Wine Recommendations

The celebration for the Fourth of July is one of two holidays in which I advocate limiting ones wine choices to wines of the USA (Thanksgiving being the other). It’s a time to celebrate America. Perhaps that is a bit jingoistic, but there it is. And, in keeping with the spirit of the holiday, the wines consumed should offer fireworks! Sometimes that means spending a bit more on the wine, but it’s a time with friends and family and spending a bit more is worth it. With that in mind, here are ten wines that are on my list for this year’s celebrations (it is after all a three day weekend). All of these wines will work on their own, with food hot off the grill or watching fireworks.

With the start of summer, there is a desire for red wines that are not heavy, but refreshing and work with BBQ and other summer foods. At the same time, summer often means parties and larger gatherings, so wines need to be affordable when buying in quantity. Here is a list of some wines that fit...

The long winter has ended; summer is coming. For your drinking pleasure, here are my top ten Rosés to drink this summer. I know, I know. For the last decade it seems everyone touts rosés as the next big thing, but no one really drinks them. They look too much like that sweet white Zinfandel. I get that, but the best of the roses are delicious wines that work by themselves or with food. I am not putting down any vintages. My advice is to buy them from the prior year, maybe two years old, but, never buy anything older than that (with only a few exceptions).

The spring holidays are coming. Easter, Passover and the big one: Opening Day. These are all great occasions to open a nice bottle of wine with friends and family. Easter often features Brunch. What could be more classic than a Mimosa cocktail? The easiest way to make them, is to pour some sparkling wine into a glass and top it with an equal part (or maybe a bit more) or orange juice. Certainly, the better quality ingredients the better drink experience. A Mimosa with vintage Champagne and fresh squeezed orange juice is likely to be delicious. Most of us cannot really afford the time or money for that. Still, it’s a good idea to use good quality sparkling wine. Here are five that won’t break the bank.

The Wine List is a monthly feature by IntoWine contributor Loren Sonkin where he provides a list of seasonal wine recommendations designed to ensure your wine cabinet is sufficiently stocked with fantastic and unique wines. They tell me that Spring begins on March 21st. After this brutal winter, it can’t come soon enough. Of course, some of you live in warmer parts, but that still begs the question, what wines should I be buying now? Here are some suggestions. Spring brings a plethora of early vegetables, and my favorite among them is asparagus. This is traditionally a tough food to match with wine. Asparagus contains a chemical called methyl mercaptan which can make wine taste green or vegetal. First, a lot of times it depends on the preparation. Sauces will impact how well the wine matches the food, but if you like your asparagus, fresh and simple, perhaps steamed or roasted, don’t give up. I tend to choose a crisp, slightly green white wine such as Gruner Veltliner or, perhaps, an Albarino. Traditionally, these come from Austria and northwest Spain, respectively, but there are new world versions that are great as well.

There's talk on the street; it sounds so familiar Great expectations, everybody's watching you People you meet, they all seem to know you Even your old friends treat you like you're something new - New Kid in Town , The Eagles There's a new kid in town when it comes to Sonoma Pinot Noir and her name is Deborah Bennett.

I recently had the opportunity to try a terrific small-production, Sonoma chardonnay that I highly recommend. Lilu by Clos Didi is liquid gold, the kind of chardonnay that appeals to even those people who don't typically choose chardonnay.

Chardonnay. Sauvignon Blanc. Riesling. Pinot Grigio. When it comes to white wine consumption in the US, the average wine drinker rarely gets past these four grape varietals. But if you are tired of the same old options for white wine, try a pecorino (not to be confused with the cheese of the same...