With Memorial Day Weekend approaching, everyone is anxiously awaiting the kickoff to the summer season. Not officially, of course, but most think of it as the gateway into warmer weather, trading the long sleeves for tank tops, packing up the thermals, and opting for a cool drink instead of a hand and body warmer.

There are grapes in the world that are planted in a wide range of environments. This is an absolute understatement. Of this vastness is a small number of varieties that have easily traveled from their homelands and have been planted around the world. Why? Because they are proven grapes that can produce high-quality wines and are not too fussy about where they are planted.

Valentine’s Day is coming up, and most of us instantly think chocolate when we hear wine and truffles, right? Well, this could be the proverbial chocolate-and-wine-pairing blog, and don’t get me wrong, chocolate and wine is good, but let’s put a spin on it this year, and sip and savor.

There was a time when wine aficionados turned their noses up at any wine in anything but a glass bottle. But the times, they are a-changin’. The boxed wine section of the market, along with other types of packaging is garnering greater attention and acceptance.