I am in Chiavari, found on the Italian Riviera and best known for its chair-making, lace and silk production. However, one of my very favorite importers of wine to the US, Neil Rosenthal, represents a winemaker here named Pierluigi Lugano, and it is he, along with the Bisson Enoteca/winery, that I am here to see. Pierluigi started Bisson in 1978, … Read More

I was privileged to have the opportunity to taste through many wines at wineries, oenoteccas (wine bars) and restaurants while in Piedmonte, from some tremendous producers like Rinaldi, Ratti, Marchesi di Barolo, Bovio, Chiarlo, Gaja and Pio Cesare. I have really fallen in love with their complexity, purity of flavors and fine balance. The reds make terrific pairings for many … Read More

It is the light.  Beautiful, glorious streams of light pierce through the broken clouds and reflect off of the glistening airport tarmac.  This is the most striking thing that I notice upon arrival in Milan, Italy.  I am gearing up for a journey that will take me through some of the greatest wine regions on this planet and I am … Read More

I recently had the opportunity to compete in a gin cocktail competition.  The parameters were pretty straight forward – make the best original drink that you can using Bombay Sapphire gin as the base liquor.  Last year I was lucky enough to win a trip to Las Vegas to represent Charleston in the national mix-off competition.  After spending three days … Read More

  Sometimes there is a direct correlation between the pleasure I receive from a wine and the obscurity of its grape or origin.  Sommeliers have a bad name for being too finicky and snobbish about what they drink, but most of my colleagues in this industry are really pretty straight-forward. If it’s new and something you haven’t tasted before, it’s … Read More