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Hold the wine diamonds, please! A hot take on cold stabilization
One Thursday afternoon, not too long ago, I was sitting at a local sports bar enjoying a whiskey and a Mavs game. My companion, perhaps against her better judgment, ordered the house red, a Pinot Noir. Out came the glass: Pigeons-blood ruby, filled a half-inch from the brim, and speckled with shards of a glass-like…
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My experience preparing for WSET Level 2
Nobody needs an industry credential to enjoy and learn about wine…but what if you just want one? Today, I thought I’d write a bit about my experience studying and preparing for the Wine & Spirits Education Trust Level 2 Award in Wines. I’m planning to take the exam in just over three weeks (January 2025).…
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Texas Tasting: Messina Hof (Grapevine)
When Paul V. and Merrill Bonarrigo planted some vines in Bryan, Texas in 1977, they might not have guessed that the single-acre, experimental vineyard would become one of the oldest and most awarded estate wineries in Texas. Messina Hof wines are familiar to Texas wine fans here and abroad. There’s a large portfolio of wines, covering…
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Review: The Costco Wine Adventure Calendar (2024)
Update: Costco’s 2025 calendar is out now! Peek inside the box here. Or, if you’re curious about what the wines taste like, check out our archive of reviews from the 2025 Wine Advent-ure Calendar. As every suburban wino knows, the wholesale club Costco can be a reliable source for better-than-drinkable wine at rock-bottom prices. The…
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Top ten North Dallas happy hours for winos
Dining out in Dallas has gotten expensive, y’all. Sometimes you want to go celebrate Hump Day without blowing your entire week’s budget on one so-so meal. Sometimes you’re itching to get out of the house or the office, but you ate a big lunch and you’re probably not going to be hungry for dinner. Sometimes…
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Total Wine’s Grand Reserve status: Worth it?
Today’s blog post combines two of my very favorite topics: Wine (or course) and rewards points/churning. Total Wine is one of the nation’s largest wine retailers–and if you ever shop there, you may know that they have a tiered status/rewards system as part of their loyalty program. The program is officially called “&More Rewards” and…