AltWeeklies Wire
Six Shirazes and Shiraz Blends from Australia Offer Something to Suit Every Palatenew
For many Wineaux, mass-market Australian Shiraz played a key role in our earliest attempts at wine-related sophistication. I can still picture the $3.99 bottle I brought proudly to a friend's dinner party in the mid 1990s.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
07-15-2009 |
Food+Drink
A Difference of Opinion on the Usually-Reliable Bargain Malbecsnew
It was no surprise that I really enjoyed this latest round of Malbecs, two of which hail predictably from Argentina's Mendoza region, with the third coming from unspecified "coastal vineyards" in California. The surprise was that our Token Winemaker really didn't.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
10-29-2008 |
Food+Drink
Newman's Own Wines Reflect the Humble Goodness of Their Namesakenew
We take a break from crying in our beers over his passing to raise a glass -- two glasses, actually -- of Newman's Own 2006 Chardonnay ($11) and 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ($11.99).
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
10-15-2008 |
Food+Drink
Rabbit Ridge Comes Through when Other Chardonnays Disappointnew
I bought the Rabbit Ridge Central Coast Barrel Cuvee Chardonnay ($8.48), and I concur: its distinctive fruity aroma, dryness, and medium body make a white wine that this red-wine lover would gladly try again.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
10-01-2008 |
Food+Drink
Warm Weather Partners Well with White Wines, Especially Those Made to Lastnew
Say what you will about the quality of its contents, but it's widely accepted that the bag-in-a-box method of packaging is superior to bottling when it comes to preserving wine that's been opened. So I've pitted Trinchero Family Estate's Wine Cube brand of boxed wines, sold exclusively at Target, against $10-and-under value wines to see how they measure up.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
09-17-2008 |
Food+Drink
Tags: wine, Target, summer, white wine, boxed wine, Pinot Grigio, Trinchero Family Estate, Wine Cube
The Wine Spectator Hoax Reminds Us to Do Our Homeworknew
While the Spectator's plight was greeted with an unseemly amount of gleeful schadenfreude in the blogosphere, I'm sure more than a few editors and critics laughed nervously at the news -- perhaps thinking back on which oaf their own research shortcuts might not fare too well under similar scrutiny.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
09-04-2008 |
Food+Drink
Wineau: Où Est le Cork?new
Traditional, regulation-laden France begins to embrace new closures.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
08-07-2008 |
Food+Drink
An Afternoon in Napa: Your Plan for 'Adult Disneyland'new
Napa Valley's scenery, and more importantly its wines, can be truly transporting. I suggest going on a weekday afternoon (come on, you can play hooky for a few hours this summer, can't you?) and visiting two wineries at most.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
06-25-2008 |
Food+Drink
Gary Vaynerchuk is the New-Media Mogul Who Spits for Joe Six-Packnew
Let's dispense with professional jealousy right off the bat: part of me wanted to hate Vaynerchuk's new book, 101 Wines Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight, and Bring Thunder to Your World, because all of me wishes I'd written it. But here's the rub: it's wildly entertaining, and so is he.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
06-11-2008 |
Food+Drink
Wineaux: Riesling Earns Ravesnew
Wine geeks love Riesling because of how beautifully it expresses a vineyard's terroir.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
05-28-2008 |
Food+Drink
Wineau: Great Values from Chile's Central Valleynew
In these parts, certain Pinot-loving types may consider Merlot a grape to sniff at. But in Chile, it's a crucial element in a growing and increasingly acclaimed export market.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
05-01-2008 |
Food+Drink
Wineau: Simply Spainnew
From "Must-See-TV" to "elegant," simple Spanish reds delight.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
04-17-2008 |
Food+Drink
Tags: wine, spanish reds
Wineau: Mais Oui!new
Relishing France's ambiguity and complexity.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
04-03-2008 |
Food+Drink
Wineau: The Local Juicenew
East Bay vintners serve up the good stuff.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
03-05-2008 |
Food+Drink
Wineau: Fuzzy Moneynew
"Free" wine always tastes good.
East Bay Express |
Blair Campbell |
02-20-2008 |
Food+Drink
