Blog Archive
5 Wines for When the Fam Asks Too Many Questions
The holidays are a unique blend of twinkling lights, comfort food, sentimental playlists and the yearly gauntlet of unsolicited commentary. It seems someone is almost always ready to run a full audit of your life decisions before you even sit down. It is peak nosy season. Boundaries tremble. Hugs [...]
Three Bottles That Understand Holiday Chaos
Let’s be honest. Decision freeze is beyond real, especially when the holidays (or anything holiday-adjacent for that matter) start creeping onto the calendar. Hosting a gathering no matter how big or small can be equal parts joy and chaos. The main dishes require attention, the candles demand a flick [...]
Architectural Wonders: 3 Picture-Perfect Wineries That Inspire the Senses
Inspiration is a restless traveler. It drifts in without warning, played through a frame of film that lingers in your head or a line of prose that hums in your heart. For those of us who orbit the worlds of wine, art, and culture, it becomes both fuel [...]
Rediscovering Vinho Verde: A Day of Pride, Passion, and World-Class Wines
A few years ago, I created two television segments exploring the wines of Portugal’s Vinho Verde DOC. Those shoots were more than assignments—they were an education. Tasting through over twenty-five wines, I discovered a region that defied its reputation for producing only light, slightly fizzy, easy-drinking whites. Instead, [...]
Come Over October: A Toast to Connection
Let’s admit it: the world is a lot right now. Loneliness is on the rise, the headlines rarely leave room for levity, and many of us are looking for something rooted, nostalgic, and real. Enter Come Over October, a national campaign with one refreshingly simple goal. Invite people [...]
Move Over Pumpkin Spice, Time for Canned Wine To Be Part of the Fall Drink Lineup
Tis the season as summer slowly yields to the embrace of the cooler months. Can you believe there are less than 4 months left in the year? Whether you meet this moment with pride or a twinge of regret over New Year’s resolutions, now is the time to [...]
The Harvest Chronicles: Franciacorta 2025
Photo credit: Franciacorta Consortium Harvest season has arrived in Franciacorta, Italy’s premier sparkling wine region, and the news from the vineyards is promising. The Franciacorta press team recently shared that the first grapes were picked on August 10th, signaling the start of what is shaping up to [...]
Hyde Park’s Best Summer Wine Event: Patio Pours at Mesler Kitchen & Bar
Photo Credit @LeaSharpeIG Photo Credit @LeaSharpeIG Patio Pours at Mesler Kitchen & Bar is more than just a wine event — it’s my dream wine bar brought to life every Wednesday evening in August, right here in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. I (Regine) hand-select [...]
Sauvignon Blanc Upgrades That Soften the Edge of Late Summer’s Zestiest Flavors
Summer’s been loud. The music, the festivals, the sweat-slicked nights with grilled corn in one hand and a plastic cup in the other. But now, as the Lollapalooza dust settles and daylight stretches thinner, there’s a subtle shift in the energy. It’s not quite fall. Not yet. But [...]
