First Vine Website
First Vine Wine Producers
- Azienda Agricola San Benedetto
- Bodega Hiriart
- Bodega Traslagares
- Cave la Romaine, Vaison la Romaine
- Cave la Vinsobraise, Vinsobres
- Champagne Bernard Mante
- Château de Clapier, Mirabeau
- Château de Roquebrune
- Château les Donats
- Domaine de Mairan
- Domaine de Montvac, Vacqueyras
- Domaine des Mathurins, Cazedarnes, France
- Domaine Fond Croze, St. Roman de Malegarde
- Domaine la Croix des Marchands
- Domaine Marion Pla
- Domaine Sainte Cécile du Parc, Pézenas, France
- Meridiana Wine Estate
- Società Agricola Bulichella
Food Writing and Food Sites
Other Stuff We Like
- Alliance Française
- Cap de Castel
- DCanter
- Each Peach
- Federal City Caterers
- Garrett Peck
- Georgetown Spice and Tea Exchange
- Goodwood
- Hillwood Museum
- iGourmet
- J Chocolatier
- Le Clos Saint Michel
- Le Salon de Sophie
- Lincoln Park Studio
- Nana
- National Parks Conservation Association
- Opera Now Podcast
- Parterre Box
- Pera Batlla Restaurant
- Peter Jon Shemonsky Fine Jewelry
- Pew Environment Group
- Replacements
- Society of the Cincinnati
- The Brookings Institution
- The Inn at Little Washington
- Towleroad
Wine Blogs and Sites
Wine Blogs in the DC Area
Category Archives: Uncategorized
A regulatory axe to grind (or throw)
My husband Cy and I never miss the Health Code Violations blurbs in the Washington Post every Thursday. While it seems a bit ghoulish, they shine a light on how local government functions. Admittedly, it’s not nice to read that … Continue reading
Lead-ing the way to bottles past
There’s no humble way to say that you’ve had the opportunity to open an old bottle of nice Cognac, so I’m not even going to try. I did it, and I’m glad. But there was a surprise… The bottle belonged to … Continue reading
New wines relieve the headaches of getting them here
After waiting months and months, a shipment for First Vine finally arrived here in DC about two weeks ago. We have wines from two new producers in Italy and an old favorite from France. So, hooray! I really like the … Continue reading
Reopening Installment #2: Déjà Vu-19
We’re in the midst of a crisis. The majority of the scientific community agrees it’s a crisis and that there are important yet relatively simple things we can do to stop it from getting much worse. It affects public health … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Coronavirus and the economy, Coronavirus and the wine industry, Covid-19, Covid-19 and the wine industry, Effects of Global Warming on Wine, Federal aid to the alcohol industry, Global Warming and Wine, Online alcohol sales, Online wine sales, Out of state wine shipping, State-to-state wine shipping
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Reopening installment #1: A little bragging is in order
For years now I’ve been trying to explain that we just don’t have good data on sales of wine and other alcohol. And I’ve been complaining that the companies that compile, analyze, and disseminate these data issue grand proclamations that … Continue reading
Social Distancing Installment #14: Stay six feet from the price at tastings
After my virtual wine show experience back in April, I started talking with Italian producers about getting samples to taste. Eighteen bottles of wine arrived all in one week. Cy and I were able to taste some of them. But … Continue reading
Social Distancing Installment #13: Keeper recipes
Like many of you, I’ve been cooking a lot during these past 2+ months. There have been lots of old favorites, mostly comfort-food recipes. But I’ve been reading and trying plenty of new things, too. This particular recipe is my … Continue reading
Social Distancing Installment #12: RIP, America’s greatest wine salesman
We don’t see wine advertisements much on TV these days or hear them on the radio. But from the 1960s through the 1980s there was plenty of advertising for mass-market wines. I’ve written about these ads before, and how ridiculous … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Anne Meara, Blue Nun radio ads, Jerry Stiller, Stiller and Meara, Wine ads
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Social Distancing Installment #10: Wine sales are up (maybe)
I get a few daily e-mail summaries of wine news with teasers and links to articles. This headline in today’s Wine Business Daily e-mail caught my attention: “Robust Wine Sales Growth as Consumers Turn to Brands They Know: Despite the … Continue reading