Why Gurus Are Obsolete And Brands Are For The Timid
People buy famous and expensive wine brands for different reasons. One reason is that they can be a decent investment—which is valid. Another, somewhat unsettling, reason relates to risk aversion.…
Pairing Wine With Kangaroo To Celebrate A Cookbook
Of inventive cuisines developing in the world now, one is a beautiful fusion of Basque and Latin American food. I covered this topic in a few new pieces for Forbes,…
California Versus France
During past weeks I've traveled from NoCal to SoCal, as they say - from the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California to the gilded sand of Laguna Beach in southern…
Claus Meyer’s New Venture, and Culinary Beauty from South Africa
In just over a week's time, chef Claus Meyer will visit our small town of Blaye in the countryside of southwest France. Claus was a co-founder of the Danish restaurant…
Comparing the Langhe Region of Italy to Napa, California
Every two weeks I email out a notice about my wine blog - Vino Voices. This goes to a list of friends and wine lovers which grows slowly over years. I…
Blackcurrant Wine, Hawaiian Poisson, Alaskan Halibut
I went to high school in Europe, drank cheap Italian wine, and suffered monumental headaches the next mornings. In comparison, beer was easier to manage. However, six or seven…
Argentina Humita, South African Herb Rump, and Wine…
New Wine and Food Video, and Online Wine Magazine During the past two weeks my videos and writing have been broadcast from Europe by others who enjoy food, travel, and a…
Feasting With Winemakers – Salmon, Chicken, Lemon Tart
I recently enjoyed a cook-fest in southern France - trying out recipes supplied by winemakers from around the world for the forthcoming book - The Winemakers' Cooking Companion. After cooking,…
Life Advice from the World of Wine…
People shared the following wisdom - not about wine, but about life - during conversations for my book Vino Voices (now in paperback). "People work for one of two reasons. One:…
Atomic Wine
I drove into the town of Socorro in the state of New Mexico (USA) to find a motel room for a night. Most motels and hotels were full. Fortunately I…