Wine Column

The Best of Wine, Spirits and Food!

The “Sensory Pathway” to Winemaking in the Okanagan Valley

In our acclaimed book, Women Winemakers: Personal Odysseys, we identified four main pathways to winemaking in the male-dominated world of wineries. Here we share the “personal odysseys” of lead women winemakers from the Okanagan Valley who followed one of these pathways, The Sensory Pathway—coming to love wine from aromas or from tasting wines. Located in […]

How to Host a Brilliant Virtual Wine Soiree

I have hosted 50 virtual wine classes at this half-year mark into the pandemic.  My stamina remains strong, but who would’ve predicted that we’d still be clinking glasses against our screens at this point? We wine lovers are a resilient bunch and we remain determined to share our passion with our compatriots in this new […]

For Warmer Weather, Let’s Refresh Our Sipper Standbys with Livelier Libations

As we continue to grapple with these unpredictable times, it’s normal to seek comfort in activities and routines that are familiar as they ground us and give us a frame of reference.  The same philosophy applies to our beverages—we’ve been relying on flavors and brands that we know bring us joy.  But why not use […]

Is It Worth It? Juicing Your Own or Hitting the Juice Bar

Fresh pressed juice is tasty and nutrient packed. Juice bars seem to be popping up on every corner, not to mention the in-store mini juice bars found in health-food oriented grocery stores. Recently I decided to buy juice while doing my weekly grocery shopping. I was tired, had skipped lunch and needed a shot of […]

The Gourmet Highway – Ernest Hemingway: American Gourmet

This story is a collaboration with the late Jim O’Kon. A renowned architect and designer whose masterpieces included The Carter Presidential Library and Disney World. Jim, as a teenager, actually met Ernest Hemingway in Havana. His wonderful book, Sitting in Hemingway’s Chair, which I edited, is my favorite resource for all things about the legendary […]

Sips Along the Way

Wines and Drinks for the New Season My most recent visit to Monticello included the privilege of being alone to peruse Thomas Jefferson’s wine cellar. Variety and diversity seemed to dominate the remaining vestiges of inventory. The experience was instructive and comported with what I came to appreciate about our third president, who had a […]

Sips Along The Way – Summer Refreshments

Few pleasures are more rewarding than a flavorful cocktail or chilled light wine on a summer evening. The popularity never wanes. Ever-evolving, some become a little trendy which is healthy and normal. There are time-honored rituals that add to the enjoyment. Home entertaining, whether a casual dinner or a big barbeque, merit a bit of […]

The Gourmet Highway: The Elegant American Wine Dinner

Over the years I attended three events that qualified as genuine wine dinners. One was a celebration of Julia Child’s 90th birthday at the Arizona Biltmore. Another was dinner with Masters of Wine at Arnaud’s in New Orleans and the other was a Bordeaux dinner at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. None were advertised […]

Sips Along The Way

Each glass of wine is part of a never-ending journey. That observation was often stated by Jim Sanders, an embodiment of wine and food expertise, a combination soldier, scholar, traveler, chef, winemaker, importer, retailer and restauranteur. Like a potter with clay, Sanders transformed wine beginners like me into something more than a curious drinker. His […]

Scroll to Top