ICYMI: My “Local Expert” Wanderlists on Afar

Back when I was a young journalism student earnestly turning in assignments for my early classes, I fell in love with two newly released magazines that not only bucked the trend of dying mastheads by having the audacity to print, but also epitomized the kind of journalism I aspired to. The first was Monocle, with its international-facing reportage and aspirational bent. The second was Afar, which featured the kind of mindful, intelligent travel I yearned for. My favorite article from the first issue was a story where the writer went to Paris to learn how to make baguette. From a Frenchman. I mean: Come. On. Who wouldn’t want to travel and write for that? 

Chilly White Wine for Chilly Temps

Baby, it’s cold outside! When the mercury starts to dip, we are naturally more inclined to heartier, warming reds. You know: chewy Malbecs, bone-warming Cabs, spicy Tempranillos. But what if you prefer white wine?

Vino blanco gets a bad rap during winter months. “It’s for spring,” you say? Bah! Sipping chilled white (especially from a traditionally cooler-climate country like Germany, or Alsace in France) on a cold day might seem counter-intuitive, but many whites are perfectly in sync with the richer, stick-to-your-ribs fare prepared this time of year. Whether you’re pairing it with a hearty stew or just want to snuggle up to a movie on a Tuesday, here are some winter whites that may just stave off SAD.

A Blast From My Wine-selling Past

Look at the baby me sell wine! Or at least try to cover some ground when someone more qualified than myself didn’t show up for the video. ANYWAY, I’m clearly nowhere near the wine education I’m at now, but hell, I think I did a good job… Tell me things! Throw stones! Point fingers and laugh! I’m okay with it all.

Apparently, Hipster Wine Exists

Brooklyn: Hipster petri dish

Lettie Teague of the Wall Street Journal wrote this article about Brooklyn’s “hipster” wine list, and while on the whole it was inoffensive, it got my blood boiling. Why? Because I’m so tired of hipster-trend pieces. 

Keepin’ It Real Simple: My Visual New Years Resolution

Taking a page from one of my favorite wine bloggers out there, I’ve decided to compile a few things that have inspired me of late. Sure I’ve Instagram’d these, or have them sitting on my phone, but just because I’ve snapped the shot doesn’t mean it needs to be forgotten.

The only real resolution I have (cuz let’s face it: I’m not gonna drink and eat less) is to be more mindful.

On Being a Wine Snob

It happened. Somewhere between helping a customer decide between a mind-blowing Sancerre and a staggering Roero Arneis, they looked at me and uttered the words. “You’re a big ol’ wine snob, aren’t you?”

I took pause. Am I?

Balkan Wine Project #WineWednesday

How many of you can say you’ve enjoyed wines from Serbia or Macedonia? Compared to major international wine players like France, Italy and California, the Balkans get short shrift as far as the wine discussion goes.