The wine appreciation and education resource
What’s new:
October 20, 2024
New video on my YouTube channel. See “Cider. Apples in a glass” about an apple wine, the beverage that has delighted people worldwide for centuries.
October 15, 2024
The coming weeks bring many dates for celebrating with champagne lovers!
October 15 – National Champagne Day in the USA.
October 16 – World Champagne Day.
October 25 – Global Champagne Day.
If you would like to find out more about Champagne, please see my updated and extended article about Champagne and videos on my YouTube channel.
October 4, 2024
Let’s add one more lady to the colorful collection. We already have the White Lady and Blue Lady, and now it’s time for the Pink Lady.
More about the cocktail in the new article: Pink Lady.
October 2, 2024
New video on my YouTube channel. See Cocktail Aviation about a forgotten yet reborn American classic.
September 23, 2024
New video on my YouTube channel. See Cocktail Tequila Sunrise about the cocktail with a short recipe but a long history, which skyrocketing popularity can be credited to rock ‘n’ roll.
September 14, 2024
New video on my YouTube channel. See Jerez – Xerуz – Sherry about a Spanish fortified wine wine that’s remarkable in many ways. The unique and extraordinary process behind its production gives Jerez its unparalleled and complex taste. Jerez is also a wine that connects you to history — you could share it with an Englishman who lived a hundred years ago, quite literally, without it costing you all the world money. Part of the special charm of Jerez lies in this living connection to the past, beyond its inherent taste qualities.
September 8, 2024
New video on my YouTube channel. See The Mojito Cocktail about one of the most popular long drinks on the rum base.
August 24, 2024
New video on my YouTube channel. See Crémant – shy sisters of Champagne about a group of French (mostly French) sparkling wines produced in regions other than Champagne, but made using the same Traditional Method as Champagne.
August 18, 2024
New video on my YouTube channel. See Hemingway Daiquiri or Papa Doble about the history of adapting the Daiquiri cocktail to Hemingway’s taste preferences, and the story about Hemingway’s cherished bar in Florida, where we can virtually drink alongside the legendary writer. And, of course, the recipe.
August 10, 2024
New video on my YouTube channel. See Tequila about the Mexican spirit that is produced from blue agave.
August 9, 2024
Do you love a good sparkling wine but aren’t a fan of Champagne’s insane prices? Looking for high-quality bubbles with a bit more diversity? Consider turning your attention to Crémant.
Crémant refers to a group of French (mostly French) sparkling wines produced in regions other than Champagne, but made using the same Traditional Method as Champagne.
More about Crémant in the new article: Crémant – shy sisters of Champagne.
July 28, 2024.
This week we celebrate:
August 1 – World Albarino Day.
More about this grape variety in the article.
August 1 – International India Pale Ale (IPA) day
August 2 – International Beer Day. More about beer in the articles Introduction to brewing.
July 25, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See Aperol and Aperol Spritz about the most popular bitter in Italy, and the very popular summer cocktail on its base.
July 18, 2024.
July 19, we celebrate Daiquiri Day. See the new video on my YouTube channel about the history of the creation and the recipe of the Daiquiri cocktail, one of the cornerstones of classic cocktails.
July 16, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See Melon de Bourgogne and its Avatar Muscadet about an ancient Burgundy variety that fell out of favor in its homeland but found a deserving new home in the neighboring Loire Valley. Loire winemakers produce pure varietal wine from Melon de Bourgogne, known as Muscadet. Under this name, the grape is well-known among modern wine lovers.
July 10, 2024
Melon de Bourgogne is an ancient Burgundy variety that fell out of favor in its homeland but found a deserving new home in the neighboring Loire Valley. Loire winemakers produce pure varietal wine from Melon de Bourgogne, known as Muscadet. Under this name, the grape is well-known among modern wine lovers.
More about this grape variety in the new article: Melon de Bourgogne and its Avatar Muscadet.
July 3, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See Gin and Tonic about one of the oldest, simplest, and most popular gin-based cocktails in the world.
June 28, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See Valpolicella – Recioto, Amarone, Ripasso. To the last drop.
about the Italian wine Valpolicella, the techniques that allow making four different types of wine from the same grape, and how the urge to extract every bit from grape skins can yield surprisingly tasty results when done skillfully.
June 24, 2024
Morning Glory Fizz is a cocktail created to help night owls survive the morning onslaught and make early birds even more cheerful.
More about the cocktail in the new article: Morning Glory Fizz.
June 19, 2024.
June 19 is World Martini Day.
See the new video on my YouTube channel about Martini, one of the most popular cocktails in the world.
June 17, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See the story of Mary Pickford cocktail named after one of the most famous actresses of the silent film era.
June 11, 2024.
June 11, we celebrate World Gin Day. See the new video on my YouTube channel about the history of the gin origin, its influence on people’s fate, the technology of production and gin types, and how to choose the proper gin.
June 9, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See the story of Kir, the cocktail born in Burgundy, crafted from entirely Burgundian ingredients: Aligoté white wine and blackcurrant liqueur known as crème de cassis.
June 7, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See the story of Aligoté, the lesser-known offspring of Burgundian vineyards.
May 25, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See the story of Swamp Water, the cocktail that was used for Chartreuse promotion in the USA.
May 16, 2024.
Today, on May 16th, we celebrate Chartreuse Day.
See new video Chartreuse. The Elixir of Longevity with Four Hundred Years of History about this unique liqueur on my YouTube channel.
May 16, 2024.
Today, on May 16th, we celebrate Mimosa Day.
See new video Mimosa and Buck’s Fizz about this cocktail on my YouTube channel.
May 14, 2024
On May 16th, we celebrate Mimosa Day.
More about the history, different variants of this cocktail, and its recipe in the new article: Mimosa and Buck’s Fizz.
May 9, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See the story of Pisco Sour, the most popular cocktail on the Pisco base, and the subject of international debates between Peru and Chile.
May 6, 2024
About the cocktail named after the main character of Oscar Wilde’s novel in the new article: Dorian Gray.
May 5, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See the story of Pisco, a type of brandy produced by both Chile and Peru, and the subject of international scandals between these two countries.
May 1, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See the story of Tannat, a France-originated red grape variety that has found its second motherland in Uruguay.
April 26, 2024.
New video on my YouTube channel. See the history of the creation and the recipe of the Bee’s Knee cocktail.
April 25, 2024
The Absinthe Sour, a cocktail for absinthe and sour cocktails enthusiasts. More about this cocktail in the new article: Absinthe Sour.
April 12, 2024.
Great news! I’ve launched YouTube channel focusing on stories about wines, spirits, and cocktails. See my series of five episodes about Champagne.
March 25, 2024
The renowned Sauternes, the white pearl of Bordeaux, holds the prestigious title of being the finest sweet wine globally, and rightfully so. Despite the waning interest in sweet wines, Sauternes continues to maintain its esteemed reputation. More about contributors to the distinctive taste and elevated price of Sauternes in the new article: Sauternes. Gold of Bordeaux.
March 5, 2024
On March 5th, we celebrate Absinthe Day.
Absinthe, also known as the green fairy or green muse, has gathered more legends, political campaigns, government bans, and misinformation than any other drink. More about absinthe and its intriguing in the new article: Absinthe.
February 29, 2024
Let’s delve into barrels and oak, understanding their purposes, what they impart to wine, and how to consider the oak influence when choosing wine. More about oak and beyond in the new article: Vine and Oak.