Wine Wired

I have recently agreed to start doing reviews for a few different brands.  With all of these reviews, I offer a disclaimer.   Dark Horse Chardonnay This is a classic style California Chardonnay with unctuous notes of peach nectar, rich apple blossom and a ‘toasted’ component that presents as cedar and kernel. The viscous mouth […]

My tastes seem to wax and wane with the different seasons. Winter’s cold and rain have me craving port-style wine in the evenings. With Spring right around the corner, however, I find myself trading these heavier wines for a lighter, fresher beverage. What a great opportunity to discuss one of my favorite categories, sparkling wines. […]

    It is human nature to avoid or limit our exposure to things that we do not feel comfortable with. In my opinion, this is why most people either avoid wine completely or limit what they drink to one or two varietals. People have a tendency to stay within their ‘beverage comfort zone’, so […]

The following is the story of my trip to Philly. I hope you enjoy. So I’m on my way to Philadelphia to take my WSET Unit 2 Diploma exam.  I thought it was going to be a relatively uneventful trip.  As I sit here in Charlotte Airport laughing to myself and waiting for my flight, […]

The following is my coursework assignment due in April.  If any of my readers has suggestions on industry journals, websites, or other resources that may be helpful, I would greatly appreciate it.  I have already begun my research but am in infancy of the assignment.  Thank for all of your support. WSET Diploma in Wine […]

Although I have been taking classes and studying for months, I don’t feel as if I have truly begun the Diploma program.  It seems strange that I feel this way.  After all, I have read the unit 2 book from the WSET, made countless note cards, and “attended” the classes (online). Somehow, until I take the […]

As many of you know, I have a wine problem.  There, I said it.  Since I’ve admitted this, I now have a decision to make.  Am I to give up on my wine studies; walk away while I still have my sanity?  After all, I worked to obtain my Intermediate and Advanced Certificates through the […]

With summertime just around the corner, and the oppressive heat soon to follow, my wine choices seem to change.  Yes, I still grab for a big Shiraz or Cabernet with that grilled lamb or steak, but that is more in the evening and honestly not quite as often with the temperatures staying into the 90s […]

Country Club of South Carolina – April 12th  (next dinner is May 10th) Food by Chef Adam Silverman Wine by Dennis Fraley Menu and wine: Warm Potato Blini topped with Creme Fraiche and Alaskan Caviar (Cava Brut, Penedes, Spain, NV) Cobia Cerviche with Grilled Corn and Sweet Potato Vinaigrette (Chenin Blanc / Viognier, California 2010) […]

Today I want to talk to you about a white grape variety that, I think, is extremely misunderstood and underappreciated.  Arguably one of the world’s most versatile grapes, Chenin Blanc, produces wines from the most basic New World table wines to Old World long-lived elegant botrytis affected dessert wines, sparkling wines and even the base […]