The French really have it figured out. Just when I think they couldn’t get any cooler, I stumble upon a new find that blows my mind all over again. Imagine this. Take the essence of the most complex white French wine you’ve ever tasted (such as a White Bordeaux) and reduce it down to a rich, citrus and floral-perfumed elixir. Think syrupy rich. Now put it in an amazingly beautiful bottle, fit for a Parisian, and call it St....

Are you out today buying a last-minute Mother’s day gift? If so, wine might just be the perfect solution -  it’s classy, convenient and is very flexible by personality. Every time I bring a bottle to my own Mother, she practically jumps for joy. While my own Mom isn’t so choosy about the type of wine, most women are, so select a wine that will fit her style and her palette and make her feel special. Here’s a guide to selecting...

Have you ever wondered how bubbles get into sparkling wine? The story of how real (meaning naturally fermented, as opposed to a soda-factory process) sparkling wine comes to twinkle is both a little gross and pretty fabulous. Yeast and sugar are the lifeforce of any wine. Even if you don’t like “sweet” wines, you must appreciate what sugar does for the cause. Yeast, presented to the grapes naturally or as an additive, feast on the...

Whenever I travel, I don’t feel truly acquainted with a city until I find a good spot to enjoy some wine, preferably of a local variety. Last weekend I crossed the border with some girlfriends to visit the friendly northerners in Vancouver, BC. I was only allowed to cross with two bottles in tow, so it wasn’t long until convinced my friends to make the trek to a little local wine bar called Salt. The cute bar in the alley offered a long...