape by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis DISCOVERING THE LONG ESTABLISHED, NEWLY RECOGNIZED COOMBSVILLE AVA Just five minutes east of bustling downtown Napa with its popular riverfront and Oxbow Market is the bucolic, off-the-beaten-path Coombsville, a cool southern valley area protected by an ancient caldera which was granted AVA status […]
WHERE PINOT REIGNS
June/July 2016 The SOMM Journal planet grape by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis AN INAUGURAL BARREL AUCTION MARKS A 50-YEAR MILESTONE FOR WILLAMETTE VALLEY WINES While wine grapes were cultivated in Southern Oregon in the mid and late 1800’s, it wasn’t until 1965 that marked the first plantings the Willamette Valley, when David and Diana Lett […]
PROSECCO DOC MOVES TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY
Press Release PROSECCO DOC MOVES TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY The denomination is making important steps in its commitment to a healthy environment For years, the debate on sustainability and its various meanings has become an unavoidable topic of discussion in the world of agriculture at every level, from local to international, from producer to consumer. Clear, consistent, […]
2017 INTERNATIONAL ALSACE VARIETALS FESTIVAL FEATURING CREMANT D’ALSACE
Planet Grape Wine Review presented this past weekend during the sold out Educational Session at the 2017 International Alsace Varietals Festival, held at the Mendocino Fairgrounds in Boonville amidst the rolling hills and meadows of California’s Anderson Valley. Dr. Liz Thach MW and Fred Swan Diploma WSET joined me for a lively panel presentation of the sparkling […]
OSCAR NIGHT PASSIONFRUIT CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL
Piper-Heidsieck PRESENTS THE PERFECT CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL FOR OSCAR® NIGHT Celebrate Awards Season with this Sweet and Sumptuous Passionfruit Cocktail! Impress your friends and loved ones with the perfect passionfruit Champagne cocktail as you celebrate the Oscars® from home this year. Made with Piper-Heidsieck, the sole Champagne to be served during the 2017 Academy Awards®, The Seductress […]
GLOBAL COALITION TO PROTECT WINE GROWING PLACE NAMES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 14, 2017 CONTACT: Elizabeth McBain, 202-777-3511, emcbain@clsstrategies.com Global Coalition to Protect Wine Growing Place Names Gathers at Chianti Classico Collection Representatives from Champagne, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and Willamette Valley join Chianti Classico at annual tasting to raise awareness FLORENCE, Italy — Representatives of the Joint Declaration to Protect Wine Place & […]
A MASTER CICERONE’S BEER PICKS
Master Cicerone, Brewmaster and Certified Sommelier Rich Higgins recommends these beers for Super Bowl and beyond: nv Sixpoint Puff Brooklyn New York nv Siren Barrel Aged Lemon Cello IPA nv Fuller’s London Pride London England nv St. Bernardus Abt 12 Watou West Flanders Belgium nv Saison Dupont Tourpes Hainaut Belgium nv Dupont Avec Les […]
PINOT NOIR NEW ZEALAND 2017 – WELLINGTON WATERFRONT
Global wine industry leaders to descend on Wellington this month In just under three weeks, an astounding selection of global wine imbibers and influencers will descend on our nation’s capital for Pinot Noir NZ 2017. We’ve got a line-up of 30 speakers from Japan, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, who […]
SHERRY-LEHAMNN/KEVIN ZRALY BORDEAUX MASTER CLASS NYC
Explore the terroir of St. Julien and the great Leoville estate along with its newest acquisition, Chateau Mauvesin with Proprietor Damien Barton-Sartorius and America’s Leading Wine Educator Kevin Zraly on Tuesday, January 24th, 7:00-9:00pm, for a reception and seated tasting at the Sherry-Lehmann Gallery, 505 Park Avenue at 59th St. NYC. $250 per person. Limited. […]
FRED SWAN’S SPIRITS REVIEWS – MEZCAL & MALTS
Check out Planet Grape Panelist and Contributor Fred Swan’s latest spirits reviews! Bastille 1789 Hand-Crafted Whisky France Wemyss Malts The Hive Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Chamucos Tequila Blanco Mexico Chamucos Tequila Anejo Mexico Los Amantes Mezcal Joven Lot 11 Oaxaca Mexico Los Amantes Mezcal Reposado Lot 12 Oaxaca Mexico Los Amantes Mezcal Anejo Lot 13 […]
TOP 7 CHAMPAGNES HOUSES SELECTED BY LES REVUES DE VINS DE FRANCE
Last weekend I selected Champagne Pol Roger for the Bubbles Bar at a huge Tech party in San Francisco, where we also built and filled a Champagne Tower! Pol Roger is an iconic house that has maintained a level of quality that very few have. Pol Roger retained 3 stars by Le Revue Des Vins de France […]
A NEW D.O.C. IS BORN: FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA D.O.C.
ENHANCING THE IDENTITY OF THE TERROIR THE FIRST BOTTLES OF THE NEW DENOMINATION WILL HIT THE SHELVES IN 2017 D.O.C. – F.V.G. Consortium Press ReleaseA long journey that began with plans, ideas and hopes, which lasted several decades, has finally culminated in July with the creation of Friuli Venezia Giulia D.O.C. The first bottles […]
WINTER WINE COCKTAILS
Simple Winter Sangria & Mulled Chardonnay Cider from Adirondack Winery in New York Simple Winter Sangria Recipe Date: November 21, 2016 Cook Time: 00:00:00 Difficulty: Easy Measurements: Imperial (US) This simple winter sangria is sweet and spicy and perfect all year round! Best of all, you can make it white or red! Ingredients 1 bottle Adirondack […]
SUNNY HOLIDAY CHEER
It’s here! Holiday shopping, festive parties, and the time of year to rock the ugliest sweaters ever made. I have selected some of my personal favorites wines and spirits of 2016 to assist you with your holiday beverages and up your game. These are all value-priced and easy to find online @drync or @eBay wines, or at your […]
GAME ON – TWO WINES FOR TURKEY DAY
What wines go with Turkey? That also pair nicely with all the sides? Now that is a bit complicated. So why don’t we reverse engineer this scenario and start with, what will my friends and family enjoy, that won’t steal the show or dent my budget? Check out this eclectic Italian duo. I recommend this […]
BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU 2016 EST ARRIVE!
Each year for the past 30 years, Beaujolais Nouveau makes its debut across the world on the third Thursday of November, just in time for the holiday table, when cheap and cheerful red is just the ticket. This year is no different, though some palates are fatiguing of the banana/tutti frutti and bubblegum flavors often […]
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