by Andrew Chalk Lipari, the idyllic island off the north coast of Italy, which for Jeff Bezos is an even more enticing place to yacht than the Amazon, is my kind of wine producing area. Dedicated to wines of place (in the idiom of Randall Grahm) rather than wines of effort. A wine of place expresses its terroir. For Tenuta di Castellaro that is the small island of Lipari, with soils that are sandy, volcanic, deep, fertile and rich in microelements. A climate that is all windy

FROM THE WIRES... A timely cocktail recipe from Tequila Corralejo that’s perfect for match-day entertaining, summer watch parties, tequila trend coverage or cocktail roundups. The Honey & Ash is a smoky and spicy-sweet cocktail made with Tequila Corralejo Reposado, mezcal, honey liqueur, pineapple, fresh lemon and habanero bitters, finished with a dehydrated Tajín pineapple wedge. It’s an easy fit for readers looking for a celebratory tequila cocktail to serve while watchin

by Andrew Chalk You can never get tired going to Burger Schmurger because every month they put their heads together and come up with a Burger of the Month. It's a crazy incantation of how they were feeling, what they were drinking, and who they were with at the time. I just sampled Burger of the Month -- July at a media event and it is a winner! Burger of the Month - July. Mac n' Cheese Burger It is built on the Burger Schmurger double smashburger, a potato bun with American

FROM THE WIRES... New Story-Driven Cocktail Bar & Rooftop Terrace Brings a Fictional New Orleans Love Story to Life Through Drinks, Design & Hospitality NEW ORLEANS — Latter Hospitality Group, the team behind beloved New Orleans destinations including Tujague's, The Bower, and Birdy's, has opened Charles & Julia, a new cocktail-focused concept at Hotel Perle in downtown New Orleans. Located at 757 St. Charles Avenue, the two-level destination blends immersive storytelling, th

Tasting notes at bottom! FROM THE WIRES... TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES UNVEILS EXTREMO MALBEC 2022 IN THE US The most elevated expression of the winery's Ascension Journey is crafted from a single parcel in Gualtallary at 1,650 meters above sea level MENDOZA, Argentina, June 23, 2026. Terrazas de los Andes, a pioneer of high-altitude winegrowing in Mendoza, Argentina since the early 1990s, proudly announces the US release of Extremo Malbec 2022, the pinnacle of its Ascension Journe

FROM THE WIRES... With Memorial Day Weekend coming up, kicking off the unofficial start of summer, to share a seasonal cocktail from Tequila Corralejo that would be a great fit for any MDW or summer entertaining roundups. The Strawberry Black Pepper Smash taps into summer cocktail trends like fresh fruit, easy entertaining, and savory-spicy flavors. Made with Tequila Corralejo Silver, it opens with juicy strawberry and finishes with a subtle peppery bite. It’s an easy war

Tasting note at bottom! FROM THE WIRES.... Prats + Symington is a partnership between Symington Family Estates, one of Portugal's oldest Port producing families, and Bruno Prats, the former winemaker and owner of Chateau Cos d'Estournel in Bordeaux. Together they produce wines from only the finest grapes and favored estates in the Douro since their founding in 1999. The first Prats + Symington wine was 2000 Chryseia which received widespread acclaim. Powerful but elegant and

FROM THE WIRES... Try this unusual expression of the grape if you have not had a 'dry Furmint'. Furmint is the grape and most famous in an ultra-sweet nectar of the Gods named Tokaji. It turns out to express a rich, crisp character, not unlike Pinot Gris from Alsace when vinified dry. TECHNICAL INFORMATION Region: Tokaj Annual Production: 50.000 bottles Winemaker: Gabor Urbán ALC: 14% COLOR: nice bright yellow hinting pure freshness NOSE: a brilliant flowery bouquet of fresh

FROM THE WIRES... PRESS RELEASE Hendy's on Henderson Becomes Dallas' Pre-Match, Watch Party and Post-Match Destination During Summer's International Soccer Tournament Dallas neighborhood destination welcomes fans from around the world with extended hours, match-day viewing, specialty offerings, and the best seats outside the stadium DALLAS, TX (June 17, 2026) – As Dallas prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of international visitors, athletes, and soccer fans this su

by Andrew Chalk Lenz Moser, from the renowned Austrian winemaking family, is well known in the European wine industry. He previously served as CEO of Robert Mondavi Europe before the winery was sold to Constellation Brands. Now he is doing his own thing. This is his new Grüner Veltliner ($20 per 750ml bottle, pictured in 1500ml format), in his New Chapter label. I tasted it and it is a great white wine for our incipient hot Texas summers. Lenz Moser (left) and Max Huber (wine

FROM THE WIRES... American Whiskey Brand Invites Public to Join the Bear Fight and Own a Stake in a Growing Category INTERVENTION... TASTING NOTE by ANDREW CHALK I had a chance to taste a sample and can heartily recommend this single malt whiskey. The nose is seductively sweet with notes of caramel, toffee, clove, and toasted pecans. On the palate it is surprisingly smooth. RALEIGH, NC (FEBRUARY 5, 2026) – Bear Fight Whiskey, the bold award-winning line of American whiskey,

FROM THE WIRES... To celebrate America's upcoming 250th anniversary, James B. Beam Distilling Co. has announced Knob Creek 9 Year Old: Independence Edition, a limited-edition expression of our iconic 9-year-old bourbon featuring a blue wax seal and patriotic red, white, and blue label, joining a commemorative collection alongside Jim Beam and Maker's Mark. Founded in 1992 and named for the Kentucky creek at Abraham Lincoln's childhood home, Knob Creek was created by sixth gen

FROM THE WIRES... Espolòn's Extra Añejo will be available for purchase nationwide in the U.S. and on espolontequila.com (for delivery in select markets), just in time for Father's Day NEW YORK, June 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Espolòn Tequila, one of the fastest-growing tequila brands in the U.S., introduces Extra Añejo, a new release that adds new depth to the brand's portfolio. Produced in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, the expression builds on Espolòn's signature agave-forwa

Photo: Emma Kruch FROM THE WIRES... Blanc de Noir and Rosé debut anchor a new season at the Russian River Estate, with expanded events and a more dynamic culinary program Healdsburg, CA (June 9, 2026) – This summer, Auteur is entering the world of sparkling with a fresh point of view. Guided by its Rogue by Nature spirit, the winery is building on the momentum of its Russian River Estate opening and new Burgundy project, accelerating into a new phase with the debut of its fir

by Andrew Chalk I recently had a chance to meet Davis Bynum winemaker Greg Morthole who took me through a tasting of some of his wines. They are better than ever, comprising Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from numerous vineyards in Sonoma County. Chardonnay First up, two vintages of their Chardonnay. The Davis Bynum 2023 Chardonnay ‘River West Vineyard’, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, CA ($24). And the Davis Bynum 2024 Chardonnay ‘River West Vineyard’, Russian River

FROM THE WIRES... MIGHTYLICIOUS Online Summer Savings: CELEBRATESUMMER10 INDEPENDENCE10 July 4th & Summer-times Gluten Free Recipes Enclosed Available on AMAZON, MIGHTYLICIOUS GF website & retail stores nationwide (Wood-bridge, NJ, JUNE 15, 2026) -- As summer entertaining season kicks into high gear, hosts are looking for easy, delicious ways to satisfy guests with a variety of dietary preferences. Award-winning Mightylicious Gluten Free is helping make summer gatherings a li

I have a suspicion that the Burger Schmurger float has a salvage title FROM THE WIRES... The Dallas burger favorite will once again fire up the grill on a custom parade trailer before welcoming guests to a post-parade celebration DALLAS, TX (June 16, 2026) – Burger Schmurger is bringing the sizzle back to the Lake Highlands Fourth of July Parade, returning for its third consecutive year with a burger-grilling parade trailer, festive giveaways and a community celebration tha

by Andrew Chalk World famous for their Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Caymus Vineyards has expanded its winemaking to embrace other grapes, areas of California, and wine types. Nowhere was this more on display than at a recent tasting at Fort Worth’s luxury Crescent Hotel (more about the hotel here) where I attended as a media guest. We started with Emmolo 2025 Sauvignon Blanc ($25). Grapes hail from Solano County (67%), Lake County (20%), and Napa County (13%). Perhaps most inter

Photo: Maple Hospitality Group FROM THE WIRES... A dazzling evening of sky-high dining and fireworks views across the city from the 49th floor of The National DALLAS, TX (June 11, 2026) – As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Monarch invites guests to commemorate Independence Day this Saturday, July 4th from one of the most spectacular vantage points in the city at Stars, Stripes & Skyline, a highly anticipated Fourth of July celebration that pairs patriotic spirit w

Stephanie McIntyre FROM THE WIRES... Appellation Marlborough Wine Appoints Stephanie McIntyre as Chief Executive Officer FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Marlborough, New Zealand - Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) has announced the appointment of Stephanie McIntyre as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking an important milestone as the organisation continues to strengthen the integrity, visibility and value of Marlborough wine. With over 20 years of experience living and worki

Sagrada Familia is one of the most spectacular buildings created by mankind -- and only took 144 years to finish. FROM THE WIRES... Hotel Arts Barcelona invites guests to discover one of the city’s most remarkable new vantage points: the reimagined Skyline Suites, offering sweeping views of Antoni Gaudí’s iconic masterpiece. The completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ or Torre de Jesús - the tallest and most symbolic element of Gaudí’s vision, will be marked by a historic

FROM THE WIRES... Spring is officially in the air (finally!), and with it comes the traditional German biergarten season – long tables, soft pretzels, sunshine, and of course, great beer. And it doesn’t get more authentic than Paulaner USA. From the crisp and classic Münchner Lager to the citrusy sparkle of Grapefruit Radler, the bright bite of Pils, and the smooth, cloudy finish of Hefe-Weizen, there’s a Paulaner can for every biergarten moment. Whether you’re clinking stein

FROM THE WIRES... New White Wine Portfolio Honors Almost a Century and a Half of History, Heritage, and Innovation in American Winemaking LIVERMORE, Calif. (April 23, 2026) – Wente Family Vineyards, America’s oldest continuously family-owned and operated winery, is proud to introduce Cresta Blanca, a thoughtful revival of one of California’s first and most historic wine labels. Launching today, the collection focuses on a portfolio of white wines that bridge Cresta Blanca’s

by Andrew Chalk Yesterday, I wrote… I have been impressed by South African wines pretty much from my first contact with them. Nowadays they reflect expert winemaking, a God-given climate for grape growing, and good value. Recently, I was acquainted with another of the seemingly endless cast of small, family-run wineries in South Africa when the estimable John Gorman of Southern Starz wrote to me and said, "Oy! You have to try the wines of David Finlayson." "David Finlayson?"