In a cozy West Coast home, preparations were in full swing for a Thanksgiving feast that would capture the region's essence. This celebration, shaped by the bounty of the Pacific coast, promised an unforgettable experience filled with seasonal produce, diverse dishes, and wines that showcased California and Oregon’s finest. The gathering brought together family and friends—parents, siblings, cousins, and extended family—all excited to savor the local flavors that defined the holiday meal.
At first glance, New Zealand’s wine offerings might seem fairly limited, particularly dominated by the Sauvignon Blanc varietal. Despite producing just about 1% of the world’s wine, New Zealand has made an iconic impact with names like "Kim Crawford" and "Cloudy Bay." Sauvignon Blanc has become synonymous with New Zealand, much as Malbec has with Argentina, leaving France to say, “But it was here first!”
National “Pinecone” Day! Well, sort of … May 17th was national Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris Day, so it seemed fitting to highlight! Pinot is the French term for Pinecone. Okay, so why has it been associated with a wine grape? Well, most “Pinot” wines—Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, etc.—grow in very tight clusters that resemble the shape of a pinecone.
When thinking about Italian wine, it is most common to think of Northern or Central Italy—Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, etc. However, there are some interesting, unique wines to seriously consider, if you’ll take your palate to the southern regions of Italy, more specifically, to the most southern areas, the island of Sicily, Basilicata, and Campania.
With the back-to-school season upon us, this is a good time to go back to “wine” school and get down to basics; to go back to the root of your wine enthusiasm. Whether you drink wine for sport or edification, it always enriches the experience to get down to the roots. Going back to basics is always a good exercise, to not only enhance your experience, but to refresh the mind and awaken your palate to new experiences.
