by Andrew Chalk Most winemakers' lives are a life of constraints: The existing vineyards, the existing grapes, above all, the conventional wisdom. A few break free and set the conventional wisdom for the next generation. Pepe Raventós is one of the latter. In the high Penedes region of northeastern Spain, geographically distant and culturally opposite to cosmopolitan Barcelona. This is a remote land of hills and low yields, a landscape almost bereft of symbols of modernity, w

Caribe has no pretentions but is popular with locals by Andrew Chalk A funny thing happened on the way to lunch in Miami. There is something wrong with Uber's database. Ask for a cab to Islas Canarias Restaurant , one of Miami's most famous Cuban restaurants, and it selects the location of Caribe , an unrelated Cuban restaurant. I thanked my Uber driver as he dropped me, not realising where I was. First, I tried to get back to where I wanted to be. Since Uber thought I wanted

FROM THE WIRES... There are hotels that follow a destination, and there are those that quietly redefine it. March 2026 | There is a particular, sun-drenched nostalgia carved into Mallorca's western edge, a landscape of vertical drama that, in the 1960s, became the stage for the Mediterranean’s most storied era of glamour. Linen suits. Wooden speedboats. A jet-set world discovering the slow theatre of the Balearic terraced cliffs. Against this backdrop, where the Serra de Tram

FROM THE WIRES... Craig Wilmer Named Executive Estate Chef for Auteur Wines Michelin-star pedigreed chef will shape elevated tasting experiences for the acclaimed winery Healdsburg, CA (February 26, 2025) – Bringing a new level of innovation and creativity to its culinary program, Auteur today announced Craig Wilmer will join the winery as executive estate chef. Known for his forward-thinking cuisine and use of wild, foraged and local ingredients, the lauded chef will advan

Poderi Gianni Gagliardo by Andrew Chalk Stefano Gagliardo is part of the sixth generation that is running Poderi Gianni Gagliardo in Italy’s Piedmont region. He came to town recently and presented the wines that are available in the US market. Some Background The estate was founded in 1847 by the Colla family and known as the Colla family estate, or Paulo Colla Winery. It started producing Barolo wines in 1961 from vineyards in La Morra under a fourth generation member also

FROM THE WIRES... Some bottles don’t need reinventing—they just need the right moment. Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port (SRP $29/750ml) is both timeless and entirely of-the-moment—a wine that moves effortlessly from heritage to after-hours indulgence. For too long, Port has been confined to ceremony and the end of the meal. Today, a new generation of drinkers and bartenders are rediscovering how vibrant, versatile, and undeniably social this category can be. Six Grapes lea

by Andrew Chalk I found this in my Texas cellar and decided to quaff it. Wow! What an impressive wine. Lots of complex interwoven fruit but, most impressively, a grippy texture on the palate. Described expansively as Bordeaux style on the back label this is 47% Tempranillo, 47% Merlot, and 6% Tannat. Nothing about the oak regimen. Rancho Loma Vineyards (RLV) has gone, a casualty of the perils of making wine in Texas. It certainly wasn't an inability to make good wine. I have

FROM THE WIRES... Born in Ireland and made solely with organic ingredients and eight botanicals, Boatyard Double Gin (SRP: $39.99) is a London-style gin crafted with Martinis in mind. Bottled at 46% ABV, the “double” refers to Boatyard’s signature distillation approach, placing juniper at both the start and end of the process for a more pronounced, structured flavor profile. As a certified B Corp, Boatyard Distillery pairs this craft-led precision with a clear commitment to r

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... Subterra Introduces New California Wine Expressions 3 Badge Beverage Corporation’s Subterra Wines Expands Lineup with Approachably Priced Wines Crafted to Meet Today’s Consumer Trends SONOMA, California (February 27, 2026) – Subterra , part of the 3 Badge Beverage Corporation portfolio, is expanding its California lineup with the release of four new wine expressions—an evolution designed to meet today’s consumer preferences for approachable, versatile wi

Tujague's 1894 FROM THE WIRES... In 2026, Tujague’s in New Orleans’ French Quarter marks 170 years of operation. I plan a visit! The special menu looks like a piece of history! Founded in 1856, it is one of the longest-running dining institutions in the United States . Tujague's First Floor Dining Room Beyond longevity, what makes Tujague’s compelling from a culinary perspective is how its Creole cooking has been sustained through consistency rather than reinvention. Preser

FROM THE WIRES... Beringer Vineyards Celebrates its 150 th Anniversary with Calendar of Festivities St. Helena, CA—February 25, 2026— Beringer Vineyards, California’s longest continuously operating winery, marks its 150 th year with a calendar of immersive experiences, seasonal festivities, and participation in marquee wine events across the country. Founded in 1876 by brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer, the St. Helena, CA, estate pioneered gravity fed winemaking, was am

FROM THE WIRES... Move beyond your expectations of easy drinking Portuguese wine with Dow’s Vale do Bomfim White 2024 and Dow’s Vale do Bomfim Red 2023 (SRP $15). Crafted in Portugal’s renowned Douro Valley, these vibrant table wines from Symington Family Estates offer more than just remarkable value—they tell the story of a family deeply committed to protecting their land. In the heart of the Douro—where steep terraces trace the winding river and generations of growers

by Andrew Chalk Napa Valley is firmly established as one of the world’s leading regions for Cabernet Sauvignon. Every vintage, dozens of producers collect accolades and medals that reaffirm that status. The valley also commands global respect for Chardonnay, particularly from cooler subregions such as Carneros. Elevating another grape to comparable recognition would be a formidable task amid the constant noise of global wine commentary. Doubly so if the grape is Merlot—a vari

FROM THE WIRES... ZEBULON, NC (MARCH 10, 2026) – Next Century Spirits and Gabriel Iglesias, one of America’s most successful stand-up comedians, announce the launch of Pocho Fino Tequila , a Mexican-American tequila authentically crafted with heritage in every drop and family in every toast. Refined enough to sip neat, yet real enough to pair with tacos at 2AM, Pocho Fino is made for nights that don’t end when the clock says they should. The portfolio launches with a smooth

FROM THE WIRES... Since 2016, Rootstock has been the premier annual celebration of the finest wines being grown in the lone star state. This year, every Texas wine at the festival will be made from grapevines native to France! In keeping with our French theme, you'll be treated to excellent chefs serving authentic cheeses, breads, crepes, lobster rolls, and more. We're also launching an educational session for those who want to compare French wines and their Texan counterpart

Early Bird Tickets ON SALE NOW! The festival everyone’s still talking about is COMING BACK — bigger, bolder, and better than ever, with a NEW VIP experience. Saturday, May 30th from 10 am - 8 pmthe Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, TX What’s pouring in 2026: 40+ award-winning North Texas wines to taste BRAND NEW VIP EXPERIENCE — exclusive lounge, catered bites & bonus pours (VIP is NEW this year!) Live jazz music Local shopping + artisan vendors Stunning floral installati

Video here... FROM THE WIRES... Wente Family Vineyards Launches National Social Media Internship Competition The 143-Year-Old Legacy is Handing Over the Mic LIVERMORE VALLEY, Calif. (March 5, 2026) – Wente Family Vineyards , America’s longest continuously operated family-owned winery, announced today the launch of its first-ever Social Media Internship Competition . In a bold move to bridge heritage with the modern zeitgeist, the 5th generation of the Wente family is search

by Andrew Chalk Actually, this is an unofficial attempt to use the Frequent Miler (FM) method to get what they call their “first year value” of the Bilt Palladium Card . We find that the first year value is $3,149, exceeding even the value of the former leader, the American Express Platinum Card, at $2,630. However, redeeming every bit of this value requires a spend of roughly $35,788 during the year in order to generate enough of the internal currency known as Bilt Cash (he

Tortilla Soup, by Dean Fearing. The dish includes smoked chicken, jalapeño, cilantro cream, grated white sharp cheddar, cabbage, radish, avocado, and tortilla chips. by Andrew Chalk According to CultureMap , the father of the New Southwestern Cuisine is Stephan Pyles. I would be the first to praise Stephan’s leading role, but I don’t think even he would claim to be its “father”. CultureMap writer Celestina Blok should have checked her facts, as even a cursory Google search

With the arrival of sparkling wine in the state we can now celebrate this success by Andrew Chalk Jonathan Cristaldi, USA wine correspondent for Decanter magazine, began his own blog this year and just released his list of Top 100 Wines of 2025 . Be aware that the list excludes Napa, where Decanter Magazine has first claim on his writing, but represents everything else: California, Oregon. Washington, Virginia, New York, elsewhere, and Texas! To put the results in context, he

Photo: Instagram. Bilt, or Bilked? Komodo Dallas at The Epic Falls Flat One of the advertised perks of the Bilt credit card is access to cardholder-only dining events. In January, I signed up for my first: a three-course prix fixe dinner at Komodo, the Miami-born Asian fusion concept now operating in Deep Ellum. It will also be my last. Would I return to Komodo? No. Would I sign up for another Bilt “exclusive” at a restaurant I hadn’t already visited? Absolutely not. Arrival:

Domäne Wachau Comes to Dallas by Andrew Chalk Austria continues to fly under the global wine radar — particularly in the United States. In sheer volume, the country produces barely a quarter of what California giant Gallo sells annually. Its focus is not scale but specialization: Grüner Veltliner accounts for roughly one-third of vineyard plantings, Riesling about five percent, and Zweigelt around thirteen percent. Together, these three grapes represent half of Austria’s tota

FROM THE WIRES... As mindful drinking continues to shape how we reach for a glass of wine, many consumers are embracing a dry-ish January – a more balanced approach that favors moderation without giving up the pleasure of a beautifully made wine. Brancott Estate Flight Song wines (SRP $14) has launched a Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio at 9%ABV, created precisely for this moment. From the pioneers who introduced Marlborough’s first Sauvignon Blanc to the world from New Ze