The Ultimate Guide to Pinot Noir Wine: Taste, Regions & Pairings
I remember the first time I actually fell in love with a glass of wine. It wasn’t one of those heavy, mouth-drying reds that make you feel like you just ate a handful of velvet. It was a glass of Pinot Noir from a small vineyard in the Willamette Valley. It was translucent, almost like […]
Hanging Twine Poppets: A Beginner’s Guide to Crafting Home Protection
There is a specific kind of quiet magic that happens when you sit down at a wooden table with a ball of rough twine and a pair of scissors. You might feel a bit of a connection to the past, perhaps to a time when people did not have fancy stores to buy their spiritual […]
How to Open a Wine Bottle Without a Corkscrew: 6 Easy & Safe Hacks
We have all been there. You just got home after a long, exhausting day at work, or perhaps you are at a beautiful picnic spot with a stunning sunset in front of you. You reach into the bag to grab that bottle of Cabernet or crisp Chardonnay you have been dreaming about, only to realize […]
The Ultimate Josh Wine Guide: Why Josh Cellars Is the Best Affordable Wine
If you have walked through the wine aisle of any grocery store in the last few years, you have seen it. The label is clean, white, and features a bold, cursive “Josh” printed across the front. It is almost impossible to miss. Josh Cellars, or simply “Josh” as most people call it, has become a […]
How to Use a Wine Corkscrew: The Definitive Guide for Beginners and Pros
There is a specific kind of social anxiety that only occurs when someone hands you a bottle of wine and a corkscrew at a dinner party. All eyes are on you. You start twisting, the metal grinds, the cork begins to crumble, and suddenly you are fishing bits of tree bark out of a lovely […]
The Ultimate Guide to Muscat Wine: History, Varieties, and Pairing Tips
I still remember the first time I really paid attention to a glass of Muscat wine. It was a warm summer evening at a small outdoor bistro. The server brought out a chilled glass of what looked like simple white wine, but the moment the glass got anywhere near my nose, I was stunned. It […]
The Ultimate Guide to the Real-Life Catalina Wine Mixer Event
If you have ever spent a Friday night on your couch watching Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly run around in tuxedos, you probably know exactly what I am talking about. The Catalina Wine Mixer is one of those rare things that started as a joke in a movie and somehow took on a life […]
The Ultimate Rose Wine Guide: Styles, Pairings, and Best Brands
For a long time, rose wine was the misunderstood middle child of the beverage world. It was often dismissed as either too sweet, too cheap, or just a trend for people who didn’t actually like “real” wine. I remember my first experience with a glass of pink wine years ago. It was a sugary, neon-colored […]
The Ultimate Guide to Shiraz Wine Grapes: Taste, History, and Pairings
If you have ever walked into a wine shop and felt a bit overwhelmed by the red wine section, you are not alone. There are thousands of grapes out there, but few have the commanding presence and the storied history of the Shiraz wine grape. I remember the first time I sat down with a […]
The Ultimate Guide to Syrah Grape Wine: Flavors, Regions & Pairings
If you have ever sat down with a glass of wine that looked almost like black ink and smelled like a mixture of crushed blackberries, cracked black pepper, and maybe even a hint of smoked meat, you have likely met Syrah. For many people starting their wine journey, Syrah is the “aha” moment grape. It […]