Big Splurges $75+, Italian Wine, Summer Love, Tastings

Ten Wine Discoveries To Buy Now

OR, HOW WE SPENT [PART OF] OUR SUMMER VACATION Last Night's Pour of Acinore Like most wine lovers, we have favorite bottles that we return to time and again. From Puglia, two exquisite Primativos: Acinore and Rinforzo Primitivo Salento. From Napa, Edict and Burgess [a 2024 discovery] Cabernet Sauvignon. And from Trader Joe's by way… Continue reading Ten Wine Discoveries To Buy Now

Big Splurges $75+, Italian Wine, Tastings, Travel

A [Short] Guide to Brunello di Montalcino: Great Wines, Great Time

After spending three delightful days in Umbria, we drove two hours north to Tuscany. While the charms of Tuscany were never a secret, the region rocketed to the top of everyone's Italian bucket list following the 1996 publication of Frances Mayes' uplifting, romantic memoir, "Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy." The book remained… Continue reading A [Short] Guide to Brunello di Montalcino: Great Wines, Great Time

Buys $25 and under, Shops + Shows, Tastings

Taking Flights at Uva Wine Bar

Last month we reported on Uva, the new self-service wine bar in Mashpee, [Cape Cod] which opened after two years of construction and permitting delays. This lively spot is a welcome addition to the less-than-stellar wine offerings in our part of the Cape, and it's giving the traditional cafe and wine bar Trevi a run… Continue reading Taking Flights at Uva Wine Bar

Buys $25 and under, Buys under $75, Tastings

VinoDuo’s Top 12 Wines of 2024

We had the great pleasure of re-visiting the Temecula Valley AVA in early 2024, so our 'Best Of' review is colored by our delightful experience in that lesser-known Southern California wine region. But our Top 12 list is also dotted with wines from France, Italy, Spain, and Australia. Some favorites are old friends, like the… Continue reading VinoDuo’s Top 12 Wines of 2024

Italian Wine, Lisa's Whites, Tastings

Why Pecorino d’Abruzzo Deserves Your Attention

When wine lovers hear "Abruzzo" they think Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, the popular powerhouse red from the Italian region of Abruzzo. When chefs hear "Pecorino," they think of Pecorino Romano, the cheese perfectly suited to grating over home-style Italian meals. But after a recent wine tasting, when VinoDuo hears "Pecorino d'Abruzzo" we'll now think, "Oh, that zingy… Continue reading Why Pecorino d’Abruzzo Deserves Your Attention

Tastings, Travel

Top Temecula Wineries: Insights from VinoDuo and Wine Enthusiast

Everyone's Re-visiting Temecula! In February 2024, VinoDuo returned to Temecula, a small-ish wine region south of LA that we first visited in the early 2000s. We found a lively, expanding wine culture whose growers, grapes, and production stand in marked contrast to the mega regions of Napa and Sonoma. Amid the familiar Cabs and Sauvignon… Continue reading Top Temecula Wineries: Insights from VinoDuo and Wine Enthusiast

Big Splurges $75+, Red; Mostly Napa Cabs, Tastings

Pine Ridge Napa Cab ’19 Smokes the Competition in Five-Wine Tasting

When friends from California came calling this summer, we made them feel right at home with a casual tasting of 2020 and 2021 releases of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. We paired two lesser-known producers with a couple of Napa superstars but when those four didn't completely delight, we hastily added a 2019 also drawn from… Continue reading Pine Ridge Napa Cab ’19 Smokes the Competition in Five-Wine Tasting