In the wine business there are two groups of sales people: there are those that sell wine because they like/love wine and those that sell because business is business. A debate that regularly pops up between these two camps is whether or not score, points and grades are important. There are great points on both…
South African wines have been on my mind lately, although this isn’t the first time. Last year I wrote about the subject while the World Cup was going on there. At the time I focused on the impact of French Huguenot immigrants to the young and immature Dutch Cape Colony wine industry. I didn’t really…
In this video, I show you to decant a bottle of wine. This is useful knowledge, especially as the holidays approach and you may be having dinner parties or guests at your table. Please feel free to email me, patrick@colonialspirits.com, if you have further questions or stop by the store: I’d be happy to help…
I recently had the privilege of visiting Napa, California on behalf of Constellation Brands Co., and I have to say, it was wonderful! It was sunny for the majority of the time, and the people couldn’t have been nicer. I was treated to some of the finest food, wine and hospitality that Napa has to…
During our Annual Harvest Tastings on October 22 & 29 from 2-5pm, select wines from our reserve cabinet will be up for auction. This silent auction will showcase many prices 50% or more off the original sticker. Wines featured at the auction will range from classic French Bordeaux to new world California Cabernet Sauvignon. So…
I have been taunting my hoppy colleague, Tim for quite some time about the ‘overuse’ of hops (particularly in American brews). Playing devil’s advocate, I’ve compared their use with the excessive use of oak in the wine world. My suggestion wasn’t merely a simple taunt. I was (and remain) curious over the role of hops…
I remember the first time I saw the scene in Sideways, I was a sophomore in high school on a first date. I saw Miles scream his opinion about Merlot, and even then I knew that people were going to take this drunk and miserable fictional creation seriously. And, boy, they have. Although nationally Merlot…
Oregon has just had its best vintage ever in 2008; pinot noir across the board got great press and scores from every wine snob, enthusiast, spectator, connoisseur, and critic. But a new challenge lies ahead: can these up and comers produce other styles of wine? The answer is, of course, yes. They already do, most of…
Wine is personal. I’ve always maintained this, and, despite what we wine professionals tell you, wine is often more subjective than objective. Much of this has to do with how we relate to wine. Some of my fondest wine memories are inextricably linked to people and places that I care deeply about. It’s amazing how…
One of the great pleasures of drinking wine is that it gives you the opportunity to experiment with a vision of living in which few Americans get to partake. Sure, this month’s “Wine Enthusiast” might have an article about the beautiful Bed and Breakfasts of Pfalz, Germany, and perhaps there’s a recipe from Seattle’s hottest…
87 Great Rd (Route 2A)