Check it!  Japanese consumers can call Amazon for a phone consultation on which wine to buy.  Hmmm, I wonder what goes best with katsudon?

Check out the history of Berry Bros. & Rudd, wine merchants to royals and writers and the dandiest of dandies.  Established in 1698 and still going strong, this is definitely the place to visit the next time you are in London.

We have been saved by the Italian police!  They seized over 9,000  bottles of fake champagne last year and just announced it.

Whew!  Glad we didn’t have to deal with that!

Last year Scott Greenberg, the Vine Guy, posted his second annual Girl Scout  Cookie and Wine pairing.  Since it’s cookie time again, I thought that it would be good to revisit the possibilities that await you.  Check it out here.

And if you don’t know where to get those highly addictive, sugared treats, check out this site to find a Girl Scout Booth near you!

These days, everybody and their brother has an online dating profile…there’s match.com and E-Harmony, not to mention the 101 different dating apps that the kids are using these days. Well what if different wines had their own online dating profile? This is one take on it…check it out here!

Sounds odd, but it could be amazing! For these folks, it’s their second annual wine and girl scout cookie tasting. Check it out here!

Although Californians are grappling with a drought, last year, they hit an all-time high in wine production last year; crushing 4.23 million tons of grapes!Here’s the full story, courtesy of NPR.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/02/18/278952357/california-toasts-2013s-record-wine-grape-harvest

Hello again!  The Beliveau Estate just outside of Blacksburg will be doing a wine-and-tapas pairing two Thursdays a month (the first and third). A further schedule of their events is posted through the link below. Cheers!

http://www.beliveauestate.com/events.html

Hello, all! The fine folks at Attimo Winery in Christiansburg have made available their hours of operation. Check it out!

You can also find them on Facebook. Enjoy!

Attimo_Winery_Information_for_VT

Hey guys,

Special tasting selection this week! The focus is going to be sustainable wines! There’ll even be a BOXED WINE! Get excited, and as always, enjoy!

Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele NV, $7.95

Veneto, Italy

Named after the famous restaurant in Italy! This is their house white wine! Coppery color from extended skin contact, round and rich texture with juicy melon aromas and flavors with a sweet fennel note on the ultra smooth finish. Great value Grigio! Drink now.

Lobetia Chardonnay, 2011, $9.95

La Mancha, Spain

Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. Clean, bright color with a greenish-yellow tone. On the nose, exotic fruits like pineapple. Full flavored, fresh, with good acidity in the mouth, it finishes with tropical fruits.

Lobetia Tempranillo, 2011, $9.95

La Mancha, Spain

Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. It shows a nice cherry color with a violet shade because of its youth. Red berries and cherries on the nose. On the palate it is fresh, slightly astringent, and harmonious with a long finish.

Reserve Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône, 2010, $14.95/ 750mL, $38.95/ 3L

Rhone Valley, France

As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault) displays loads of ripe flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine. Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur,  avender, licorice and spice box are all present in this fullbodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone. This is a sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer.