In this week’s Scheff’s Table column, I featured my recipe for pasta carbonara made with duck fat. It’s a deliciously decadent dish. Pairing wine with carbonara sauce can be tricky due to the creaminess of the sauce, smoky bacon, and salty cheese flavors. So I usually turn to a fruity, low-tannin red wine with a touch of acidity to cut through those creamy, cheesy, salty and … [Read more...]
Best Wines of 2022
With 2022 in the rearview mirror, I am looking back on the wines that I enjoyed during the year - my top ten favorites from around the world, ranging from French bubbly to Argentine Bonarda. Hands down the best Champagne I enjoyed was Roger Coulon Heri-Hodie 1er Cru Brut Champagne ($43). The Champagne is full-bodied, concentrated and elegant, with fresh floral notes and … [Read more...]
Log Haven Swan Song 2020
For many years I have been a big fan of uber-talented winemaker Rick Longoria, who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting numerous times. And so, I was a bit bummed to learn earlier this year that Rick and his wife Diana had sold his family’s Lompoc, California winery property, label, and inventory. They sold the winery to Brooke and Lindsey Christian of Bethesda, Maryland who have … [Read more...]
Giesen 0% Alcohol Wines
One of the fastest-growing markets in the world of wine isn’t technically wine at all. But the sale of dealcoholized wine rose some 43% in the first half of 2021 according to NielsenIQ, and they say that “Between August 2021 and August 2022, total dollar sales of non-alcoholic drinks in the US stood at $395 million, showing a year-on-year growth of +20.6% If you or some of … [Read more...]
Daou Bodyguard Red Blend
During an excellent dinner at Log Haven restaurant recently, I enjoyed a spectacular red wine blend from Daou Vineyards called Bodyguard. The story behind the name of the wine - Bodyguard - is an interesting and unique one about the experience of brokenness and, ultimately, healing and strength. The story and the lesson of Daou Bodyguard is as follows: “When they were … [Read more...]
Camino Alto Tempranillo
Having recently returned from vacationing in Portugal and Spain, I’ve been revisiting some of the great wines my wife and I enjoyed there, most of which were sinfully inexpensive. One such wine is Bodegas Camino Alto Tempranillo 2019, which sells here in Utah for a measly $9.99, an incredible bang for the wine buck. This beautiful Tempranillo comes from an organic estate in … [Read more...]
Rapido Red Sangiovese
Anyone who reads this column on a regular basis knows that I love a good wine bargain. Who doesn’t? So I am happy this week to introduce you to a fun, inexpensive red wine from Italy called Rapido Red. It sells here in Utah for a mere $11.99. It was the wine bottle label - a couple riding on a red Vespa - that first got my attention at the wine store. It’s an indication of … [Read more...]
An Awesome Argentine Bonarda Bargain
Move over Malbec. Argentina is the planet’s fifth largest wine producer and according to recent numbers, Malbec accounts for about 39% of the red grape varieties cultivated there. So, Malbec gets most of the headlines. But I was surprised to learn that Bonarda - a red wine grape varietal that originated in the Savoie of France and is called Douce Noir there - is Argentina’s … [Read more...]
Best of Park City Wine Festival 2022
Last week’s Park City Wine Festival 2022 was chock full of great wines, spirits, ciders, beers, and more. One of my favorite stops during the Fest was to sample great wines and chat with representatives from California’s Daou Vineyards, a family-owned winery based in California’s Adelaida District in Paso Robles. The Daou story is a very interesting one, covering … [Read more...]
Weingut Messmer Pinot Noir at Weller’s Bistro
When you think of Pinot Noir, you probably think of Burgundy in France, or maybe Oregon, Washington, or California in this country. Maybe New Zealand? But Germany probably doesn’t spring to mind. It didn’t to me, at least. But last week my wife and I were enjoying yet another excellent dinner at Weller’s Bistro in Layton when Jan Weller, the owner, turned us onto a really … [Read more...]