This is the third installment of my three part series on Barolo. In part one we looked at the wine and its history , in part two we examined the modernist versus traditionalist debate , and in this part we will look more closely at some of the finest vineyards to be found anywhere in the world. Then we will also examine the extraordinary string of good and great vintages Piemonte has enjoyed and that are available on store shelves now.

About a year ago, I made my first trip to Franken (Franconia). I fell in love with the gently rolling green hills, the colorful, historic cities and the welcoming people. Throughout our visit, which lasted nearly a week, I felt completely happy, surrounded by history, nature and vibrant culture. I also fell in love with Franken wine.

There was an episode of Seinfeld called “The Sponge,” during which Elaine, upon learning that her favorite form of birth control (the sponge) was going off the market, needed to make difficult decisions about whether her dates were “sponge worthy.” ELAINE: So, you think you're sponge-worthy? BILLY: Yes, I think I'm sponge-worthy. I think I'm very sponge-worthy. ELAINE: Run down your case for me again...? BILLY: Well, we've gone out several times, we obviously have a good rapport. I own a very profitable electronics distributing firm. I eat well. I exercise. Blood tests - immaculate. And if I can speak frankly, I'm actually quite good at it. ELAINE: You going to do something about your sideburns? BILLY: Yeah, I told you...I'm going to trim my sideburns. ELAINE: And the bathroom in your apartment? BILLY: Cleaned it this morning. ELAINE: The sink, the tub, everything got cleaned? BILLY: Everything, yeah. It's spotless. ELAINE: Alright, let's go. <They head for the bedroom.>

In Shakespeare's classic "Romeo and Juliet," the heroine pointedly asked, "What's in a name?" There is a universal truth to our moniker, they are our identity, our essence. A quick glance at the wine industry reveals that the majority of wineries are named after their owners. However, amid all those surnames are a few winery names that beg explaination.

Well-aged wine. The very thought of it stirs the spirit and whets the tongue. Older wine takes on a special character in our minds – not only has it been preserved over time, often lovingly tended by a patient caretaker, but it is a vestige of an era long past. It bears memories of the time when it was produced, the time when it was purchased, and all the time since when you’ve been waiting to enjoy it. There’s simply something special about old wine that captures our fancy in a way that new wine doesn’t.

Brice Cutrer Jones is virtually synonymous with California Chardonnay (Hint: Sonoma- Cutrer Chardonnay ). The logical assumption is that the topic de jour of any interview with him would be Chardonnay. However, I recently sat down with Cutrer Jones to discuss - of all things- his foray into Pinot...

Last month, we touched on some basics around dessert wines and their terminology. This month – as dinner party season fast approaches with the holidays – let’s wow your guests with some basics around dessert wine and cheese pairings. I recently spoke to a well-traveled epicurean friend of mine, Carrie Voorhis , who used to manage a cheese and wine shop in Indianapolis, Indiana. Every day she’d help folks like us find the perfect compliments to wines from all over the world.

There are many individual mistakes that people make when building their wine room but they all share a common gene: trying to do the job as cheaply as possible. It is not wise to build a climate controlled wine room on the cheap. Some of the mistakes or problem areas are: Incorrectly designed or poorly installed air & vapor barriers. If the two different climates – cold & humid and warm & dry – are allowed to meet, problems develop.

If you are seriously thinking about building a climate controlled area to store your wine collection, be sure to consider these ten essential features: Very good refrigeration equipment. There are many attributes to the refrigeration equipment that you need to thing about but the real important one is service. Be sure to get equipment that can be repaired locally – some well-known equipment has to be returned to the manufacturer for service.

Did you know that Spain has 68 Denominacíon de Origen (DO, or “Designation of Origin”) wine regions?