If you have a love affair with wine and chocolate, and let’s face it, who doesn’t? I have a line-up of of perfect pairings for you to explore with your Valentine. I am partnering with one of my favorite chocolatiers, The Royal Chocolate, in Virginia Beach for a wicked sweet tasting experience tonight. While, the…
Pairing wine with chocolate sounds like a match made in heaven, but the wrong pairings can leave a bitter taste on your palate. However, the right coupling can create a euphoric experience for your taste buds! A general rule of the thumb when it comes to wine and dessert pairings is to select a sweeter…
Salads can really pose a challenge when it comes to wine pairings. There are many components to consider when selecting the perfect wine for that bed of greens. For example, spicy greens like arugula and bitter greens like radicchio can create havoc with the flavor profile of a wine. A good rule of thumb is…
Our celebration of Virginia wine month continues with a classic varietal from Michael Shaps Wineworks. Michael Shaps has been making wine in Virginia for nearly 20 years. He spent time working for two legendary vineyards (Jefferson Vineyards and King Family Vineyards) prior to opening his own operation in 2007. Shaps has a love for old world wines…
Barboursville Vineyards has a long tradition of making exceptional wine in Virginia. While they are best known for the bordeaux style blend “Octagon,” there are many other exciting wines in their portfolio. I am a big fan of the Barboursville Cabernet Franc Reserve and the Vermentino Reserve. Tonight, I opted for a bottle of the…
The Penfolds name is synonymous with winemaking in Australia. This year, Penfolds celebrates 170 years as a pioneer in the industry. Penfolds wines run the spectrum from affordable every day wine all the way to the iconic Penfolds Grange. This wine exemplifies the true terroir of South Australia. Grange generally retails for roughly $800 upon…
The 2013 Abbazia di Novacella Kerner from Alto Adige, Italy is this week’s feature wine. Kerner is a an aromatic white grape that was created in 1929 by crossing two German grapes (Riesling and Trollinger). Abbazia is one of the world’s oldest wineries dating back more than 800 years. It was founded by the Augustinian Order of Canons…
Getting to know your palate can be a big key to understanding your love of wine. Do you ever wonder why you select the same wine time and time again? Do you love sweet Moscato and can’t bear the thought of ingesting a heavy dry red or do you love a big bold Cabernet Sauvignon…
Still searching for a great gift for Mom? Why not a beautiful bottle of bubbly for Mother’s Day brunch? Or how about a sparkling rosé instead of that same bouquet of roses year after year! After all flowers die, but sharing a great bottle with mom is an experience you’ll both remember. Here’s my top…
Looking for a top tier Napa Cabernet without the hefty price tag? Try reaching for a second label of one of the most esteemed Napa Valley producers. Faust is the second label of the sought after Quintessa. Over the years, many winemakers have realized that there is a big market for the juice that simply falls…
The sweet potato soup garnished with bacon and sage paired with the 2011 Barboursville Cabernet Franc Reserve from Orange County, Virginia is a delightful pairing. I really love the way the rich berry notes and caramelized fig flavors in the wine bring out the sweetness in the potato. The slight herbaceous notes in the wine bring the sage to…
Butternut squash soup with toasted sage and crabmeat is a classic fall dish. When it comes to wine for this hearty, decadent and creamy soup, I typically reach for a nice Chardonnay aged in french oak to accentuate the baking spices in the dish, but I always like to mix things up a little with a…
When it comes to food, there’s nothing better than a hearty Italian meal shared with family & friends. I have such a passion for Italian cooking and believe it or not there’s so much more than bread and cheese. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore cheese, but we all know it’s not Paleo friendly….
Asian five-spice is a staple in my pantry, it adds so much flavor to so many dishes. This five-star soup recipe takes chicken soup to a whole new dimension. The great thing about this soup is that you can pretty much add as many veggies as you like. I like my soup with an extra…
I was inspired once again by my spice cabinet tonight. I reached for my 5 spice (star anise, cinnamon, clove, fennel, sichuan pepper), chicken and a bunch of veggies and whipped up a great stir fry and paired it with Evolution. Evolution is a blend of 9 grapes (Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat, Gewurtzraminer, Muller-Thurgau, Semillon,…
