My system for rating groups of wines at a tasting is simple – in fact, I think it’s the simplest rating system in the world, and it works very well!
If I like it a lot, I give it a ++. If I like it, I give it a +. If I don’t like it, I […]
Over 25 years ago, I had my first professional wine judging experience. It was 1981 at the Sonoma Harvest Fair in Healdsburg, California, on a mountaintop overlooking the valley – a very pristine setting. I was surrounded by all the big names in the wine industry including the most famous wine writers at […]
There’s been more publicity lately about wines with screw caps, as they make their way into fine restaurants and exclusive wine cellars. Many high-end wineries are shifting from cork to metal closures, and the reason is an increasing amount of wine is being contaminated by cork taint, leaving the wine tasting musty and dull. […]
Each year I host a trip, along with my brother Tommy, to some distant land to explore its culture and cuisine. 2007 found us in Southeast Asia, including China, Vietnam and Thailand. What an amazing adventure it was! Our first few days were spent viewing the Terra Cotta Warriors, visiting Tiananmen Square […]
