In this article, we spoke with Devin Perez, a Spanish native and sommelier with the Rusty Pelican located in South Florida. He provides insight into the Spanish grape variety Albariño and the wine regions it’s found in. Could you explain the Albariño grape? What does it taste like and where is it grown? What foods pair best…
Could you explain the Syrah grape variety? Where is it grown, where is its best expression found, what does it taste like and where does it come from? What are ideal food pairings for Syrah Shiraz? Syrah/Shiraz are the exact same grape. It was brought over from France, where in Northern Rhone it found its spotlight. The…
Just a short forty five minute drive south of Portland, Oregon lays one of the west coast’s largest and most interesting wine regions. The Willamette Valley in northwest Oregon has become a food and wine lovers’ destination despite its relatively brief history. Prior to being known for wine, the Willamette Valley was known for…
Australia is producing a wide range of wine from many sub-regions, but it’s probably most well known for its Shiraz production. Why is this the case, what makes Australian Shiraz stand out, and what regions are producing the best wines? What foods go well with it and what producers might you recommend visiting and tasting?…
An In-depth Look at the Wine Region of Rioja Spain Rioja’s three sub-regions enjoy a diversity of soils, terroirs and micro-climates, each making wines of unique personality and character. Rioja Alta: Located on the western side of Rioja, this sub-region has an Atlantic climate and its soils are mostly iron-rich clay mixed with limestone. Due…
Learn About The Ins-and-Outs of Italy’s Beautiful Puglia Wine Region & Wine Styles Known as the “heel of Italy’s boot”, Puglia has a longstanding winemaking tradition, as it is one of Italy’s largest wine producing regions. Historically, most of the wine coming out of Puglia had been simple, cheap table wines meant for local consumption…
Discover Argentina’s Mendoza Wine Region and Sub-Regions When I was studying for the WSET Level 4 in Wines & Spirits, the Diploma, I decided to go on a trip to Argentina to explore the different regions of Mendoza. Mendoza is sub-divided into many wine regions, with distinct microclimates and soils. Maipu Maipu (not to be…
Swiss Wine Guide – Learn About Wines of Switzerland and Swiss Wine Regions Most of us imagine the country of Switzerland as having beautiful landscapes, quaint villages and picturesque views of the Swiss Alps. But did you know that the wine coming out of Switzerland is remarkably tasteful, complex and worth exploring? In fact, one particular…
What is the Nero d’Avola Grape Variety? Within What Region is it Grown and What Wine Styles Can it Produce? Nero D’Avola is thick-skinned red grape, thriving in hotter and drier climates. For this reason, Sicily is the perfect place for this grape to grow. It’s known for it’s full body, jammy fruit, and sweet…
Amarone is a red wine blend, pronounced AH-MA-ROW-NAY, most commonly made from venetian grapes Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta and Molinara. The grapes are grown and produced in Valpolicello, located in the Veneto region of northern Italy. What makes these wines unique is the process that takes place after harvest known as the “appassimento process.” Traditionally,…