Robert Houde of Garnacha Imports reviews the 2003 Marques Gelida, Cava, Penendes, Spain during a Wines of Spain Seminar at Just Grapes in Chicago.

They don’t call them the dog days of summer for nothing. Think it’s a coincidence that so many hot dogs are consumed on Labor Day? OK, maybe it is. But summer’s last hurrah is a great time for a Chicago dog and a picnic. And no picnic would be complete without a nice bottle of [...]

Robert Houde of Garnacha Imports presents a seminar on the Wines of Spain Seminar at Just Grapes in Chicago.

You’ve heard it before, probably from your mother: You won’t know whether you like something until you try it. It’s the same for Brussels sprouts and wine, though I much prefer wine.
Free wine tastings are an excellent opportunity to try something new. You can sample something totally different without pouring money down the drain–literally–if you [...]

I’ve been to many parts of Spain: Madrid and Toledo in the center of the country; Barcelona on the far coast; and Malaga, the southern port city on the Costa del Sol. Yet each time, as a euro-pinching tourist, I’ve only sampled whatever vino tinto (red table wine) came with el menu del dia. Cheap, [...]

Jennifer Brush of Vosges Haut Chocolat & Don Sritong of Just Grapes discuss the basics of pairing chocolate & wine.

Jen Brush of Vosges Haut Chocolat and Don Sritong of Just Grapes discuss paring the Viola Truffle and Angeline Pinot Noir.

Jen Brush of Vosges Haut Chocolat and Don Sritong of Just Grapes discuss paring the Budapest Truffle and Donaussone Blaufrankisch.

Jen Brush of Vosges Haut Chocolat and Don Sritong of Just Grapes discuss paring Naga Truffles with Stefano Farina Moscato d’Asti.

You already know wine has a sensual quality. You swirl it in your glass. Inhale its scent deeply. Let it run over and along the edges of your tongue, pausing to let the flavors trickle forth and mellow in your mouth. It’s practically a PG-13 experience.
But have you ever licked the spice off the top [...]