With August but days away, we’ll be signing off for some needed R & R for a few weeks – perhaps with the occasional insight or newsflash to whet your whistle until we get back into the full swing of things after Labor Day.

But we can’t NOT go out with Wicked splash first! Head over to Wicked Local today to find out about two more “Blanc” varietals you won’t want to miss this summer!  Giddy-up!

Which Chenin Blanc is your summer fav?

Go on…. Close your eyes; breathe deep. Do you smell it? White flowers, a hint of ocean air and beach grass, something honeyed and sweet. Yes! It’s summer!

A few weeks ago a trip to New York City gave me the same thrill. No, I wasn’t in Central Park. I was at Hearth in the East village having dinner – and the Somellier/Owner Paul Grieco, apparently relishing my enthusiasm for wine, had just placed a glass of Bukettraube in front of me. Of course, he didn’t tell me it was Bukettraube. We were playing a little game of  “Guess That Vin….”

Head over to Wicked Local today to hear more about my blind tasting fun and the delightful surprise on my glass that night!

Have you ever experimented with blind tasting?

I have a healthier than normal appetite, I’m told. But it seems South African baboons do, too! Check out this hilarious (but costly) piece on these “Thieving Baboons“.

The age-old question “does stemware really matter?” has a simple answer: yes. It’s because a good glass can really help display aromas and flavors by channeling them in a precise way to your senses. Riedel is the company that has set the bar on this technology. And so they took their a competitor to the mattresses recently when Eisch advertised a breathable glass. Read all about the outcome here.

Speaking of glass, looks like the Champagne Bureau is getting greener! Each bottle of Champagne will now weigh 2oz less than before. Discover the full implications of this move here.

Last but not least, I had the pleasure of meeting the famed Randall Graham of Bonny Doon vineyards a couple of weeks ago at a local trade event. Looks like I had the opportunity right before his celebrity really took off! Graham was just inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame. Cool stuff.

Which wine headline caught your attention this week?

With the Thanksgiving festivities behind us (tear!), it’s that time of year when you can’t help but look just a few weeks forward to the end-of-year holidays. Myriad reasons abound to thank those in your life and so, in a great tradition of holiday ‘spirit,’ we begin to think of ways to do so. Of course, buying a bottle or two of wine is often something many of us consider… but it can also be a tricky route to go! What will be sure to WoW your recipient?

Over the years, I’ve figured out a few ‘rules of thumb’ to keep the anxiety at bay and the good juice flowing! Head on over to Wicked Local today to get a few quick tips to wine shop with ease this holiday season.

Who on your list will be getting a bottle of wine this year? Which strategy will you use to tackle the challenge?

I suspect with the wine trade’s “tasting season” well underway, the Powers That Be at various publications (whether print or more socially-driven), are a bit behind in their usual operations. I know I’m a bit tuckered out, sampling wares from all over the world to suss out the Best of the Best for consumers.  My suspicion stems from a surprising lack of wine news this week. That said, I think I’ve found a few articles to distract you from your own work today.

France is proving a bit fickle in their health/wine reports these days. Check out this Decanter article to learn which way they are flipping (or flopping?) this week.

And South Africa proves a tempting ground – for theft! Did you hear about this major wine heist?

Finally, don’t forget to get on the tasting bandwagon yourself in the next week or so! Remember there are a couple of events you should consider attending:

Sept 25-27

Newport Mansions Food & Wine Festival Here’s what they’re saying about it: “Presented by Food & Wine, this spectacular event will feature more than 400 wines from around the world and cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs Jacques Pépin, Joanne Weir, David Burke and more culinary experts.” Click here for more info and to get your tickets today (and be sure to poke around the web for discount codes…).

Sept 29

All New England 3rd Annual Farm-Fresh Funky Feeding Frenzy @ Craigie on Main. From their lips to our ears, here’s what to expect:  “a 5-course dinner with wine pairings. We have thrown down a challenge to ourselves and pledge to meet it: every single offering on the menu will have been grown, raised or caught within our New England borders.”

Have you sipped and sampled at all this fall? Where abouts?