Snobbery – THE GRAPE BELT

Can I Get You Some Wine?

While the weather in many parts of the country is beyond horrible right now, in not too many weeks we will be staring summer square in the face. We’ll start spending more time on the patio, in the backyard, at the beach, or around the pool. And we’re going to want something to drink. So, […]

by Tom Riley

Contradiction? More Like Evolution.

Do I contradict myself ? Very well then I contradict myself. (I am large, I contain multitudes.) – Walt Whitman You can call me a hypocrite if you’d like. I don’t care. Anyway, rules are made to be broken. At least that’s what the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts taught me. For the past […]

by Tom Riley

Balance, Ripeness And Alcohol

The debate surrounding California wine over what constitutes balance, and the roles that alcohol and ripe flavors play, is never going to be resolved. There have always been and always will be proponents of various styles. Here’s a look at a group of winemakers who are trying to stretch the public perception and understanding of […]

by Tom Riley

Mea Culpa, Ireland

When I was a teacher my most effective tone of voice could be found somewhere between monotonous nag and screeching harangue. And my favorite verbal floggings came with phrases like “get a second set of eyes,” “take another look,” and “reread it…again.” A student once insisted that if he heard me say any of those […]