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Pinot Noir    by Marty Cook Our next Wine Wednesday takes place on May 26th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern/New York time, and focuses on Pinot Noir, the red grape whose clusters loosely approximate the shape of a pinecone (the name is derived from the French words for pine and black).  This difficult-to-grow cool climate grape gives winegrowers…

The Wines of South Africa      by Marty Cook South Africa is a relative newcomer to the American wine scene over the past three or four decades; but that region has a rich winemaking tradition that extends well into the nineteenth century. The South African wine industry is also one of the leaders in doing research…

Wines of Australia and New Zealand     by Marty Cook While we are enjoying our springtime and experiencing budbreak in the Northern Hemisphere, the world “down under” is enjoying their Southern Hemisphere harvest and busily preparing their latest vintage of wines!  And, although this latest vintage cannot possibly be ready for us to sample next Wednesday,…

Wines For Cinco de Mayo      by Marty Cook Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Cinco de Mayo is an annual Mexican celebration held on May 5.  The date is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862.  This event is not a federal holiday in…

by Marty Cook Similar to the way in which many of us consistently seem to buy wines made from the same 15 - 18 grapes, it seems that many of us also tend to choose our European wines primarily from France and Italy.  The interesting thing is that the vast majority of European countries make…

Wines Made from Hybrid Grapes       by Marty Cook We are all familiar with the short list of so called “Noble Grapes” that includes such favorite European or Vitis vinifera grape varieties as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Riesling.  But, what about grape varieties with names such as Seyval Blanc, Chambourcin, Norton, Traminette, Vidal Blanc, and…

Wine Wednesday ~ “The Joys of Cheap Wine”    by Marty Cook This installment of Wine Wednesday is inspired by the book of the same title by Henry Billings. If you have never picked up a copy of this easily read yet hilarious primmer extoling the virtues of cheap wines, then you are missing out!  So,…

Wine Wednesday ~ Wines For the Passover and Easter Seasons    by Marty Cook What are you serving this season?  Just as important is the wine or wines that you will pair with that food!  Have a traditional pairing?  Or, need ideas? This seasonal fare is generally lighter fare.  Wines that work are generally light to…