2017 June | Wine of the Month Club's Ultimate Wine-pedia

Import Selection: Merlot, 1990. Vina Del Mar

August 29, 2016

In 1987, with their eyes focused north on the U.S.A., an already very successful Chilean wine company created the Villa del Mar brand. The Mitjans family had been producing wine from French grape varieties transplanted to Chile’s fertile farmlands for over seventy years. Their Viña Valdivieso line, besides including excellent table wines, featured Chile’s largest… read more »

Domestic Selection: Chardonnay, 1989. Josu

August 29, 2016

The Joshua Hill Winery label is a proud premium brand offered by what is, actually, the ninth largest winery in the U.S., Delicato Vineyards. A vintner’s vintner, Delicato is a family owned Central Valley winery, now in its 56th successful year. It operates the second largest single-plant winery in the nation, with a storage capacity… read more »

Adventures in Eating: Penne Pasta with Chicken & Mushrooms

August 29, 2016

When I was a little girl, “pasta” meant spaghetti doused with tasteless bright red tomato sauce and sprinkled with some-kind-of-awful, artificial-tasting parmesan cheese. “Pasta” really wasn’t high on my list of childhood favorites. Years later, friends would rave about this fusilli or that pené, and I would simply tune them out. When I finally came… read more »

Import Selection: Trebbiano D’Abbruzzo, 1991. Citra

August 29, 2016

The Citra Cellars is an association of fourteen member wineries and their affiliated vineyards. A large-scale, efficient interpretation of the winemaking co-operative concept, Citra acquires its grapes from a staggering 10,000 wine-grape growers! These farmers cultivate the fertile, ideal-for-grapes, limestone and loam coastal hills in the province of Chieti, which lies about two hours east… read more »

Domestic Selection: RS Reserve, 1989. William Wheeler

August 29, 2016

Bill and Ingrid Wheeler, owners of the William Wheeler Winery, met while Bill was posted in South America as a U.S. Foreign Service officer. In 1970 they bought a 175 acre Sonoma County ranch. They planted their first vineyard (Cabernet Sauvignon) during 1973-1974 and harvested their first grapes in 1975 (these they “sold off”). They… read more »

Adventures in Eating: Lover’s Cake with Chocolate Frosting

August 29, 2016

I am such a sucker for holidays, particularly Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to tell the people who mean the most to you that you love them. Even the most unsentimental will fall prey to this day of love. Singer James Taylor says, “Shower the people you love with love. Show them… read more »

Import Selection: Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, 1991. Hardys

August 29, 2016

Hardys is Australia’s second largest wine producer. The company dates back to 1953, when Thomas Hardy, just 23 years old, founded Bankside Cellars, three miles from Adelaide in the then “Colony of South Australia”. Exhibiting a pioneering spirit, an excellent head for business and a natural flair for wine making, the energetic young man from… read more »

Domestic Selection: Meritage, 1989. Konocti

August 29, 2016

The Konocti Winery is located in Lake County, to the north and east of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. It lies on an ancient volcanic plateau dominated by California’s largest natural lake, Clear Lake, and the 4,200 foot extinct volcano, Mt. Konocti, from which it derives its name. Lake County’s vineyards date back to the… read more »

Adventures in Eating: Split Pea with Ham or Turkey

August 29, 2016

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, visions of plush armchairs, crackling fires and steaming bowls of homemade soup keep “dancing in my head”. Every year, just before the holiday season begins, I make a silent vow: I will not become a stressed-out maniac. I will not demand perfection when baking. I will not… read more »

Import Selection: Pinot Gris, 1991. Dunavar

August 29, 2016

This wine comes from the largest mountainous wine-growing region in Hungary, Mátraalja, in the foothills of the Mátra mountains. Running from east to west, this mountain range offers ideal viticultural conditions to about 30,000 acres of grape vines which thrive on its sunny, south-facing slopes. There are three major quality strata in Hungarian wines. Vin… read more »