The Quest for Cheap PinotBelieve it or not, two years later, Pinot Noir is still riding high on the popularity horse after being thrust into the limelight by the movie "Sideways." Plus, studies have shown that thin-skinned grapes, e.g. Pinot Noir, are even better …
[Drink] Hold The WormFew spirits are more mysterious than mezcal. An outlaw's drink of ill repute, mezcal, like tequila, is made from pure maguey—or agave—liquor. Unfortunately, limited distribution and lax regulation that allowed nasty chemical cocktails to pass themselves off as mescal have …
[Drink] Check Out ChileI'm sure we've all ventured down the import isle at our favorite retailer and perused the South American selections. The first thing you'll notice about these wines is that most of them are really, really cheap, which may lead one …
[Drink] The Champagne of WhiskeysAs we turned around, the liquor-store attendant approached us from behind the counter and reached to the bottom shelf to grab a bottle of whiskey. My friends and I were in Gulf Shores, Ala., for a weekend at the beach. …
[Drink] Bragging RightsNot to toot my own horn or anything, but I have just returned from what I believe to be one of the finest trips to wine country anyone has ever taken. One of the perks of having a career in …
[Drink] National BeerSpicy food provides one of the only excuses for drinking domestic beer, which is generally watery with a metallic tinge. But when you're sitting outside eating spicy chicken wings on a Sunday afternoon, it almost has to be domestic, doesn't …
[Drink] Mixin' It UpOften, it's hard to decide on just one type of wine. Sure, if you're shopping for yourself, you can go for what you like or take a chance on something unusual, but if you're choosing a wine for other folks …
[Drink] The Forces of Light and DarknessBetween my freshman and sophomore year of college, I lived in Harlem, owned a MetroCard, ran in Central Park everyday and found out quickly that I didn't need a fake ID to buy beer—as long as I projected enough New …
[Wine] What Do You Wanna Drink When You Grow Up?You know how some of those interior-design magazines frequently feature "designer v. knock-off" stories, where one photo boasts a room full of original designs worth thousands of dollars, and another photo shows virtually the same room, but with copycat stuff …
[Wine] Off The Beaten PathIn most aspects of our lives, we tend to stick to what we know. When shopping for wine, most of us would much rather buy what we're familiar with rather than run the risk of getting something we may end …
[Wine] Worth The MoneyHow often have you gazed upon really pricey wines on a wine list or at a retailer and thought, "It can't be that good." Well, it can. Sometimes it's worth every penny. Of course, the old saying "you get what …
Summer Brew CrewThe summer is in full swing, and if the heat doesn't falter, it'll be a long road through August. Of course, one way to stop sweating is to start drinking (hydration is important), and if you'd like a refreshing, seasonal …
[Liquor] Shooting The BoozeMany of us have suffered through a night where we stoop to liquor and dark lighting to lick our wounds and rebuild our faith in life and love. Unfortunately, there are precious few road maps to the potential scumminess of …
[Wine] Sun-Kissed Grass and CitrusBefore my days as a devoted mother of the most precious baby girl in the world, it was not unusual to find me (after work, of course) planted on a barstool somewhere around town. Yes, a social creature was I, …
[Wine] The New Face of ChardonnayWhen Merlot was such a big deal back in the early '90s, I didn't think it was such a big deal. When Pinot Grigio began its run en vogue in the early 2000s, I once again allowed the bandwagon to …