Wine Article Archives by KeepMedia

Along the lanes of Burgundy, A. J. Liebling once wrote, the very road signs read like wine labels.

Imagine California's Napa Valley 30 years ago, without the commercial trappings, grandiose wineries, and snaking traffic.

It's not that I'm rooting against the movie "Sideways" at tonight's Academy Awards, but I would be just as happy if it didn't win.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif. -- For several weeks, a landslide closed a key highway leading to the wine country north of Santa Barbara, and the vineyards in the area are still dormant, but nothing has sidetracked the faithful from getting their taste of Sideways territory.

The question was first asked -- and answered -- in 1976 by nationally known food writer Evan Jones.

It has long been one of California's best-kept secrets. Just a two-hour drive north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara's wine country lies amid cow pastures, mountains awash in greenery, spectacular ocean vistas, and sunlight that plays upon the landscape like an Impressionist painting.

As winter drags on, warm up with a glass of hearty wine from southern France.

The Miscarriage Maze By Karen Springen Jon Cohen and his wife, Shannon, never thought much about fertility.

They are the Dirty Half Dozen - Vine, Obscure, Grape, Striped, Long-Tailed and Pink Hibiscus.

This has been one of the wettest California winters in at least five years.

Our sector, as we had anticipated, sharply deteriorated in 2004," said FEVS president Patrick Ricard, noting exports of still wine fell 9.2 percent but Champagne continued to underpin the sector.

Try meandering along beautiful waterways or exploring a scenic lake--then dropping anchor and bunking down.

The maker of a new documentary that bemoans the state of winemaking predicts we're headed to oblivion.

Italy's wine, enough to make it the world's sixth-largest winemaking region.

A 70 percent reduction in bulk wine inventories in just two years has taken the California wine industry from drowning in a sea of surplus wine to almost swimming in the sunshine of a new, prosperous era once again.

Prominent Lodi, Calif., wine grape grower Brad Lange spends too much money controlling vine mealybug in his northern San Joaquin Valley vineyards.

You might imagine, given the attention to other insect pests since, the western grapeleaf skeletonizer that threatened San Joaquin Valley vineyards back in the mid-1970s had gone away.

Look up the phrase unholy alliance and one example would surely be California wine grape growers and wineries.

By the end of this decade, the U.S. will be the largest wine consuming nation in the world, according to respected wine market analyst Jon Fredrikson of Gomberg, Fredrikson and Associates.

This year's options might be more wickedly efficient than usual.

PARIS--At dinner the other night, a perfectly pleasant Frenchman was chuckling about the philistine tastes of Americans.

My friend Lisa drinks only red wine. You could put a bottle of the world's best chardonnay in front of her, and she'd wrinkle her nose.

British rock star Sting flew to Australia for a charity concert at a famous winery expected to raise more than two million US dollars for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunamis.

Every year, Chile and Argentina export more wine to the United States.

THEY MAY BE small - no more than a bite or two, in most cases - but hors d'oeuvre are big news for special events.

Poor merlot. Thanks to that memorable snippet of dialogue from "Sideways," no one seems to want to drink it anymore.

Hedonistic pleasures may be the mainstays of food and wine festivals, but some of this year's top events are emphasizing programs that appeal as much to the intellect as they do the palate.

By 2008 France will no longer be the biggest wine-consuming nation and the French individually no longer the biggest drinkers, a study estimated.

Australians took France's Syrah grape and made it their own under the alias Shiraz.

Beverages giant Foster's will create an Australian wine-producing colossus capable of out-muscling "old world" rivals in key global markets if its hostile bid for Southcorp succeeds, analysts say.

Industry analysts say prospects for California's San Joaquin Valley wine grapes and raisins are decidedly brighter after the 2004 harvest, although the grape juice concentrate business is struggling with a shifting market.

Focus on quality and deliver it in every price point to build brands with styles that will resonate with consumers both here and abroad.

Southcorp in what is likely to be the opening shot in a drawn-out takeover war for Australia's biggest wine producer.

Australia's largest wine producer, Southcorp Ltd., in a move that would create one of the world's largest wine companies.

I'm not one to welcome winter. From January to April, you will likely find me slumped in a corner of my drafty apartment, eating the orange-liqueur-centred, chocolate-coated dregs of my stocking stuffer, screaming for spring.

The annual miracle that occurs in the vineyard doesn't always end with the completion of the fall grape harvest.

Room 234 at the Days Inn at the Windmill in Buellton, Calif., may look like nothing more than a typical roadside rest stop -- two beds, TV, not fancy.

Southcorp and was in negotiations with the winemaker that "may lead to a major corporate announcement." Shares in both companies were suspended from trading as speculation mounted that Foster's was looking to take over Australia's largest winemaker, which has long been seen as vulnerable to predators.

In just over a decade Richard Sands has turned Constellation Brands from an outcast seller of twist-offs to the biggest--and most diverse--producer of wine on the planet.

Barolo, located in Italy's Piedmont region, is known for its rich, powerful red wines made from the Nebbiolo grape.

In 1967, a young couple named Pablo and Juanita Ceja left their small village in Michoacan, Mexico, for a new life in the United States.

You can tell from the relaxed manner of Silicon Valley's venture capitalists at recent Christmas bashes -- things are looking merry.

You can tell from the relaxed manner of Silicon Valley's venture capitalists at recent Christmas bashes -- things are looking merry.

If you're shopping for something to give an oenophile, a wine club membership is a gift that keeps on giving.

Anyone who's traveled through the vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux can tell you they're lovely.

For years, California winemaker Terry Speizer put up with the shackles on his business.

French film star Gerard Depardieu, who already produces wine in France and north Africa, is reportedly shopping for land in a well-established winemaking area in northern Portugal.

California is still king when it comes to American wines, but Washington state is coming on strong.

Choosing wine for the annual Thanksgiving feast can be vexing.

New innovations for both organic and traditional farmers and wine grape growers and a daylong field workshop led by renowned agricultural consultant Gary Zimmer, author of the best-selling book "The Biological Farmer," are the highlights of a two-day pest management conference at San Luis Obispo in December.

To some fans of Santa Barbara County's bucolic Santa Ynez Valley, the depiction of the California wine-growing region in the new, critically acclaimed film Sideways is almost as unflattering as that of its lead characters, a pair of middle-aged losers on a pre-wedding road trip.

Label Mfrs. Institute's annual competition exemplify some of the unusual new directions in which the industry is headed.

PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL WINE tasting, or trying to match wines with a gourmet meal, can be overwhelming.

The Winning World Of Labels COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - The international FINAT Label Competition celebrates 24 years of label excellence with a line-up of winners the association describes as truly intercontinental, one that demonstrates a high degree of technical excellence, innovation, and on-shelf appeal.

THIS ISSUE INCLUDES a big story about the art and science of serving wine at group functions.

Nickel Zinfandel wine label that sets this year's standard of excellence.

It seems like only yesterday when I received an invitation to a party that stated B.Y.O.B.

That moderate wine consumption had a positive effect on your health and disposition.

A spoil yourself with rich and luscious pair.... your deserve it!

One visit to Italy and you will have access to simple, elegant and inspiring tomato dishes.

Creme Brulee originated in Cambridge, England, according to Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 20-30 minutes or until lentils are tender.

Kayserburg is a fairytale land of castles and storks, mountains and magic.

Rub artichoke hearts well with lemon and cook in boiling salted water until tender.

A white wine from the Left Bank area in the Bordeaux Region of France.

Hosting a wine tasting is a fun theme for hours of entertaining and a great way to learn more about wine.

Some tips for making this year's day of love a lot more fun Valentine's Day generates mixed feelings in many of my friends, both female and male, attached and unattached.

Here are a few tips for making good choices with regards to food and wine pairings.

It is important to recognize that many people age wine in order to get the most from it, however, many of the wines sold today are ready for consumption within 2 years.

There is a difference between drinking wine and tasting wine. Tasting involves being aware of all your senses.

Put simply, it's the cost of doing business. It's funny but no one ever questions why food costs what it does.

Riedel Crystal pioneered the concept of choosing the right glass shape to match a particular grape variety.

Place beans in a medium-sized saucepan with water to cover by 1 inch.

On Canada's west coast lies the Province of British Columbia. Within its interior can be found the Okanagan Valley, where they have indeed proven that quality wine grapes can be grown above the 50th parallel.

Lemon zest, pulp and juice are combined with eggs and sugar in a wonderful custard.

Steamers are soft-shelled or long-neck clams. They tend to be sandy, so many cooks like to purge them before cooking.

Recently, I ventured into San Francisco to attend a Bordeaux tasting at Elroy's restaurant.

Mix all ingredients except steak. Place steak in a large zip-lock bag and add marinade.

Recipe provided by Fine Cooking This dish is a classic in France and always wonderful with a frisee salad, french fries, and a bottle of red wine.

There is a big difference between a Syrah and a Petite Sirah. They may sound as if they are related but a Syrah and Petite Sirah are completely different wines.

The juice and zest of a fresh lemon brighten the taste of this quick, healthy and light pasta recipe.

General Temperature Tips Too cold of a temperature will mask sweetness, mute flavors and emphasize tannins.

Served with blue cheese, dessert wines like Sauternes, Ice wine, and Muscat make memorable dessertsThe next time you're looking for an unusual, change-of-pace dessert, try a small glass of dessert wine with a sliver of blue cheese.

Well, other than a few major renovations and a new owner, nothing.

Ghirardelli 1 cup heavy cream 1 pint of strawberries, cleaned In a small saucepan, melt chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly.

The Wine Snob show you the way with The Wine Tour Series. Should you be traveling in the Napa Valley vicinity this series will assist you with deciding which wineries to visit.

First, cook cut pork in pan. Just add a little olive oil to the bottom of the pan and cook pork until no pink is showing.

The bubbly wine was introduced to the world by the French who say champagne is the wine a young man drinks on the evening of his first mistake.

Don't use a wine labeled "Cooking Wine" The idea of a "cooking wine" began in the 18th century aristocratic kitchens where salt was added to the wine to detour the cooks from drinking the wine instead of cooking with it.

Living in California means you have access to so many wonderful fine foods and wine delights.

German wine and people assume white wine is the subject and Riesling the grape.

Wine is a part of human history and it has a fascinating beginning.

Someone once said that all's fair in love and war. Concerning passions of the heart, such as growing and vinting grapes, we winemakers seem to have had more than our fair share of good luck.

STORAGE Cheese needs to breathe, therefore, wrapping it in plastic wrap is a "no, no." Storing cheese in plastic wrap creates moisture, which creates mold.

Since 1981, David Berkley has composed wine lists and wine recommendations for various state dinners and special White House functions.