The Certified Wino

Sometimes our first encounters with a wine or a varietal can be the catalyst for our relationship with it down the road. For better or...

One of the most beautiful aspects of my career in hospitality has been building connections with likeminded, equally passionate...

We've talked a ton about wine & food pairings on the blog, and I've noted that creating dessert pairings can be quite the challenge. The...

Here I was thinking conversations on Chardonnay were polarizing...... Zinfandel might just have the golden child beat in that department...

While all the posts in the 27 bottles series are glorified trips down memory lane, this entry feels particularly nostalgic. In my youth...

I think an Aaliyah song said it best: age ain't nothing but a number. BUT age means a little something-something when it comes to wine....

Pool season is in full swing, the grills are out, and I've got the juice you should be sippin' alongside the summer vibes. The catch? We...

One aspect of my NYC trip that I haven't really dived into, for many, many different reasons but all equally puzzling & strange, was this...

While I've never been one to be complacent in my studies or development of my professional skills, a recent dinner series made me realize...

I love a grape that can be equal parts overrated and underrated all at the same time. A grape that can plant their flag and say: "yes,...

I just landed in Chicago from my 5th flight in two weeks as I write this....who the hell am I? A shell of my former self at this point. I...

Y'all know nothing brings me more joy than subverting expectations. When I managed restaurants, I used to blind pour tastes of crisp,...

Get those passports ready, we are flying to Tuscany! Well, technically we'd need to fly into Pisa or Florence first, then drive about...

You feel that static in the air? The sensation of beginning fresh that comes with a new year and the boundless opportunities waiting to...

If you've been keeping up with me on social media, you know I've been preaching the gospel of sparkling wine ALL month long. So much so,...

Do you ever have that moment of guilt about not knowing something or seeing something you feel you should have? When you finally do learn...

Harvest season, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, is ending folks! I’ve gotten the opportunity to work with a few different winemakers...

Fall has had me in a choke hold and I don't want it to let go. Hues of brown, copper, and gold leaves dancing in the wind while I'm...

Some folks like to get away on a holiday from the neighborhood.... others like to keep it chill and find a new beverage to pair with...