Monthly Archives: April 2009
Earth dog
Actually, this post is about terroir, not terriers (French for “earth dog” because they chase rodents into burrows). As you can tell, they share the same root – terra, which means earth or land. That is essentially what terroir is … Continue reading
Filed under Lessons, Pronunciation Guide, Wine
Swirl it, sniff it and slurp it down
Here are 8 easy steps that you can use to impress your friends and make them think you know how to taste like a pro. 1. Look at the wine against a white background. I’m already making the assumption that … Continue reading
Say it, don’t spray it!
That, in essence, is the mantra of organic wine makers – let the soil and grapes speak, don’t soak them with fertilizers and pesticides, and when you’re back in the winery, manipulate the grapes and wine as little as possible. … Continue reading
Filed under Wine
Love is best brewed cold
Coffee with all the parts you like (rich, full body, tantalizing aromatics) and none that you don’t (too much acidity, bitterness). Is it possible? Yes, with cold brewing, it is. I’m proud to introduce my official spring/summer (morning) drink. And … Continue reading
Filed under Coffee
Get schooled
Fundamentals of Wine starts this Wednesday 4/29 and runs 8 weeks from 6:30-8:30 pm. Our goal is to demystify wine and have fun while doing it. We’ll taste 6-8 wines per class, from … Continue reading
Filed under How to
More on IBU
This is not really something you need to know (unless you’re a beer nerd), but I wanted to clarify and expand my initial definition. A beer’s IBU is measured by the amount of hops used and their acid content. So … Continue reading
Have van, will travel (for beer)
This weekend marked the inaugural camping trip for our 1990 Volkswagen Vanagon. We purchased it in December and up until this weekend had only slept in it in someone’s driveway. Inspired by the middle-of-August temperatures, we reserved a site at … Continue reading
Filed under Beer
Oh, you pretty thing
One day it’s 50 degrees and raining and 3 days later it’s 80 and sunny. What’s happening with spring this year? But fear not – let me introduce springtime in a bottle – Rothman & Winter Crème de Violette. Flowers … Continue reading
Awww, nuts
We’ve moved from floor cleaner to Waldorf salad. Almost edible. The word walnut stems from an Old English word meaning “foreign nut”. It got this name because it was introduced to us from Gaul (historical name from Roman times to … Continue reading
“That’s the power of Pine-Sol, baby!”
Pine liqueur – really? This one is to drink and not to spruce up the flooring. Don’t be afraid, be thirsty. You may be familiar with Retsina, a resinated wine that is extremely common in Greece. It’s made just like … Continue reading
