Category Archives: Dessert Wine

Sherry and Port: Recommendations for Drinking and Giving

Posted on December 10, 2022 by don

There’s no better time of year than now to drink fortified wines than when the temperatures sink, and the winds blow cold.  It’s the perfect time to sit by the fireplace and open a bottle of Sherry or Port to … Continue reading →

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Hugh Johnson’s 2023 Pocket Wine Book

Posted on October 4, 2022 by don

This is the 46th year of Hugh Johnson’s annual wine book, the most popular guide in the wine world. Amazingly enough, it’s still published for sale as a small hardback volume (available as an e-book) rather than an online subscription.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Champagne, Dessert Wine, Red Wine, Rosé, Sparkling Wine, Uncategorized, White Wine, Wine Articles, Wine Type | Comments Off on Hugh Johnson’s 2023 Pocket Wine Book

Special Holiday Gifts for Wine Lovers: Selections from the Finest Wines Reviewed in 2021

Posted on December 14, 2021 by don

What to give a friend who appreciates and is knowledgeable about wine?  In this article, we give our recommendations based on the many fine wines we’ve tasted this year.  The list includes Champagne, Sparkling Rosé, California Pinot Noir, Napa Cabernet … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Champagne, Chardonnay, Countries and Regions, Dessert Wine, France, Italy, Oregon, Portugal, Portuguese, Red Wine, South Africa, Spain, Sparkling Wine, Uncategorized, White Wine, Wine Type | Comments Off on Special Holiday Gifts for Wine Lovers: Selections from the Finest Wines Reviewed in 2021

Napa’s Castello di Amorosa Spreads its Wings

Posted on May 11, 2020 by don

This Napa-based family winery was opened in April 2007 by owner Dario Sattui.  It operates from an authentically built castle and winery situated in the hills just south of the city of Calistoga.  On our visit to the Castello a … Continue reading →

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De Krans: Outstanding Port-Style Wines from Calitzdorp

Posted on March 13, 2020 by don

Sweet wines in South Africa have a long and storied history beginning in the 17th century with the planting of the first vitis vinifera in the Western Cape. Huegenot immigrants, religious refugees from France, played a critical role in establishing … Continue reading →

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Hawk and Horse Selections from Lake County

Posted on August 26, 2019 by don

Hawk and Horse is a family-owned and operated, certified biodynamic vineyard located in the Mayacamas Mountain range of the Red Hills AVA of Lake County.  Red Hills is one of the six sub-appellations of Lake County. The 18 acre, mostly … Continue reading →

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The Friuli Wines of Perusini from Corno di Rosazzo

Posted on July 3, 2019 by don

The Perusini ronchi di Gramogliano winery is located in Italy’s Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region, which produces some of the finest wines of Italy. Sandwiched between the Adriatic Sea to the south and the Julian Alps to the north, Friuli’s cool climate is … Continue reading →

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Wines of the East Coast: Rapid Progress on Many Fronts

Posted on May 7, 2019 by don

The wines of the East Coast are making progress on many fronts.  Noteworthy improvements in the quality of East Coast wines and their unique character are attracting growing numbers of wine enthusiasts. Today, more than ever before, consumers along the … Continue reading →

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Art-Food and Wine at Quoin Rock

Posted on February 1, 2019 by don

Located on the slopes of the Simonsberg, the Quoin Rock wine estate just reopened its doors to the public after a lengthy, no-expense-spared renovation of the winery, vineyards and restaurant by the Vitaly Gaiduk family, which purchased the 200 hectare … Continue reading →

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Succulent Sweet Wines for the Holidays: The Best of 2018

Posted on December 20, 2018 by don

What better time of the year to open a bottle of profusely perfumed, deeply flavored sweet wine than the Holidays?  We’ve tasted a lot of them this past year from Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Washington, and, most recently, the Atlantic Coast … Continue reading →

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