In March I attended The Ojai Food + Wine Festival, which, in my humble opinion, has quickly found its footing as one of the country’s most compelling culinary gatherings, and in just its third year, already feels like a fully realized statement of purpose, joining the ranks of the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen … Read more
Why you should come to the FOOD & WINE Classic in Charleston next year! This is the East Coast version of the brand’s venerable Classic in Aspen; easier to get to and a little less expensive. I had the pleasure of presenting two seminars at the FOOD & WINE Classic in Charleston a couple of … Read more
FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen I’m just back from the 41st FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, and it was as beautiful, thoughtful (and thought-provoking!) and well-executed as ever. The Classic in Aspen has a longstanding reputation as one the very best culinary festivals in the world, but I can only attest to its … Read more
Jewels of Sonoma County The winegrowing region that shares its eastern border with a far morefamous neighbor, Napa Valley, Sonoma stands proudly in plain sight. I’m just back from hosting a couple of really fun wine tastings at the third annual Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience, a festival hosted by FOOD & WINE in collaboration … Read more
Time to Revisit Chianti Classico If it’s been a while since you’ve tasted Chianti Classico, now couldn’t be abetter time. For people of a certain age (ahem), the term Chianti is synonymous pleasant, light- to medium-bodied red wines that are perfectly delicious, but perhaps not very serious. Worse is the connection between Chianti and the … Read more
Hosting “Pinot Talks” Two weeks ago, I flew out to LA to host a blind tasting of 12 Pinot Noir-based wines with a group of 40 sommeliers, wine buyers, and other members of the trade. The tasting was hosted by Kosta Browne Winery, renowned for great Pinot Noirs from Sonoma County, California. The goals, stated … Read more
A weekend of (mostly) blind tastings empowers most wine drinkers to trust their palates.
