Latest Posts

Wine Blogs Are a Massive Circle Jerk

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Now, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against wine blogs, wine bloggers, nor as far as I can tell without having actually attended one, circle jerks. I did enjoy the band that went by that name, so who knows? ...

Another Wine Blog’s First Friday Celebrates Pacific Northwest Wines

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Another Wine Blog's third First Friday event celebrated wines from the Pacific Northwest. Pairings for the Washington and Oregon wines included Puget Sound Smoked Salmon with Pancetta in aioli sauce, Washington State Honeycrisp Apples, and Bosc pears from Oregon. Various ...

AWB Launches First Fridays!

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You may notice we haven't been posting that often lately, me especially. Partly because it's just been tough. We have all sorts of wine stories in the queue; trips to Portland, Carlton, Italy, ZinFest and tons of reviews that ...

So, you want to be a blogger?

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Posterior Pontifications Quite a while back Steve Heimoff wrote a piece about the state of blogging. Judging by the number of people who sent me the link, a good number of them bloggers, it was expected that I would take offense ...

What We’re Reading: Rock and Vine by Chelsea Prince

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We get lots of requests for reviews - wine, hooch, books and gadgets. We don't have time to cover everything. But you really ought to pick up a copy of Rock and Vine: Next Generation Changemakers in America's Wine Country, ...

Jessup Cellars & Butterfly Restaurant: A Winning Combination

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A beautiful view, incredible food and great company. Add wine and lively conversation, and you've got a winner. We found one when Butterfly Restaurant's Chef Rob Lam served up some fabulous dishes to pair with Jessup Cellars wines from Napa ...

Win Tickets to San Francisco Zinfandel Festival, Jan 31 – Feb 2

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UPDATE: Friday, January 25 is the last day to enter to win tickets to the San Francisco Zinfandel Wine Festival. Make sure you enter to win a pair of tickets to wine tastings and food pairings at this awesome event ...

Austrian Wines: Don’t Let the Names Fool You

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I love Austrian wines. Partly because I once coaxed a smile out of a "retired" Austrian winemaker during an otherwise boring trade tasting. He told me he had handed the reigns of the company over to his son and was ...

The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Whirlwind Trip to Italy Part 1

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If the upcoming week held the promise of a three day concert in one of your favorite cities, say Austin, TX, featuring some of your favorite artists of the past 40 years or so, including say Iggy and the Stooges, ...

I Just Wasn’t Ready for This

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I knew she was sick. I knew she had a heart condition and something weird going on with her thyroid. And more recently diabetes. Did she change her eating habits? No. Did she change her exercise habits? No. Did she ...

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What we're drinking
  • 2010 Les Chevaux Columbia Crest H3 Red Blend

    This Washington State red blend from Horse Heaven Hills AVA is beautifully balanced with Old World nuances and just enough oak. Great value from Columbia Crest at $15.

  • Chateau Franc Patarabet 2005

    We're at Cork Soakers in downtown Houston with Iris Allen and the Urban Wineauxs drinking the 2005 Chateau Franc Patarabet Saint - Emilion Grand Cru. Very nice!

  • William Knuttel 2008 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

    Smoke and black cherry and a little bacon with a hint of orange peel on the nose. We paired it with grilled sirloin topped with mushroom/garlic and balsamic in a heavy cream sauce.

  • Rodney Strong 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

    This may be a little decadent for some people, but I asked Amy to pick out a bottle of something red and tasty, my usual prescription, that would go well with burgers, and she delivered in spades.  With a smirk, ...

  • Terry Hoage 2005 The Hedge

    We just opened a bottle of Terry Hoage Vineyards 2005 The Hedge Syrah and it is like a wonderful time machine. Delicious from start to finish,  but from the mid-palate to the extra long finish it takes me back to ...

  • Michel -Schlumberger Cab Franc

    Eating thinly sliced skirt steak and wild rice paired with 2007 Michel -Schlumberger Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Franc.  We bought futures and the future is upon us! The Franc bitterness has mellowed to nothing and the fruit is big and ...

  • Sigalas Santorini Assyrtiko

    #WinesofSantorini Opened a tasty White Bordeaux w/ Seafood couscous, feta & Santorini capers. Didn't work. 09 Siglas Santorini Assyrtiko? Perfect!

  • Biltmore American Chardonnay Sur Lies

    A nonvintage blend of grapes from California and North Carolina, the Biltmore American Chardonnay Sur Lies is medium-bodied - a complex melange of fruit notes: pineapple, pears and Granny Smith apples, with a finish of toasty vanilla and oak. Pairs ...

  • Swanson Merlot

    Drinking a bottle of Swanson's dependably tasty Merlot (06)  with Brazilian beef and lamb at Tradicao in Houston.

  • Rodney Strong 2009 Chalk Hill Chardonnay – Sonoma County

    The perfect complement to braised chicken with a mushroom-sherry cream sauce, Rodney Strong's 2009 Chalk Hill Chardonnay is crisp, with balanced fruit. Excellent minerality with the perfect level of malolactic - not that heavy-handed butter we see with some California ...