When it comes to grape descriptors, my favorite of all time is the one used to describe the more herbaceous and aromatic side of Sauvignon Blanc: cat’s pee on a gooseberry bush. Definitely a creative way to describe the smell of the grape!

But don’t let this descriptor deter you – Sauvignon Blanc is a white grape that produces one of the most refreshing and food-friendly wines around. Appearance-wise, Sauvignon Blanc is known for typically ranging from a pale lemon yellow to a medium intense yellow, and can sometimes have a greenish tinge on rim. It is usually fairly intensely aromatic with primary aromas that range from green beans, asparagus, herbaceous, grassy, “flinty”, gooseberry, lemon, lime, grapefruit, …

People always want to know how I got started in the wine business.  I always enjoy telling the story of how I used to sit in the back of the classroom at the International Wine Center, nervous as anything that I would get called upon to read my tasting notes.  A complete novice, I barely knew my Chardonnay from my Cabernet Sauvignon and I probably would not have gotten very far with my tasting notes were it not for the fact that two sommeliers who were sitting next to me decided to take me under their wings.  Luckily for me, one of those guys was Bernie Sun, one of …

One of my first major wine trips as a wine student was to the Alsace region of France.  I went with my friend Christine and we visited producers (and great restaurants) throughout the region.  It was an amazing trip: each vintner spent hours tasting with us through flights and flights of wines.  We toured small picturesque towns and lovely old vineyards.  I can’t imagine a more wonderful trip for a food and wine lover.

Alsace has one of the most interesting histories of all of the different wine regions of France.  Passed back and forth between French and German hands, it has a unique wine style that sets it apart from the rest of French wine.  Not only do you …