We like picnics by the lake, on the beach, in a park; frankly, anywhere besides the Office Space-esque cubicle our lives have become (against our better sense, no less). There’s just something so retro about picnics (gingham blanket, wicker basket, the great outdoors) it begs the question: what’s not to love? Excluding enjoyable company, the [...]

The French call it le printemp, the Spanish and Italians, primavera. To us Americans, it’s spring (or for us Chicagoans, godsend). No matter the language, it is indeed the fairest season, a time for blooms and brunch (outdoors; especially outdoors). Why not uncork those young wines you’ve been hoarding and enjoy them in the company [...]

When KFC released its Double Down sandwich, I all but went into cardiac arrest thinking of the insane sodium/caloric nightmare (or Atkins dream) that is this “sandwich.” There’s meat, cheese and… gasp!… deep-fried chicken-buns! Cue Chef Jamie Oliver and an army of medics. Though I have no desire to ever let the sandwich cross my [...]

By Jason Brooks It’s Friday morning around 10:30am and we finally pull up the long windy drive to the Staglin Family Vineyard. As you can see the fog was still lingering and the rain was misting down. Bud break has occurred: The entrance to the winery opens up into a long corridor lined with French [...]

…said Dan Philips in response to the saying “great wines are made in the vineyard.” And that seems to sum up an evening with the man who pretty much brought Chris Ringland and Aussie wine to the US market with 40 cases of wine and maybe a dime of his life savings left in his [...]

Happy Wednesday…the week is halfway over! Here’s a little story about a man on a mission to quit his job as a sommelier and own a winery, courtesy of Greg from Gramercy Cellars. The guy’s single hand gesture kills me.