Posted on February 5, 2010 by WCWG
Posted on February 4, 2010 by WCWG
The big game is around the corner, and whether you’re entertaining or bringing your favorite snacks and beverages to your friend’s house, you’ll want to put your best foot forward and pair up your eats with your drinks. You can impress your friends and make them envious of your picks. Besides Peyton and Drew, you’ll be the talk of the party! So let’s get on to some colossal pairings: Read more »
Filed under: Food, Pairings | Tagged: Beer, Chili, Chili Mac's, Home Run Inn, Honky Tonk BBQ, Hooter's, Lagunitas, Lindy's, Nachos, pizza, Ranalli's, Super Bowl, The Censored, Wine, Wings, Wingstop | 1 Comment »
Posted on January 26, 2010 by WCWG
Posted on January 24, 2010 by WCWG
OK, so we’re finally done with Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, etc. (though the Super Bowl is coming up!) and it’s time to undo some of the damage that’s been done and lose some poundage. Hit the gym, pound the pavement, eating right, yoga classes, whatever gets you to sweat it out. But all of this does NOT mean you have to give up some of your favorite beverages; namely wine and beer.
Studies have shown the redeeming health benefits of Read more »
Filed under: Misc | Tagged: Beer, New Year's Resolution, Weight Loss, Wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted on January 23, 2010 by WCWG
I was just recently honored to be the first guest in a new series from the Chicagoist on getting to know your local wine guy. The Chicagoist is a local website that keeps you “in the know” here in Chicago about almost anything- shopping, arts, events, food, pop culture, sports, etc. I was interviewed by Carrie Becker, who came up with some great questions like what I’m drinking Read more »
Filed under: Interviews | Tagged: BYOB, Carrie Becker, Chicagoist, Get to Know Your Local Wine Guy | Leave a Comment »
Posted on January 19, 2010 by WCWG
So it’s that time of year again, when everyone you know sends best wishes for you chalking up another year of life, and you start getting ready for a new one. It’s your Birthday! This is a time to reflect upon the life you’ve lived and to imagine the life you still have yet to live. In that same frame of mind, it’s also a time to reflect upon all that you have tried and still have yet to. This applies to travel, food, wine, experiences, etc. But now it’s time to celebrate, so pick out your favorite meal and your favorite bottle(s) and share them with the people you love the most! I put together a list of some of my personal favorite affordable wines, as well as Read more »
Filed under: Food, Misc, Pairings | Tagged: Argyle, Ba, Barbera, Birthday, Ca di Pian, Colome, Fiano di Avellino, Firehouse Red, Giorgio Rivetti, La Spinetta, Malbec, Merlot, Niepoort, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Tamarack Cellars, Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Villa Maria, Wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted on January 11, 2010 by WCWG
Have you ever read the back label of a bottle of wine and been more confused than before you picked that bottle up? Ever read a wine magazine tasting note or review and said,”What are you smoking, and can I have some?”! As a sommelier, I’ve talked to many people who get so confused or turned off by these, that they just end up asking for a “house” wine, or forego the grape altogether and grab a beer. So what’s the deal with all the big, exotic words used to describe these wines and how do you know you’ll like them? Here’s a guy’s eye view to what to expect: Read more »
Filed under: Misc | Tagged: Beer Advocate, Kenya AA Coffee, sommelier, tasting notes, Wine, Wine Spectator | 1 Comment »
Posted on January 7, 2010 by WCWG
Winter is definitely upon us here in the Windy City and if you aren’t ready, then it’s time to strap on the snowshoes and head to the store. This is the time of year when nobody likes to venture into the cold and stock up their house so you must be prepared. Fortunately, I went on a South Loop spree last week and was ready for this snow session. Here’s a bit on my preparation: Read more »
Filed under: Deals, Misc | Tagged: Best Buy, Binny's, Chandon, Dominick's, Goose Island, Home Depot, Jewel, Printers Row Wine Shop, Sam Adams, South Loop Wine Cellar, Target, Warehouse Liquors, Whole Foods | Leave a Comment »
Posted on December 31, 2009 by WCWG
So the New Year is just around the corner and you still haven’t gotten around to picking that special beverage for your midnight toast. Not a problem! There are many very good, affordable choices out there to be had and sure not to disappoint. Now you can always drop the plastic and pick up a bottle of Champagne, most of which cost over $30 per bottle. But there’s so many bottles of sparkling wine to grab that taste great and cost around $20 or less. Let’s get down to some of these choices: Read more »
Filed under: Misc | Tagged: Argyle, Bisol, Carneros, Champagne, Chandon, Iron Horse, Mionetto, New Year's Eve, Prosecco, Schramsberg, Sekt, Soter, sparkling wine | 1 Comment »
I woke up early this morning, grabbed my vitamins and water, and turned on the Today Show to find Gary Vaynerchuk giving out his Super Bowl wine picks. This comes a day after I gave out my Chicagoland available wines and favorite carryout/delivery spots for pizza, wings and chili. Needless to say, I’m always interested in what @garyvee has to say about pairings, plus he’s pretty entertaining to watch. So here’s what dishes were picked and what to pair with them: Read more »
