A Toast to Champagne (again and again!)

Lots of wine, sparkling wine and Champagne questions this time of the year ... time for the annual review of what you are (or need to be) drinking!

Poetic quotes and romanticism aside, Champagne is merely wine that has bubbles ... But how does it get those bubbles? Who started all this fuss over bubbles? Why aren’t all wines with bubbles called Champagne? There is some debate as to where sparkling wine was first made and by whom, but most will concede that it was a monk from the Abbey Hautvilliers who is the true father of Champagne.

Read my full article from a previous edition edition of Enhance Magazine at  http://issuu.com/enhancemagazine/docs/issue_8/71 (Sorry about the previous error in the link - all should be corrected now)! Happy New Year to you and yours!

Give Thanks for Wine!

Let’s face it, the big question over the next few weeks (or months) is, “What do I serve with Turkey?” There are lots of answers to this age old question, but many of them depend on what you are doing to your big bird. While I am on the subject, I should comment that it always amazes me how seemingly easy it is for people to match wine with chicken and yet these same folks are totally lost when it comes to turkey. It’s just a bigger bird!

Read my full article in the October/November edition of Enhance Magazine at http://bit.ly/enhance-102009!

Vino 101: Hosting the Perfect Wine Tasting Party !

The lazy days of summer are passing us by faster than we would care to admit but alas, fall is just around the corner. With the days getting just slightly shorter and everyone’s mind turning to the tail end of the year it’s a perfect time to invite some friends over to taste some wine in a different format.

Many of us have attended wine tastings and listened to those who sound like they know what they are talking about when referring to horse saddle leather, tobacco, saw dust and vanilla on the nose followed by … you get the picture; you’ve heard them speak. Many people who taste and drink wine do know what they are talking about. That knowledge comes from continuous tasting, evaluating and recognition of what traits are found in specific varietals, regions, etc.

How can the average Joe (or Jane) accomplish this feat? Or even get a better sense of what they like vs. what they do not like and why? Host your own wine tasting event. Maybe it even becomes a monthly gathering of friends? Either way; the more you sample the more you will learn about the wines you drink.

Read my full article in the Aug/Sept Enhance Magazine @: http://bit.ly/enhance-082009!