Love doughnuts and chocolate? The two come together in Choclatique's new Designer Donuts. The adorable ring-shaped treats are actually handmade miniature chocolates that look and taste like real doughnuts and come in just about every favorite doughnut flavor you can imagine. Choclatique’s Designer Donuts are around about 60 calories each, much less than your average doughnut.... Read More
The word connoisseur is thrown around too easily these days. Knowing how to sniff brandy, aerate your red wine, or distinguish between East and West Coast oysters is simply a matter of taste. Likewise, knowing the joys of nibbling on small squares of 70% dark chocolate with a hint of sea salt does not an expert make. It makes a true appreciator of the finer things in life; it makes a savvy tastemaker. If you’re vying to upgrade from bystander to real connoisseur (from social chocolate-lover to official taste-tester), it’s time to go behind the scenes.... Read More
Johnnie Walker, the legendary Scotch whisky brand founded in 1820, has announced the U.S. arrival of its new limited edition Double Black bottling. To create the bold, complex spirit, the trademark smoky characteristic of Johnnie Walker’s famed Black Label, which celebrated its 100th anniversary recently, was amplified to deliver an additional rich intensity of flavor.... Read More
White Oak Vineyards & Winery’s story started in the 1970s, when founder Bill Myers purchased a vineyard in the Alexander Valley and began to make small lots of handmade artisan-quality wines. He quickly became known for his outstanding Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc. In 1991, Bill took home his first Sonoma County Harvest Fair Sweepstakes Award for his 1990 Sonoma County Chardonnay, and, more recently, the 2004 Sauvignon Blanc won the sweepstakes award again in 2005.... Read More
Located in the heart of the Napa Valley, Merryvale Vineyards has been turning exceptional Napa fruit into world-class wine for almost 30 years. The historic winery was the first one built in the Napa Valley following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, and it has become a must-see destination for visitors to the valley.... Read More
Sanford Winery & Vineyards planted the first Pinot Noir vines in the heart of the Santa Rita Hills, a region now heralded for that varietal. Five years later, the winery released its first wine, giving critics the first taste of the potential of Santa Barbara wine country—an area where cool morning fog gives way to warm afternoons—providing an ideal climate for the classic Burgundian varietals, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.... Read More
New York City was introduced to Paso Wine Guy last week, in a boisterous dinner at City Winery in the heart of Manhattan. Even the most impassioned jam-band renderings of 70s rock tunes in the main room could not compete with the booming good cheer of Paso Robles' new spokesperson — his voice every bit as fruity, full-bodied and potent as the country reds for which this Central Coast California wine region is known.... Read More
The name of one of the first and most influential winegrowing pioneers on California’s Central Coast is Jerry Lohr, founder of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. J. Lohr’s estate vineyards are found in three of California’s most esteemed winegrowing regions: Monterey County, Paso Robles, and the Napa Valley.... Read More
Put your fork down. Back away from the wine glass. If there were ever a time to indulge in chocolate, it would be now. US News and World Report just published some info that even your cardiologist would approve of. Seven independent studies involving 114,000 people demonstrated that those who ate chocolate at least once a week lowered their risk of heart disease by 37 percent, their risk of diabetes by 31 percent, and their risk of stroke by 29 percent, compared to those who ate little or no chocolate at all. Even more encouraging, the researchers found no distinction between dark or milk chocolate varieties.... Read More
Top wine country catering tends to require a little more creativity than a few shrimp on a simple silver platter. Catered food should do more than just fill you up. It should be stimulating, edifying and satisfying, bringing the event to another level through the pleasure of “experience” dining.... Read More
Francis Ford Coppola is now known nearly as much for his love of wine as his movies. Back in April, Coppola bought the Inglenook winery name with the stated goal of restoring the property he already owns "into America's greatest wine estate." At Christie's New York on September 24, he will auction off some of his prized wine collection including two bottles of what made this wine a legend - the famed 1941 Inglenook and a rare bottle of the 1935 vintage.... Read More
Enrique Iglesias is no stranger to successful collaborations, having worked with superstars Akon, Usher, and Pitbull on his recent studio album, Euphoria, but now he is taking his Latin good looks to ... Read More
While visiting Chateau Ste Michelle, we were fortunate to have Culinary Director, John Sarich, lead a tour of the Chateau. After discovering all this wonderful winery has to offer, we enjoyed a wine pairing, prepared especially for our International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association group.... Read More
Fate, family, and fortune all played vital roles in the creation of Trisaetum (tris-say-tum), a blossoming winery located in the heart of Oregon’s Ribbon Ridge AVA. Founders James and Andrea Frey say it all began when they fell in love on their Napa Valley honeymoon—with winemaking.... Read More
Interested in wine, but don’t have time to make forays to Napa or Sonoma? Tired of buying the same old place settings from friends’ wedding registries? Already planning ahead for your holiday gift-buying lists? Or maybe you’re just sick of dropping by the wine store every week (or day!) to see what’s new?... Read More
"This is the spirit of the Southwest Highlands," distillery owner Dana Kanzler proudly proclaims. We are on the downwind side of the smoke chamber, as gentle, aromatic smoke from local mesquite wafts upward to the overhead air vents. Dried mesquite-smoked barley is milled into grist, one of the first steps in the process of distilling Arizona High Spirits Single Malt Whisky here at the distillery in Flagstaff. Kanzler continues, "Our products are hand crafted every step of the way – like a cobbler makes shoes. We employ only three people."... Read More
Summer is on it’s way out — so make your way into the kitchen to recreate your own version of the beloved Sangria that is served at Thornton Winery Jazz Concerts.... Read More
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun is the perfect spot to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day (Sept. 16) with its host of amenities and activities incorporating the country’s rich heritage and vibrant culture in a luxurious setting.... Read More
The long, sunlit days and cool, brisk nights of a Washington summer are easy to savor. You’ll find them in the white wines made from the more than 13,500 vineyard acres of grapes that grow across the state.... Read More
Tasting wine has an etiquette all its own. Whether you’re at a winery or wine bar the rules pretty much are the same. Expect to pay for the tasting. Free wine tasting seems to be a thing of the past, but on occasion you can still find a free tasting or two. The price will be somewhere between $1-$30 per person. Sometimes you will receive a souvenir glass, other times not.
Sometimes you’ll be standing at the tasting bar, other times you will be seated. Often you can share your tasting with another guest, ask your server.... Read More
In order to truly embrace Christina Tosi's dessert genius you need to check your adult pastry pretensions at the door and embrace your childhood love of all things sweet. You have to be willing to accept Fruity Pebbles as an ingredient. Tosi, the mad genius behind the taste sensation known as Crack Pie is a big part of the success of David Chang's Momofuku empire. Milk Bar has served as a lab for all sorts of sweet experiments and it has become one of the hottest spots in New York City for urbanites with a serious sweet tooth.... Read More
Chile boasts a wine industry that dates back to the 1550s when Spaniards first planted grapes there. The country contains 14 major wine regions that produce and export varietals we all know such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as more unique grapes like Carmenere. Some in the wine world even argue that Chile’s phylloxera-free vines (a boon thanks to the country’s geographic isolation) are some of the world’s purest expressions of these varietals.... Read More
Fire up the grill and take a foodie tour of Lake and Mendocino Counties (of Northern California) with wonderful recipes and wines from these renowned and very delectable wine regions.... Read More
If wine pairing is about harmony (balance) or contrast (opposite), cooking is harmony and contrast. Everybody knows about the four basic flavors: sour, bitter, sweet and salty. You can also add spicy and others.
Alain Ducasse, a famous French chef, always says: "Create a dish with no more than two or three flavors."... Read More
