For a moment, imagine yourself an invited guest at an exclusive dinner at a First Growth Chateau in the Medoc. It is mid-June, and everyone who is “anyone” in the wine world is in Bordeaux to attend VinExpo to make…

As a Gemini, I’ve spent many birthdays celebrating during the four days of festivities leading up to the Napa Valley wine auction, now in its 29th year. The official kick-off begins the first Thursday of June, which this year began…

“I’m staying at this fabulous hotel,” I overhear a woman tell a Napa Valley local. “Yet I can’t pronounce the name.” “That’s okay,” the Napa-based friend replies. “I can’t pronounce it either. But I hear it is fabulous.” The hotel…

“This is so curious!” says a sultry brunette in a little black dress at the next table, lifting a bite of caramelized scallop to her lips. “This is a theme restaurant – in a Las Vegas casino. Yet the cuisine…

Okay, let’s face it! Certain things are to be expected when you think of a Las Vegas steakhouse, and good steak is almost the least of them. If you are like me, you are expecting a very sultry, sexy, lounge-type…

Society!” exclaims a friend as we walk down a gorgeous hallway in the new Wynn Encore resort, with a view of the pool on one side and the casino on the other. “What a name for a restaurant!” Yes, the…

Curious how to impress friends with your wine knowledge without breaking the bank? If you are reading this column, you already realize that high-priced wine does not necessarily mean “better” wine. Instead, you will earn respect by choosing a delicious,…

“Hey, the walls are moving!” I exclaim, putting down my glass of A.H. Hirsch Reserve bourbon. I’ve only had one sip, yet apparently it was a large one, because looking up, the ceiling is opening, too! “Relax,” says the waiter,…

Asian fusion is so…2008!” proclaims a Barbie blonde holding court in the Wazuzu restaurant at the new Wynn Encore resort in Las Vegas. Like many of the glamorous diners at this most exotic restaurant, Barbie conducts herself with the air…

… so in keeping with my theme of a “day” of a wine writer’s life I am sitting at the computer at two am with several wine bottles around me. One was left over from dinner at Le Bernadine -…

… just dashing off to the morning seminars yet wanted to share my impressions so far of the wine experience. It’s pretty fab, but remember that I am a jaded journalist who attends trade tastings nearly every day in NYC….

Quick! Imagine the ultimate, Michelin-star French meal. Chances are, you are thinking foie gras, canard, rich sauces, and endless courses of tiny little bites. In most regions of the world, you would be right. You may correctly guess the wine…

“Now let’s go for sushi!” These are the words I heard leaving a friend’s party at an inexpensive diner, where the buffet table groaned over with calorie-centric, deli-style delights that few of the svelte Manhattan-ites at the party would dare…

Are you planning a visit to the Bordeaux region of France? If so, one of the first decisions you must make is what kind of vacation you hope to enjoy. Bordeaux offers many styles of accommodations, ranging from luxurious four-star…

Are you planning a visit to the Bordeaux region of France? If so, one of the first decisions you must make is what kind of vacation you hope to enjoy. Bordeaux offers many styles of accommodations, ranging from luxurious four-star…

“May we be of service with the menu?” asks a fellow restaurant guest with an English accent, seeing a friend and I discussing amongst ourselves the translation of the menu at l’Auburge Du Porche, a charming restaurant and Inn near…

Do you equate delicious cuisine and fine wine with a slimming regime? No? If not, you are in for a surprise. By now you have probably heard about French Women Don’t Get Fat and other books of this ilk. The…

Hi – I am writing to you from the (rainy) Napa Valley, where I am attending the Symposium for Professional wine writers. Even better than last year! I will report more when I’m back in NYC. Also, please try out…

At some point in your life, you might have entertained the fantasy of living your life in the most elegant of French Chateaux. Of course, the chateau would look like Cinderella’s castle and would be located on a small hill,…

Are you a newly minted executive in your twenties who suddenly finds you are in a world where you have to instantly know everything there is to know about wine? In today’s world, people just a few years out of…