That ever-puzzling question of what wine to drink with a chocolate doughnut or two is settled at www.nataliemaclean.com/matcher, where you will find an easy-to-use tool that pairs wines with just about any dish from chicken-feta tostadas to Jell-O. At this award-winning site you also can sign up for Nat Decants, sommelier Natalie MacLean’s free monthly newsletter. And you can access her basic-level wine glossary. But to end the suspense – and tossing coffee aside – the beverage for chocolate doughnuts is either a Banyuls, which is a fortified wine from southern France, or a tawny port. Natalie MacLean is author […]
Social Media and Wine
Food & Wine 5
Of 11 wines on the tasting table, the Col d’Orcia Rosso di Montalcino, a full-bodied, fruity Tuscan red, was Tom Natan’s top choice. Adam Manson hated it. Both have well-trained and -respected palates. Natan is a partner in the Washington-based importer and retailer First Vine. Manson is a co-owner of Veritas, a popular wine bar in Dupont Circle. But the physiological differences in their tongues, coupled with their varied experiences, mean that the same wine tastes different to each of them. To Natan, the big, juicy flavors are luscious. To Manson, they are overwhelming, even bitter. Neither one is right […]
Cellar Tips
Cellar Tips: Have you dreamed of building a cellar? Here are some tips on choosing the right size, structure and budget for you. Listen
Interview
Interview: Don Genova and I chat about buying wine in his All You Can Eat podcast as we walk through a local liquor store. Listen
Queasy Like Sunday Morning
Queasy Like Sunday Morning: What causes hangovers? Are there any cures? A tongue-in-cheek look at the bane of those who enjoy a good glass (or six). Listen
When Food Fights with Wine
When Food Fights with Wine: Matching wine with food can be particularly tough when it comes to the “problem children” of cuisine: vegetables, spicy dishes and fast food. Here are some tips to help you transform these matches into star performers on the table. Listen
Winery Visiting Tips
Winery Visiting Tips: Here are tips on how to get the most from your visits to wineries, from what to take with you to how to taste wine. Listen
Global Warming and Wine
Global Warming and Wine: Whatever your opinion on global warming, it’s certainly a hot topic these days. But how would climate change affect wine? Listen
Wine versus Beer
Wine versus Beer: Here’s a topic to start a pub brawl: is wine better than beer? You know my bias, but I had fun with this tongue-in-cheek topic, looking at various aspects from how wine and beer are made to how they taste. Listen
