Category Archives: Wine

Hawke’s Bay

Hawke’s Bay is a wine growing region located on the North Eastern side of New Zealand’s North Island. It is NZ’s oldest and second-largest growing region (it boasts over 200 vineyards), producing about 10% of the country’s wine. There are 70 wineries (30 with cellar doors where you can actually go and taste) located throughoutContinue reading “Hawke’s Bay”

Napa Valley

When people think Californian wine, they immediately think of Napa Valley. It’s an area north of San Francisco that has over 400 wineries located within its 16 smaller sub-districts (some of the most famous AVAs being Oakville, Rutherford, Stags Leap, and St. Helena).  However, Napa Valley only makes up 4% of California’s wine production! It’sContinue reading “Napa Valley”

Jancis Robinson

We’ve been hearing a lot about women in the spirits industry (Leslie Gracie, Peggy Noe Stevens, Dr. Rachel Barrie), so this month I wanted to highlight one of the biggest names in the wine industry – Jancis Robinson. A prolific wine writer, journalist, and cellar advisor to Queen Elizabeth the 2nd, Ms. Robinson became theContinue reading “Jancis Robinson”

Coonawarra, Australia

Located in the Limestone Coast zone of Southern Australia, Coonawarra is Australia’s premier red wine growing region. While Australia may be typically seen as a hot country, the Coonawarra region is only 60 miles from the coast and has a climate similar to Bordeaux. It has been producing wines since the 1800s (originally focusing onContinue reading “Coonawarra, Australia”

A Day In The Vines

When I came across a Facebook event for a volunteer harvest day at a local Connecticut vineyard, I leapt at the chance to get outside and in the vines, meet like-minded people, and just enjoy myself.  Paradise Hills Vineyard and Winery is family owned and operated. The Ruggiero’s started growing grapes in 1997 and soldContinue reading “A Day In The Vines”

DiGrazia Vineyards

DiGrazia Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery located in Brookfield, CT. Having taken over the vineyard and winery in 1987, they grow their own grapes and fruit for their various wines (they’re particularly noted for their Wild Blue offering – a blueberry fruit wine with added brandy), and they’ve been practicing organic farmingContinue reading “DiGrazia Vineyards”

Mosel, Germany

Mosel is one of 13 wine regions in Germany, and it has received worldwide acclaim for the high quality Rieslings produced there.  The Mosel region is located on the western border of Germany, above France and next to Luxembourg, and runs along the Mosel River for about 145 miles. Its wine-growing history dates back toContinue reading “Mosel, Germany”

Sparkling Wines

Sparkling wines are one of the great joys in life. Easy to pair with all sorts of food, perfect for any occasion (and I recommend enjoying the bubbles even when there is no “special” reason), they come in white, rosé, and red, can be sweet to bone dry, with all sorts of flavours like citrus,Continue reading “Sparkling Wines”

Martinborough

Region Highlights Martinborough, New Zealand Located near the bottom of New Zealand’s North Island, a winding 1.5hr drive North-East from capitol city Wellington, Martinborough, once home to sheep and agricultural crops, has seen a burgeoning into the wine world. In the late 1970s, a scientific study of the area came out, likening the climate toContinue reading “Martinborough”