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Costco Advent Calendar Wine #9: Ryokō Futsu-shu Sake (Japan)
Let me begin by saying that I am sorry for my sake ignorance. I do not know very much about sake, nor have I yet learned to appreciate it. Sure, I’ve sipped premium versions at trade tastings and such, and I’ve approached them with the same curiosity I’d extend to any other beverage. But at…
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Wine isn’t dead (and neither are business cards!)
It’s admittedly not the most earth-shaking news, but…The Wine Fairy has business cards. Oh boy! We’re in business now! (Actually, we’re not in business–we’re just deeper in hobby.) To my mind, carrying actual printed business cards means that this blog project is officially up and running. I got these cards for when I’m out on…
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The 9 dumbest wine gifts on Amazon
I know and love some gadget-heads in the world of wine, but let’s get real for a second: Wine is not a hobby that requires a whole bunch of specialized gear. A corkscrew, a set of decent glassware and maybe a journal to write notes in. That’s really all you need to get started. Add…
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Nature’s own wino, the Cedar Waxwing
Some people mark the season’s change by the blossoming of cherry trees or the thawing of frozen ponds. In my household, we have our own harbinger of spring: The yearly arrival of a very boozy bird, the Cedar Waxwing. A flock of several dozen shows up at once and perches in the tall trees. On…
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Well, that’s depressing. Granbury’s Revolver Brewing closes up shop
It’s been a tough, tough year for the craft brew industry and the casualties just keep mounting. One of the largest and most beloved Texas breweries has turned off the brew kettles for good. The sad news broke over the weekend in the digital edition of the Houston Chronicle. Revolver Brewing was founded in 2012…
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Are bars the last great “third place”?
Earlier this week, Starbucks rolled out a new “Code of Conduct” for their cafes. The headline- grabbing change was a directive straight from the chief executive: You can’t pee for free. Beginning soon, restrooms and seating at Starbucks will only be available to paying customers. Baristas are currently being trained on enforcing this rule. The…
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Stop saying “elixir”: 5 cocktail trends we’re so over in 2025
Just another day of typing while the world burns. It’s all too scary out there–so let’s just complain about some drinks, shall we? Recently, The Wine Fairy posted about wine words we think are dumb and wine trends we don’t really understand. But why only pick on wine? Here’s how cocktail bars are getting on…
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This $5 Temu item will spice up your wine tasting notes
Okay, wine friends: I’m totally geeking out over this 560-piece Vegetable and Fruit Stickers set I bought off of Temu. I know I’m going to have a blast with these while I practice identifying the flavor and aroma characteristics of different wines. I’m not usually an advocate of ordering cheap crap from China, but where…
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What Is This Thing? Buzzballz Choco Chiller
Welcome to another edition of What Is This Thing?, in which your intrepid wine blogger reviews wine-adjacent, wine-ish, and not-quite-wine products. Fact: Despite their liquor-shooter appearance and sexually suggestive names, Buzzballz Chillers are technically wine. “Orange Wine With Cream & Natural Flavors,” to be precise. It’s all part of Buzzballz’s unique genius, and one of…
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Where to find cheap brunch drinks in Dallas
Having brunch with your pals makes you feel rich and classy–like an extra on Sex and the City! Until you get the check and realize you somehow spent a half a day’s wages on Prosecco and eggs. Sad but true: Dallas is no longer an affordable place to eat, drink, and play. The going rate…
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What Is This Thing? Tinto de Sol Calimocho
Welcome to the first installment of What Is This Thing?, in which we try odd bottles from the periphery of the world of wine. Today I’m tasting Tinto de Sol Calimocho. Is it wine? The label helpfully describes it as an “aromatized wine-product cocktail.” So, yes? Let’s get into it! Calimocho (also spelled Kalimoxto) is…
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How much should a mocktail cost?
It’s practically the definition of a First World Problem: How much is too much to pay for some ice cubes, soda water, and syrup/bitters in a glass? About five bucks, you say? A big slice of the internet agrees. On a popular Threads post, user “ughchase” writes: “in no world should mocktails cost $1-2 less…