Chardonnay…What are your first thoughts when you hear the varietal's name? White, golden, buttery, creamy, oaky, tropical fruit flavors - all easily come to mind. The varietal is an intriguing subject as it is grown and produced by wine rookies and veterans alike around the globe. Chardonnay produces menial, mass-produced wines and highly specialized wines alike. Everyone has heard of Chardonnay, but where did it originate?
When you're wine tasting, you undoubtedly hear the terms aroma and bouquet tossed around. You've perhaps even considered them to be one in the same, as they are used so interchangeably. And, while they are indeed related, there is a distinct difference between the two.
Mimolette is a cheese traditionally produced around the city of Lille, France. In France, it is also known as Boule de Lille after its city of origin, or vieux Hollande for being made after the tradition of Edam cheese.
Feta is undoubtedly one of the most famous Greek cheeses. In fact, Feta occupies 70% stake in Greek cheese consumption. The cheese is protected by EU legislations and only those cheeses manufactured in Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly, Central Mainland Greece, the Peloponnese and Lesvos can be called ‘Feta’.
Happy New Year! A time for celebrations, resolutions and trying to remember to use the correct date! As we ring in another year, may I suggest making a commitment to understanding your personal wine collection.
"This is a Rhône-style wine." You've heard the line before, but the definition of a Rhône-style wine can vary and calls for some discussion. As always, we're here to bolster your vino knowledge. So grab your corkscrews and let's go Rhône!
It’s that time of year again where we gather with family and friends to give thanks. And believe me, I cannot wait! This year we are able to share our meal with some of our fabulous friends that have moved away... but not from our hearts. All right, enough about me/us… let’s get on with this shall we?
Camembert is undoubtedly the most famous of the French cheeses. It is the king of cheeses, or at the very least the most popular one. It is a mainstay of every cheese plate and also lends itself to many surprising culinary configurations.
This great cheese is worthy of all that praise it recieves: it is very natural, very healthy, very delicious and very consistent. It is wonderful by itself in chunks, shaved over or grated into foods, cooked or uncooked. It has been so good at doing so many things for so long - over 800 years - that it has earned the nickname in the dairy industry, “The King of Cheeses.”
Appenzeller cheese, made in the Appenzell region of northeast Switzerland, dates back over 700 years. It is a hard, cow’s milk cheese made from untreated or raw milk and truly natural with no preservatives or additives. The spicy flavor comes from the closely guarded secret herbal bath given it during production and aging.