I’m excited to be starting a new weekly wine column for the Huffington Post. This online newspaper has a broad reach and so it’ll be great to share my passion for the grape with new readers. Let me know if you have suggestions for future columns. Here’s the second one … Here’s the full text [...]

Here’s part two of our conversation about books and bottles that you can give as holiday gifts. (You’ll find part one of our conversation here.) Do you have a favourite wine and word pairing? Do you belong to a book club that likes to crack open a bottle? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Gassier [...]

The editor of the annual anthology Best Food Writing got in touch yesterday to say that an excerpt from Unquenchable will be published in this year’s edition. The book collects the best food (and occasionally wine) writing of the year from magazines and books, such as Anthony Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential), Ruth Reichl (Gourmet Magazine), Gabrielle [...]

Weekend Inspiration: Good Wine on the Cheap This week I settled down with a cheap glass of Riesling to read Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines. Almost immediately I learned that in 1775, Thomas Jefferson declared Riesling the “best breakfast wine.” Looks like I’m off to a great start. Unquenchable is [...]

Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2008 Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2008 is an invaluable book to have when you want to know when your wine is prime for drinking. This book notes the peak drinking years for most of the world’s cellar-worthy wines and it’s a handy guide to keep in your pocket, whether [...]

Will Write for Food by Dianne Jacob The best guide to food (and by extension wine) writing yet. Jacob is clear, insightful and practical with her advice. This is a must-buy for anyone thinking of a career in wine and food writing, as well as for those already practicing the craft. Buy it from Amazon [...]

The Physiology of Taste by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin All credible foodies have read this bible written in 1825, and translated by M.F.K. Fisher in 1949. Buy it from Amazon Canada: CDN $24.47 Buy it from Chapters/Indigo Canada: CDN $16.68 Buy it from Amazon U.S.: US $16.80 Buy it from Barnes & Noble: US $27.95

The Tummy Trilogy by Calvin Trillin A New Yorker writer with a wonderfully dry wit. Buy it from Amazon Canada: CDN $16.96 Buy it from Chapters/Indigo Canada: CDN $14.40 Buy it from Amazon U.S.: US $10.40 Buy it from Barnes & Noble: US $16.00

The New American Chef by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg has wonderful insights on ten international cuisines and recipes to match. Buy it from Amazon Canada: CDN $27.91 Buy it from Chapters/Indigo Canada: CDN $23.75 Buy it from Amazon U.S.: US $11.98 Buy it from Barnes & Noble: US $29.95

The Cocktail Chef Dinah Koo, Janice Poon, and John Szabo This is an excellent resource for entertaining recipes. John Szabo, Canada’s first Master Sommelier, earned the title from the internationally recognized Court of Master Sommeliers in 2004. Buy it from Amazon Canada: CDN $22.05 Buy it from Chapters/Indigo Canada: CDN $21.95 Buy it from Amazon [...]