Posts Tagged ‘Peter Birmingham’
Great Importer’s Who Shaped My Palate – Robert Chadderdon Selections
I was taught at a young age to be a book hound, exercise your brain by reading current up to date information accumulated from field leaders, vinous leaders like Michael Broadbent and Hugh Johnson. These two Masters of Wine advised rules I’ve always followed: review the bottle’s back label to see who the importer is,…
Read MoreThree Modern Lambruscos
When I moved to Washington DC, I made a few professional wine friends who introduced me to their favorite imported wine specialties: the Hubert de Montille 1982 Volnay, the Giuseppe Quintarelli 1979 Valpolicella “VQPRS” (before the modern hierarchy system was established by the EU authorities). Impressed with my newly acquainted friends’ wines, I also wanted…
Read MorePortuguese Espumante
Bairrada (bay-RA-da) is the story of a Pig, and two really cool grapes – Bical and Baga. This culinary holy trinity reveals itself in quaint villages and 19th century luxe hotels. Pastoral Bairrada’s meadows, and pine covered mountains are the contemporary home for the discerning traveler in Portugal’s newest ‘Age of Discovery’. Nestled between the…
Read MoreBarefoot Winery of Napa Valley
I was getting into a doldrums finding American sparkling wines that peak my interest seeking the criteria of offering well made wines and delivering pleasure, with novel packaging. A tall order to request from any winery, much less discovered at a huge production facility in a region known for boutique wineries and prestigious wines. I…
Read MoreTraverse City and Petowsky Bay, Michigan Wineries
It was a lovely early fall wedding. I was the best man for a SF roommate and his bride to be in Traverse City on the banks of Petowsky’s scenic Lake Michigan waterfront. A more idyllic location or weather could not have been ordered! The wedding was to occur on 2001, September the 9th. More…
Read MoreNew York Finger Lakes District Sparkling Wines
New York Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes District Flying into John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) airport was a moment that bred expectation and potential. I loved the heightened frisson anticipation, and my lack of really understanding how far apart NY state distances really are. When I arrived taking the transit bus from JFK, I was dropped…
Read MoreOregon Sparkling Wines
Argyle Winery of Dundee-Willamette Valley, Oregon was the vision of winemaker Rollin Soles who earned his vinous chops via hard work, and sojourns from France to Australia. In South Australia, Soles worked with the highly regarded Brian Croser, Petaluma Wines owner. Croser demonstrated the single vineyard expressions of what Clare Valley and the Adelaide Hills…
Read MoreThe Back Half Revolution Of California Sparkling Wine
Domaine Chandon of Yountville-Napa Valley The Moët & Chandon Grandes Marque post 1960’s saw immense growth through diversification, and acquisitions of new distribution sales: Marie Brizard liqueurs, Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch, and of course venturing into the New World territories. The splashiest New World winery opening happened in Yountville-Napa Valley at the Domaine Chandon Napa…
Read MoreA Journey Of Discovery – Renardat-Fache
The day began with a visit to my new neighborhood Farmers Market down the street. As a recluse, I rarely go out to interact socially, but this is an unseasonably bright invigorating late winter weekend morning, I was hungry and motivated. After living for 9 years in a residential neighborhood (elementary schools around the corner),…
Read More