Ami Gangemella
A wine journey can be many things, from a trip to the local shop to a winery tasting to, well, an actual journey. For Ami Gangemella, a Certified Specialist of Wine based in Stony Brook, Long Island, the latter was the case. As a 25-year old, she finished her Masters Degree in Forensic Science, closed her books […]
Halter Ranch
Stretching mighty limbs to the Paso Robles sky, the Ancestor Oak is the largest Coast Live Oak on record. A spectacular natural monument hundreds of years old that takes at least eight people to link arms to hug around. The tree is both spectacular and spooky, which makes it the perfect namesake for the Ancestor […]
Carlin Karr
Just like it takes a village to raise good citizens, it takes a village to create spectacular sommeliers. Sure, somms spend most of their early days flipping pages and memorizing maps, but true wine education, the kind that lights up patrons at the table side or moves a few extra cases at the tasting room, […]
Five Basic Taste Sensations
You love food, you love wine. And you love them together. Most of the time, it’s a winning combination; train wrecks are happily rare. Like most people, even those in the wine business, I don’t get too stressed about finding the perfect wine for everything I eat. Most of the time, I choose the food […]
The Bootlegger
So, it was my first day in which I ever got to “run the room.” I had been slowly working my way up the esteem chart in the eyes of my bosses. They were already a big step up from the last winery I poured at – starting here had meant a complete wardrobe upgrade. I had […]
Fiona Perrin
Nature or nurture? It’s an age old question when considering the upbringing of children, especially when certain traits start to emerge. While strong evidence can be presented on either side, the answer, like with most things, is a little bit of both. The same holds true for wine. A grape’s location, the climate, the soil, […]
The Real Dirt About Clean Wines
The woman at the end of my bar reminded me of Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote and those that know me know that I consider that a great compliment. She was silver-haired, but I could tell she still had some sass to her. She was wearing a scarf that was pinned by a brooch and, I’m […]
Vince Anter
Bright lights, big city. Growing up in most of the Western world, the glitz and glamour of life in the fast lane is an ever-present theme amongst young dreamers. Fast cars, private jets, screaming fans, and big houses are alluring perks for those few who turn their childhood dreams into reality. For everyone else? The […]