The Wine Idea

That’s Stanley Tucci (left) and Anthony Shaloub as a pair of devoted but mismatched brothers running an Italian restaurant in the 1996 film Big Night. Primo (Shaloub) is a gifted chef who longs to … Babette’s Big NightRead more

Yes is welcoming. Yes is affirming. In negotiations, yes is the thing we strive to get to. Sell wine in a retail venue and you quickly learn that frequent , enthusiastic … Pin Meets BalloonRead more

We called it the wine corner, though it was really more of a nook, or maybe a just a crevice.  Nonetheless, many exceptionally well-made and interesting wines called it home, as … Hello — We Must be GoingRead more

  Armed with all the weaponry in the arsenal of amour, he presses his suit. She, with an eye on the history of this particular species with her own, is naturally wary. … Improbable LovesRead more

It’s hardly normal for me, your wine, to write this way to the person who does me the honor of being my consumer.  After all, to be drunk and drunk appreciatively … Can We Talk?Read more

The universe, it seems, is a one way street. From the Big Bang to whatever may be its final state, it advances in one direction only: from the present to the … <span class="entry-title-primary">Wine’s Arrow</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">This way only, please.</span>Read more

Wine may well be the original International Man of Mystery. Since wine isn’t (and can’t be) made everywhere, it must travel from often remote locales and through many hands to arrive … What Price is Right?Read more

To judge from the conversations I have with friends, colleagues and Formaggio Kitchen clientèle, something called balance is considered a desirable trait to discover in a wine.  It seems reasonable enough, … A Question of BalanceRead more

As we prepare to close out a year like no other with a holiday season like no other, it’s a good time to think about the meaning of gifts and what’s … Bundles of JoyRead more

Dear Santa, It’s the night before Christmas! We can’t believe it’s been a whole year since your last visit. So much has happened. We’ve gone vegan. And you, we hear, married … Like No Other Night Before ChristmasRead more

The national authorities responsible for such things have strict rules about what can be said on a wine label. But there’s always room for creativity, and it can be hard to … Twisted, Gnarled, Thick of TrunkRead more