Cellar Notes

Reds and whites from Southern Italy are surprisingly good choices for hearty winter meals.

Spain's most famous region, Rioja, is a versatile choice for winter reds and whites.

Stoke the fire, open up a good book, and pour yourself a glass of port.

Everybody is looking for advice on good buys for bubbly wine. Here is our list of recommendations at all price points.

Bottles of wine make great holiday gifts, and we have a great shopping list for you. Print it up and head out to your favorite wine merchant.

December is a big season for kosher wines, which have been getting better and better.

We agree, Vermentino is one of Italy's best whites, and very easy to like.

We hadn't thought of it before but viognier definitely belongs on the Thanksgiving table, with its rich flavors, good acidity, and versatility.

With Thanksgiving just a week away, we recommend putting Pinot Noir on the table. Here are three choices that are quite affordable.

Hugh has developed strong opinions about aging wine after going through a tasting of aged First Growth Bordeaux. Most of the wines were far over the hill and left him wondering how they would have been at 30 years old rather than 50. His conclusion is that many collectors hold on to their wines far too long and miss the moment of maximum enjoyability.

We've paid a lot of attention to Maryland's vine reds, but these whites shine.

Can any wine beat Chianti for enhancing the pleasures of the autumn table?

The autumn is the perfect season to try out a few hard apple ciders.

Easily overlooked, the wines of Washington State deserve your attention.

If you're in the market for a great white wine with character and body, Verdicchio is your best bet.

The deep south of France may not be as chic as Paris, but their wines are super.

For dedicated beer drinkers 'tis the season for the legendary Oktoberfest.

Joel Gott wines are known for budget-friendly prices, but how good are they?

Continuing with our French theme, our friend Franck Agostini has imported a bevy of new vintages from the Loire Valley for you to try.

If you can't get to France this year, at least you can replicate the pleasure of sipping wine in a French café.

Beaujolais is like everybody's favorite buddy: approachable, rewarding, informal and so very versatile. The "Cru" Beaujolais are among the best.

If you want all that great chardonnay flavor but none of the oak, try these delicious unoaked versions.

There's a hot new category in beer these days and it's all about being sour.

These flavor packed whites from the south of France deserve a bigger audience. And check out the values!

Summer's here and the time is right for rosé wines. Here's a handful of suggestions.

Not all delicious pinot noir comes from Burgundy. Here are three winners that hail from around the world.

We think one of the best ways to keep simple everyday wines around is to go the bag-in-a-box route. They're surprisingly good!

These light, flavorful reds are perfect for summer drinking, and go particularly well with grilled and barbecued food.

The beautiful pink rosés of France are perfect for this time of year, and Hugh has found a collection of winners.

One of Al's favorite wines, Valpolicella may be built on the light side, but it is packed with flavor and "la dolce vita" character.