From the monthly archives:

August 2007

Review: The Wine Bible

by Marisa D'Vari27 August 2007

The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil Reviewed by Marisa D’Vari Imagine yourself at one of the popular new wine bars in your town. You are sipping a glass of red wine perfumed with notes of violet and lavender – a…

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Swill Wine Tasting Kit

by Marisa D'Vari26 August 2007

Are you curious to learn more about wine but don’t know how to get started? You can read books, attend wine tasting seminars, or simply invite some friends over for a wine tasting party. Sure, most of us can just…

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Cannanou di Sardegna

by Marisa D'Vari25 August 2007

This is a super great wine that is great for summer. When I was in Venice, I ordered it quite a bit (even though it’s from Sardegna). One curious thing about this wine is that the flavors change depending on…

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Life in the wine trade …

by Marisa D'Vari25 August 2007

… if you read this blog regularly you’ve seen lots of articles talking about various sommelier programs. This article from the SF Chronicle is eye-opening in that it talks about challenges young sommeliers face, what it’s like to work as…

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“Light as a negligee” wines …

by Marisa D'Vari24 August 2007

… okay, going out for a romantic dinner with a significant other is one thing. Yet imagine you are a woman executive offering the male client the courtesy of the wine list, as is done in many industries. So far,…

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American Cheese Society Conference

by Marisa D'Vari23 August 2007

… earlier I wrote about how lucky I am to taste the winners of the American Cheese Society Conference just a few blocks from my apartment in NYC instead of going all the way to Vermont. … just came across…

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Upselling Wine …

by Marisa D'Vari20 August 2007

… do you like it when a sommelier or waiter suggests an expensive wine? Here’s a story. Up until fairly recently, I really enjoyed choosing my own wine with dinner. I’ve always enjoyed putting my wine knowledge to use to…

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Domaine des Roches Neuves

by Marisa D'Vari19 August 2007

… just tried the Domaine des Roches Neuves at Le Bernardin and have to say it is so incredibly wonderful. Tasting notes include incredible balance, great finish, and though a dark ruby red, a fantastic wine for pairing with grilled…

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Supermarket Wine Markups

by Marisa D'Vari18 August 2007

… just came upon this interesting blog about markups in supermarkets. Nothing “surprising” in that I expected it, but an informative read. Here’s an excerpt and the blog url: “The trouble with buying wine on special offer in a supermarket…

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California Harvest Looks Good

by Marisa D'Vari17 August 2007

… the good news is that the harvest this year looks great. Wine Spectator wrote an amazing report, but it’s by subscription so I’ll try to cite as much as legally possible … – Unusually mild weather this year has…

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California Wines Most Featured

by Marisa D'Vari17 August 2007

… so it’s interesting to note that California wines are most featured on wine lists. Coming from California, when I first moved East I must admit I was rather surprised by what I considered “snobbery” towawrd California wines. This was…

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Wisconsin Wine …

by Marisa D'Vari16 August 2007

… Wisconsin isn’t just for cheese any more. In Sideways fashion, folks are touring wineries closer to home. According to Forbes, wineries in the midwest are a big hit for people who are trying to drink local. “Clem and Janet…

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Facebook for wine geeks

by Marisa D'Vari15 August 2007

According to a story by Decanter, New York-based Snooth, which launched in June, provides searchable wine recommendations from users and critics with a database of two million reviews. I just went there and quickly registered to see how it works….

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American Artisan Cheese

by Marisa D'Vari14 August 2007
Thumbnail image for American Artisan Cheese

… so I was telling our table at tonight’s recap of the American Cheese Society Competition that Europeons are way ahead of most Americans in terms of their knowledge of fine cheese. (pic is of table mates Mike, a cheese…

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Italians expect early harvest

by Marisa D'Vari13 August 2007

According to this report, Italians expect a good harvest … “Italy’s wine harvest this year could be the earliest in decades and is expected to be small, due to a heat wave that has gripped the country in the past…

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Comparing translated wine tasting notes

by Marisa D'Vari11 August 2007

… it’s fun in this Internet age to “share” tasting notes with fellow tasters. Yet the store near where I live carries a great deal of obscure French wines from small producers that are “interesting” to taste but almost impossible…

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Daniel Johnnes’s wine book

by Marisa D'Vari10 August 2007

Imagine yourself at a fine, upscale restaurant with a client or date you want to impress. As the host, you graciously accept the wine list … but then your gaze begins to blur as you skim across dozens, perhaps even…

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Nutritional Information in wine

by Marisa D'Vari10 August 2007

Remember Bridget Jones and her counting of calories? I’ve actually never seen a man count calories, but many women do (or are told to do so by magazines). Dry red wine has so few calories (85 or so?) a glass…

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Wine Labels … & Thou

by Marisa D'Vari8 August 2007

Very interesting post and thread on Alder Yarrow’s Vinography site today. He cites an experiment in which marketers give a consumer a glass of free wine from one bottle labeled “Noah’s Wine, California” for half the people and the pouring…

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Want some Scorpion with your wine?

by Marisa D'Vari8 August 2007

… an acquaintance was rather grossed out when he discovered that lizards and other MOW (material other than wine) are sometimes put into the hopper to be crushed/destemmed with the grapes. Well, here’s a new one … scorpions! The difference…

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