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The wines of South America (Total Wine class review)
Last night, my ass was in class for “Exploremos América del Sur” (Let’s Explore South America). This two-hour workshop is occasionally taught at Total Wine and focuses on the wines of Argentina and Chile. I tasted ten South American wines (four whites and six reds) from Total Wine’s Winery Direct lineup. In this post, I…
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Rombauer Vineyards tasting at The Wine Authority (Richardson, TX)
It was a Rombauer power hour at The Wine Authority last Tuesday. A Rombauer Vineyards rep stopped by to pour a whole slew of their wines to a thirsty afternoon crowd. Picks included their well-known Napa Valley Cabernet, along with a super-premium version of the Carneros Chardonnay and the single-estate “El Dorado” Zinfandel. (Apologies for…
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Local Sips: Bar Vino at Buon Vino Cellars (Plano, TX)
Want to drink great wine while feeling like you’re inside a secret club (because you kind of are)? Let me clue you in on one of DFW’s hidden wine oases, Buon Vino Cellars. Buon Vino Cellars is a concierge wine store and locker club located just off the Dallas North Tollway. Normally, it’s a bottle…
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Awesome Assyrtiko: 7 reasons to love this great Greek grape
Assyrtiko is having a moment–and for fans of aromatic, mineral-driven white wine, that’s great news. As fresh and food-friendly as Sauvignon Blanc but with a character all its own, Assyrtiko is native to Greece. It’s grown in other parts of the Mediterranean–including Lebanon– and has even spread to the New World. Assyrtiko is simply delicious,…
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Review: Maison Sonoma Chardonnay (2023)
I don’t host a lot of wine-drinking friends at the moment–and while there are downsides to that, there are upsides, too. One of the best parts is that I can buy wine that I like. Rather than stocking the fridge with crowd-pleasing bottles that won’t offend anyone’s palate, I get to indulge a penchant for…
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A taste of heaven at Eden Hill Winery (Celina, TX)
Just north of Dallas, where the tollways end and the cornfields begin, is a little slice of wine paradise. Towering vines, friendly staff, and distinctive wines make Eden Hill Winery a delightful day trip from anywhere in the Metroplex. The 10-acre property is equipped with a tasting room, wine-making facilities, and two acres planted with…
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Review: Visionario Bianco Trevenezie (2023)
I made a promise back in April to review all 13 of the wines I got in a mixed Italian case from the Wall Street Journal’s wine club. Lucky me! I’ll be grabbing these bottles one by one, finding something in my pantry or freezer to pair with them, and giving you my honest thoughts…
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Review: Clare Wine Co. Watervale Riesling (2020)
Back in college, there was a bar in the old part of town called “Bar.” It’s still there–and the official name of it is (and was) Tavern on Main–but the sign out front just said “Bar” so that’s what everybody called it. Where’s the karaoke tonight? Bar. Where did you park? Bar. The name was…
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So Many Ways to Chardonnay (Total Wine class review)
Total Wine’s West Plano classroom holds 40 people. It’s usually stuffed to the rafters with eager wine learners. But on a recent Thursday evening, only about a dozen folks showed up for “So Many Ways to Chardonnay.” Maybe it was the bout of late-spring thundershowers keeping people away. But more likely, it was another sign…
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Balletto Vineyards tasting at The Wine Authority (Richardson, TX)
I love my Wine Authority membership because I get to try all kinds of stuff I wouldn’t find on my own. Premium wines, small-production wines, overlooked grapes and regions–you never know what’s going to be on the tasting bar. This week was a Russian River Valley tasting. I order a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir…
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Travelin’ the Grapevine Spring Wine Trail (Grapevine, TX)
Wine Fairy here, reporting from the 2025 Spring Wine Trail in Grapevine, Texas! The 33rd annual festival took place on Saturday, April 12. The sky was Easter-egg blue and it was in the low 60s all morning (cellar temp)! It could not have been a lovelier day to explore Grapevine’s downtown wineries on foot. Here,…
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Review: Yealands Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (2023)
Hate on Outback Steakhouse all you want–it’s consistent and a steal for a weeknight dinner. Some days, you just want a sirloin (with A1 sauce!) and some slightly overcooked broccoli. What you don’t want is to get all dressed up, get sneered at by the valet for your ancient Honda, and then have to buy…