Author - The Durango Herald

Languedoc’s lesser-known red wines

As a retailer in Durango, it’s been fascinating to study consumer habits over the past couple months of non-commital winter weather. Up until the past couple weeks of winter-like...

DATE: Feb 28, 2018 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

What do you really know about sulfites?

It’s entirely possible that your hangover, headache or brown-bottle flu was caused by sulfites. However, as easy as it is to scapegoat sulfites, there are other factors that most don’t consi...

DATE: Jan 30, 2018 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

Dry-farmed wines are not so new

To irrigate or not to irrigate, that is the question. While the idea of wineries dry farming may seem like a new concept, in fact it is a reality of traditional viticulture spanning hundreds...

DATE: Jan 16, 2018 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

What to give wine-lovers this holiday

Family, friends, thirsty advertisers, retailers and restaurateurs are all wishing “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year.” The season of joy, giving and gratitude is here. For man...

DATE: Dec 19, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

Keeping it kosher for Hannukah

Latkes, doughnuts, brisket and short ribs will likely be on the menu during the eight nights of festivities that celebrate the Maccabean revolt. Hannukah is coming. Kosher wine an...

DATE: Dec 5, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

What to drink with your holiday feasts

Family, friends and the spirit of thankfulness are upon us in this season of giving. Many have prepared for this gastronomical glory by refraining from heavy meals and wine consu...

DATE: Nov 21, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

The merlot wines of the Right Bank

In my last column, we discussed the great wines of the Medoc, or Left Bank Bordeaux. For this edition, we will expand on the Right Bank wines of Bordeaux. The Right Bank of the Do...

DATE: Nov 1, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

Enjoying the complexity of a Bordeaux

Arguably, the greatest wines in the world come from Bordeaux, France. Even if you’re not familiar with this iconic region, you are likely familiar with the grapes responsible for...

DATE: Oct 11, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

Is pinotage wine more than the sum of its parts?

While New Zealand has its claim to fame with sauvignon blanc, Australia its shiraz and Spain its tempranillo, South Africa has pinotage. This unique variety, interestingly enough, is a cross...

DATE: Sep 26, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

Looking for a fall wine? Try viognier

Apricot, peach, honey, spice and maybe a touch of butterscotch? Sounds delicious, wouldn’t you agree? For those familiar with viognier, this is a typical description of this relatively commo...

DATE: Sep 13, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

Orange wines: Like rosés, but different

Over the past several years, the popularity of dry rosé has soared. For restaurateurs and retailers, if they don’t preorder and secure their summer’s allocation, they may be left out of the ...

DATE: Aug 29, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine

Alsace’s wines are drier than you’d think

Alsace is considered a gem, a secret of the world of wine. It is a region known primarily for rich, dry white wines in varietals with which most of us are familiar. Located in no...

DATE: Aug 8, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Grapevine