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Wines from the Abruzzo Region of Italy and the Masciarelli Family

Tenute Agricole Masciarelli was established in the Abruzzo region of Italy in 1981 by Gianni Masciarelli, starting with about 5 acres of vineyards owned by his grandfather. Things would grow rapidly from there, as Gianni introduced a reserve level Montepulciano d’Abruzzo in 1984. He bought more vineyard land, expanding the comany holdings. Throughout the vineyards

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Dutch Gin and the House of Bols

Genever Tasting

One of our favorite things about traveling is the unexpected, the surprising and delightful place, person or experience you just stumble upon. We had several of those during our trip to Europe in December, some coming during our time in Amsterdam. This was one, when we found an inviting bar in

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Top 20 Wines of 2023!

Another year has passed and it was an eventful one, filled with travel and work and everything else that makes up life. Instead of sampling 600-800 wines as we would with a wine event heavy year, our field of view was once again smaller. This year it was in the neighborhood of 200-300. Some made

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A Twenty Year Old Bordeaux Still Going Strong

As usual we opened some older and special bottles of wine this holiday season. A Brunello from 2000, a more recent Napa Cab, a really good Italian Merlot; all were vanquished. The best of the bunch however was probably the Bordeaux we popped on New Year’s eve. This was a beautiful wine, perfectly integrated and

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A Few Highlights from Our European Trip

Christmas Market in Cologne

We just got back from two weeks in Europe, starting in Amsterdam followed by a Viking River Cruise up the Rhine River and finishing with three glorious days in Zurich. The highlights were definitely the time on each end of the cruise, as Amsterdam and Zurich are both magical

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Big and Bold Cabernet from Paso Robles

The reds from Paso Robles, from the central coast of California, are not exactly known for being shy. They can make big red wine here, showcasing rich fruit and lots of body. That’s not to say that everyting is that way, as Paso has a lot to offer for a wine lover. There are over

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A Different Choice for Your Holiday Bubbly

While many of us enjoy sparkling wine year round, there is no doubt that the holidays bring an extra special reason to open a bottle of your favorite bubbly, toast with friends, and drink the stars. The choices are many, from traditional wines made in the Methode Champenoise, to lighter offerings and fizzy sippers. If

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A Gem Portuguese Red Blend for Under $15

Portugal makes some amazing wines, and frequently they can be crazy values as well. They range from mind blowing world class to everyday, and everything in between. This one is on the lower end of the price spectrum, but it packs in some pretty amazing value.

Wine: 2020 Silk & Spice Red

Winery Location: Portugal

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From Good to Brilliant: Carmenere from Chile

The Carmenere grape has had quite an interesting history, especially in Chile. Originally a mainstay in Bordeaux, the grape fell out of favor and by 1994 there were less than 25 acres under vine. At the same time, more or less, there was another area of the world where the grape still grew in abundance,

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A Great Value in California Merlot from Raft Wines

Raft Wines was founded in 2016 by Jennifer Reichardt, and they make wine from grapes sourced from around California. We had this particular bottle recommended by our friends at Westgate Wine in Raleigh, NC. It was a great recommendation. Here is the wine:

Wine: 2020 Raft Wines Merlot

Winery Location: Grapes from the Cole Ranch

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