Category: Sparkling Wine

Ultramarine: California’s First Cult Sparkling Wine
How exclusive is Ultramarine, the single-vineyard sparkling wine made by winemaker Michael Cruse? Well, the wine was first released in

Vinography Unboxed: Week of 1/15/23
Hello and welcome to my weekly dig through the pile of wine samples that show up asking to be tasted.

The Flavor of Luxury: What Does Cristal Taste Like?
I occasionally have strangers regularly confess to me, with more than a little embarassment, that they don’t really like Champagne.

Prosecco At its Finest: Highlights From My Recent Trip
In early May, at the invitation of the Consorzio di Tutela Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG I returned to the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene

You Think You Know Prosecco? Wait Until You Meet Sui Lieviti
Prosecco is about to give the world’s pét-nats a serious run for their money. Yes, you read that right: Prosecco.

Bottles of Dear Old Blighty: A Deep Tasting of English Wine
For the longest time, my British friends have been bragging about their wines. Not the wines they’ve been drinking, mind

Vinography Unboxed: Week of 2/6/22
Hello and welcome to my weekly dig through the pile of wine samples that show up asking to be tasted.

Vinography Unboxed: Week of 11/14/21
Hello and welcome to my weekly dig through the pile of wine samples that show up asking to be tasted.

Vinography Unboxed: Week of 7/18/21
Hello and welcome to my weekly dig through the pile of wine samples that show up asking to be tasted.

The Best Pink Prosecco for Your Fabulous Post-Pandemic Frivolity
Many of us have reason to celebrate, or will soon, as the pandemic gradually recedes from immediate concern and we

Vinography Unboxed: Week of 11/15/20
Hello, and welcome to my periodic dig through the samples pile. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of

The Doyenne of California Sparkling Wine Steps Down
After 42 vintages, 30 of which were as the founding winemaker and CEO of Domaine Carneros, Eileen Crane (seen above

Vinography Unboxed: Week of 12/16/18
Hello, and welcome to my periodic dig through the samples pile. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of

Vinography Unboxed: Week of December 24, 2017
Hello, and welcome to my periodic dig through the samples pile. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of

Why You Should Pay More for Champagne (And What to Buy When You Can’t)
Valentine’s day. Easter. Halloween. New Year’s Eve. What do all these holidays have in common? They each drive some of

Vinography Unboxed: Week of December 10, 2017
Hello, and welcome to my periodic dig through the samples pile. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of

Vinography Unboxed: Week of December 20, 2015
Hello, and welcome to my periodic dig through the samples pile. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of

50 Years of American Sparkling Wine: The Schramsberg Odyssey
The famous sign that welcomes the world to Napa Valley hosts a quote by author Robert Louis Stevenson: “…and the

Small is Beautiful: The Champagnes of Savart
The famous designers Charles and Ray Eames, in the employ of the then young company named IBM, once created a