Non-traditional varietal wines are kind of "in" these days…as you’ve probably noticed. Shelves are stocked with not just Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, or red blends, but with varietals many people are not so familiar with. This includes varietals such as Mourvedre, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Grenache,and…Malbec.
Zinfandel truly is California's unique contribution to the world of wine. Unlike ubiquitous Cabernet and Chardonnay there is no European yardstick to compare itself against. It has had to find its own way, its history modeling that of the settlers who first brought it to America's west coast. 
Viognier is a full-bodied white wine that originated in southern France. Most loved for its perfumed aromas of peach, tangerine and honeysuckle, Viognier can also be oak-aged to add a rich creamy taste with hints of vanilla. If you love to brood over bolder white wines like Chardonnay, Viognier is definitely something you’ll like to swirl.
Gorgonzola may be one of the best known of the Blue Cheeses, along with Roquefort. Gorgonzola is a cow's milk Italian cheese, whereas Roquefort is a sheep's milk cheese, Roquefort is crumbly; Gorgonzola is creamy, moist and buttery. It is not a cheese for the faint-hearted or weak-nosed!
Let’s clear something up right away: Syrah and Shiraz are the exact same wine. When Syrah (Sih-Rah) arrived in Australia from its birthplace in France, Australian winemakers took to calling it Shiraz (Shi – RAZ), instead of the grape’s original name, Syrah. We like to chalk this renaming up to the Australian accent and their penchant for making many common words more fun to say, like how they call a barbecue a barbie.
Yes, you can do it! Summer is finally here. Most of us will feel summer’s call to fire up the grill soon. And, chances are pretty good that before long you’re going to feel a craving for America’s favorite warm weather indulgence: the good old hamburger.
"Foul! American cheese is not cheese!", the cheese police cry out. And they have a point. American cheese—even the "fancy" stuff you can get sliced at the deli counter—is not exactly cheese. But here's the thing. Saying "American cheese is not cheese" is like saying "meatloaf is not meat." 
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.
Merlot, which in French means The Little Blackbird, is the second most popular red grape in America (after Cabernet Sauvignon). Known for being soft, ripe and elegant, most Merlots are easy drinking reds that go well both with food as well as on their own. This is an approachable grape varietal and is often recommended as the first red wine someone new to red wine should drink.
Whether you call it a Rosé, a Blush, or a Rosado, what we are talking about here are pink wines. Unfortunately, these wines have a bad reputation that stems back from Sutter Home’s introduction of their White Zinfandel in the late 1970’s. Many people think of pink wines as cheap, sweet and thin and refer to them as a ‘starter wines’. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Simply stated, the popularity of these pink-tinted wines is on the rise.