Category Archives: Uncategorized

Volcano Wine Tornatore, Etna Rosso, Sicily Italy 2016

Posted on May 8, 2018 by waywardwine

The sun baked, windswept volcano of Eta looms above Sicily like a black hat. On bare topsoil vines roll down the slope. Since 1865, the Tornatore family have grown grapes and olives on the North East slopes than any family. … Continue reading →

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A Chill Carmenere Wine from Paso Robles Dubost 2014

Posted on May 1, 2018 by waywardwine

Carménère: a wine grape that Bordeaux bailed on generations ago has reared its head in Chile, Italy, and eclectic hot pockets of California. Today’s Carménère comes from Cali and the hands of Dubost winery. The Dubost family hailed from France … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged barrels, Bordeaux, California, Carmenere, drink, Dubost, France, Paso Robles, travel, wine | 2 Comments

A Winey Whiskey For The Rest Of Us: Glenmorangie Nectar dOr Highland Single Malt Whiskey Scotland

Posted on March 27, 2018 by waywardwine

Hi wine nerds! Don’t like Whiskey? Or want something more than your piddly 20% ABV Port? Well, you’re in luck. Scotland’s Glenmorangie, having perfected the 12 Year Single Malt, happens to work within Moët Hennesey’s empire. With that extra bank, Glen could get bored and buy wine barrels to finish their spirits. This ruffled Scottish feathers a few decades ago. But today, distilleries have another spice in their cupboard. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bordeaux, Bourbon, dessert, drink, Food, France, Highland, pairings, Sauternes, Sauvignon blanc, Scotch, Scotland, Semillon, spirits, Whiskey, Whisky, wine, Yquem | Leave a comment

Mellen Meyer Oregon Bubbly

Posted on March 19, 2018 by waywardwine

Can Oregon wine catch Champagne’s coattails? Our climate is too warm, our soil too rich, and our winemakers too impatient, but our grapes are Pinot and Chardonnay. So, why not try?

Well, most Oregon bubbly from Argyle to Argyle tastes nice, dry, but a bit fruity and simple. That sexy, nutty, chalky, dry, autolytic character that Champagne can have seemed elusive. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bubbly, Champagne, chardonnay, drink, Food, France, nature, Oregon, pinot noir, Sparkling wine, travel, Willamette Valley, wine | 3 Comments

Chinese Wine Review: Chateau Rongzi 2013 Shanxi China

Posted on February 19, 2018 by waywardwine

Picture China. Depending on where your from, a collage of pandas, red flags, chopsticks, tea, rice bowls, Mao portraits, and bamboo groves may pass through your mind.

Not this:

Yup. Vineyards. Since at least 7,000 BCE, China has been making alcohol from grapes. Yet wine remained a fringe product, more an exotic treat for the elite than a mass produced, daily beverage for the masses. It took until 1980 for French wine to crack into China, but public interest only swelled by 2000 with China’s global rise. Production has hovered around 7th place worldwide, sandwiched between Argentina and South Africa at 11.5 million hectoliters. Continue reading →