The Wine Idea

ARENI, ARMENIA.  As caves go it’s not the sort to attract attention. There are no souvenir shops on the approach and no dramatic lighting within intended to highlight the kind of … <span class="entry-title-primary">Dropping in on Neolithic Happy Hour</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">Child sacrifice and cannibalism at the world's oldest known winery</span>Read more

There was a time in our wineshop when we took pains to identify wines made with organically farmed grapes or via the method known as biodynamics. And there was good reason … <span class="entry-title-primary">Should you be buying only organic or biodynamic wine?</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">America's Test Kitchen radio</span>Read more

At least once a month we play a game in the wine corner at Formaggio Kitchen that we call three bottle monte. The name is an allusion to three card monte, … <span class="entry-title-primary">Tasting a wine that doesn’t exist</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">America's Test Kitchen Radio</span>Read more

Judging from the questions I field every day in the wine department of Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge and the mail I receive from America’s Test Kitchen Radio listeners, food and wine … <span class="entry-title-primary">A Brine Time Was Had by All: <br/>Choosing the Right Wine for Seafood</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">America's Test Kitchen Radio</span>Read more

Previously, the Cambridge Formaggio Kitchen wine department took care to identify the wines on its shelves that were made from organically or biodynamically farmed grapes and with no — or minimal — … <span class="entry-title-primary">Farewell to the ladybugs</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">If organic and biodynamic certification doesn't guarantee good wine or responsible agriculture, what does?</span>Read more

    It’s a provocative question but not a facetious one.  The thought came to me while having lunch recently with an old friend who was instrumental in making two once-celebrated … <span class="entry-title-primary">Arf!</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">How winemaking resembles dog breeding</span>Read more

A chat with Julia Hallman, general manager at Formaggio Kitchen Cambridge this week about the shelf talkers that I had been busy rewriting.  The time between taking the old ones down and … <span class="entry-title-primary">Confessions of a Shelf Talker</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">How is a wine defined?</span>Read more

I was pouring one white and three red Bordeaux at Central Bottle on  a Friday night a few years ago with the idea of playing a little catch-up on a neglected … <span class="entry-title-primary">Red wine, please.</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">Hold the cream and sugar</span>Read more

I’ll admit to being a little in love with the analytic tool known as the semantic square (aka Boston box).   There’s seduction in the way it gives clarity to certain … How to Speak Wine Bar Now<br/>Read more

“After that we went from one casino to another, not intending to commit any debauchery, but for want of something better to do.”   In the field of playing the field, Giacomo … <span class="entry-title-primary">Memoirs of a wine lover</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">Casanovas aren't what they used to be . . . neither is their wine.</span>Read more

I’m often asked to weigh in on the question of which alcoholic beverage first passed our greedy lips – beer or wine.  Since it’s not a case of needing to have one before you … <span class="entry-title-primary">About that first drink . . .</br></span> <span class="entry-subtitle">Which came first, beer or wine?</span>Read more