Recently, I noticed on the Direct Cellars Facebook member page some back-and-forth about how some members are trying to deal with the wine bottles and boxes that seem to be stacking up at the bottom of closets, and on the floor along the walls. This is an omen. When the wine bug bites, one inevitable …
The wine world knows all about the Australians. Big bold reds…zingy whites. But what about the other Aussies…the Austrians? Even though they’re also making bold reds and zingy whites, this country’s wines haven’t resonated with American consumers as much as they deserve to. That needs to change…especially since we’ve recently sourced and shipped some delicious …
There’s no doubt that it’s an exciting time to be a part of Direct Cellars. In the last 12 months, we have launched the UK, Australia and now Germany. Sometimes, it’s so easy to get caught up in what the company is doing and forget about YOUR business. So what do all of these new …
Sangria for everyone! When I lived in Spain about a hundred years ago, we often had huge dinners with other Americans who were living abroad, and what we drank was Sangria. That’s because it’s fun, easy to make, and goes with just about any type of Spanish or Latino cuisine. We’d mix up a few …
Direct Cellars members often tell me… Direct Cellars members often tell me that one of the things they like best about the club (aside from generating extra income) is discovering new types of wine from new places. I couldn’t agree more, and I’ve said on many occasions that even I get surprised from time to …
It didn’t begin with the Cork Since winemaking has been practiced for well over five thousand years (almost certainly more), the world of wine has become a very big place. The topic fascinates many of us, but there’s always a danger that fascination can become obsession, and then… snobbery. People become Wine cork dorks. It’s …
There used to be a slow time in the winery… January, February and March were a time for tasting and contemplating. The wines from last year’s harvest are all barreled and aging. The winery and the winemaker was beginning to think about making blends and making plans for this year’s harvest (it’s barrel order time). …
This is an excellent time of year in the vineyard Sure, a lot of the country is still in the depths of winter, but here on the west coast where it never really gets that cold, things are starting to happen. Vines are beginning to grow. Crews are out working on the vines. Vineyard managers …
Since practically the beginning of time… The Romans (then the Italians) have been toying with the idea of building a bridge over the Straits of Messina to link the island of Sicily with the mainland. Hasn’t happened yet. Maybe never will. This makes a visit to Sicily a bit of a hike, but one that’s …
No one wants to feel stupid, especially when it comes to wine. But the truth is, there’s an infinite number of things to know about wine. And knowing them all is nearly impossible. That’s why we’ve gathered the most common wine questions — so we could demystify all things wine, from tasting to serving to …
