In my travels through wine regions and wine trade events, I invariably find myself favoring a particular region or varietal. The experiences of enjoying the culture, landscape and wine of numerous locales, here and abroad, have left fond memories etched
Read MoreThe 21st century global economy has affected varying changes in wealth profiles across the globe, depending on your GPS location. As a result of the Great Recession, many Americans are facing an uncertain retirement future while a (very) small handful
Read More“Are you OK?” “Of course I am.” “Well, you seemed to be having a good time tonight but maybe you had one too many drinks.” “I’m fine. I know my limits. I can handle my alcohol.” “But you really don’t
Read MoreDuring the course of human history, wine has played an integral role in enhancing the social fabric of numerous cultures and civilizations. At one time wine was consumed as soon as it was fermented into juice and alcohol. As mankind
Read MoreThis week I present Report #2 in my periodic series I refer to as “What ever happened to ______?” The subject matter of my weekly columns typically has a natural and logical beginning and conclusion. However, there have been occasions
Read MoreAt a recent tasting event I hosted, the subject of wine ratings, wine reviews and wine descriptions arose. One of the guests was unsure whether to rely on the ratings and comments of so-called wine experts. This is a subject
Read MoreThe United States system of democracy has been a model for countries worldwide for the last two centuries. During that period our Constitution has held up remarkably well. In place since 1789, there have been only 27 amendments, the first
Read MoreIn my column two weeks ago I measured the variations in the life cycle of one of my favorite wines, the 1989 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron, from the French Bordeaux region. I posited that fine wine has a life cycle similar
Read MoreIn the course of my musings and meanderings the last five-plus years of penning this column, I’ve had the occasion to report on a multitude of subjects around the mesmerizing world of wine. Oftentimes educational (wine regions, grape varietals), on
Read MoreFine wine has a life cycle similar to human development, starting out awkwardly, then beginning to mature and develop unique characteristics, ultimately reaching full maturity and peaking in sophistication and complexity. A number of years ago, I set a goal
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