I’ve been writing about a lot of wines from the Alentejo region of Portugal over the past couple years. One reason for that is QPR – quality-to-price ratio. QPR ultimately is core to my mission with this website — to highlight wines that offer great quality at affordable prices. Over the past few decades, the […]
Reviews
Review: Ron Rubin, Pinot Noir
Ron Rubin, the person and namesake of the Ron Rubin Winery, is more than just a wine producer — you might call him a beverage mogul. He grew up working in his family’s wholesale liquor company in Illinois, which he expanded into wine distribution. He is the owner of the tea company, The Republic of […]
Review: Corvezzo Prosecco
One of the first things you’ll notice if you see this bottle of Prosecco are the words “organic & vegan” on the label. You might find yourself wondering how a wine could not be vegan. It has to do with the fining process, which is done to clarify and stabilize wine but often uses non-vegan […]
Review: Esporão, Reserva Red
Today I’m continuing the recent series of red blends from Portugal with a wine from one of the larger producers in Alentejo, Esporão. This is a producer that grows about 40 different varieties of grapes, but also olive groves, orchards and other produces. It sounds like a beautiful place. This blend includes some of the […]
Review: Cartuxa, Tinto
A few weeks back, I had a series of reviews on red blends from Portugal and today I’m back at it with a wine from a legendary winery in Portugal, called Cartuxa. This winery, along with the olive grove and enoteca under the same name, are run by a philanthropic foundation, called Eugénio de Almeida. […]
Review: Gruet Blanc de Noirs
What would you say if I told you New Mexico is the source of some of the best sparkling wine in the US? Would you believe me? Would you think I’ve lost it? Well, here we are and that’s exactly what I’m saying. Gruet Winery The producer I’m talking about is Gruet (pronounced: groo-ay) and […]
Review: Esporão, Bico Amarelo
Recently, I’ve posted a number of reviews of red blends from Portugal. But red wines aren’t the only blends to consider, so today I’m highlighting a white blend from the Vinho Verde region of Portugal, the Esporão, Bico Amarelo. “Vinho Verde” translates literally as “green wine” but more appropriately is translated as “young wine” as […]
Review: Herdade de São Miguel, Colheita Seleccionada
Recently, I’ve been focusing on red blends from Portugal — and more specifically, the Alentejo region of Portugal. The wine I’m highlighting today, Herdade de São Miguel, Colheita Seleccionada, continues that theme. Some of the best wine in the world comes from vineyards in areas you might not think are great for agriculture, unless you […]
Review: Adega de Borba Reserva Red
How do you choose a wine? Do you tend to think of a specific variety, like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot? Or do you think about blends? In my opinion, blends are too often overlooked in the United States — although their popularity is growing. While varietal wines certainly have their place, blends have […]
Review: PassioneSentimento Rosso
In Italy, as well as in Europe in general, wine is heavily regulated. In order to sell a wine with a specific designation, winemakers must follow specific guidelines related where the grapes are grown, types of grapes used in a wine, ageing of the wines, winemaking processes, etc. In many ways, I think this regulation […]