in my glory in Chateauneuf du Pape

Wine is a cerebral “sport”, it’s true. Of course, like anything, it doesn’t have to be; but anytime you invest a little extra something into what’s on hand, you benefit even more. In the case of wine, we’re talking about the curious intersection of history, tradition, terroir, climate, culture, cuisine and grape. And so traveling to wine country is one of the best ways to really explore the stuff we pour so willingly into our glasses. Case in point: a recent trip to the Southern Cote du Rhone proved as enlightening and dramatic an experience as I hoped! Pop over to Wicked Local to get the scoop on (part one) of my wine country tale!

Which producers would you visit when in the Rhone?

Blanchards' Abe Lerner selects wines for Memorial Day weekend

Abe Lerner of the Blanchard’s JP branch is one of Pour Favor’s favorite wine folk. The man is schooled in the fine art of wine, has travelled the world frequently and has an authenticity about him you can’t duplicate. But it is perhaps his approach to buying that is his greatest asset; he is one savvy gent! Ask him his personal philosophy on finding wines for his shelves? He’ll say “it’s easy to find a trophy, but to find a value that tastes like a trophy, that’s the challenging task.” Ok, fine. It’s easy enough to talk the talk, but can he walk the walk? Indeed. Pop on over to Wicked Local to get a few ideas from Abe to enrich your Memorial Day festivities!

Which of Abe's selections is most likely to whet your whistle this Memorial Day?

May Wicked Wines

Ok, ok. So I've been off traveling the Southern Cote du Rhone and relishing the "in person", "hands on" experience. That doesn't mean I didn't give great thought to and select May Wickeds before I left! Check 'm out here. Which of these are you likely to try?

Where do wine bottles come from?

Much of the time we don’t think twice about where something comes from – especially when it is always there. Take, for example, the Boston area water “crisis” last week. Before then, did you give much thought to where your running water came from? Probably not. Well, everything comes from somewhere, or by way of something - and sometimes knowing that little tidbit is power! Pop on over to Wicked Local for some quick tips on navigating your wine shelves, particularly when you're traveling about and don't have access to your everyday wine buyer!

Do you pay much attention to "where" your wine comes from?

2010 rose wine season off to a good start

Last year we waited, and waited, and waited for warmer days to come. Rosé wine, one of the best ways to enjoy said weather, took a kind of backseat amidst the dreary doldrums we experienced here in New England. It wasn’t until August that I finally had the inclination to write about how gorgeous (and not sweet) rosé wines are – and offered them as a solution to the hot and humid days of summer. This year we're off to a much better start - and the 2009 roses are starting to come in! Pop on over to Wicked Local to get a refresher course on these lovely wines and a few recommendations to kick off your 2010 rose travels.

Who's New in Food & Wine around Cambridge/Somerville

As the flowers begin to pop up, it seems every spring many new restaurants do the same. It’s been impossible to keep up with the flurry of activity around town this year – and in the world of our own restaurant reviews, we prefer to visit each new spot at least twice before giving any Final Answers about who is doing things well (or who isn’t). This week on Wicked Local we bring to you just a quick synopsis of the Cambridge/Somerville springtime “new releases” you may want to put on your “must checkout” list. Check it out!

Have you popped in to anyone of these new spots yet? What was your impression?

Uncorked! April Wicked Wines

We figure there’s no time like springtime to select wines that may tend to hibernate otherwise without a little special attention, simply because they are lesser known. So this April we’re keeping things both familiar (staying closer to home with domestic wine picks) and more… interesting! Our red wine choices don’t exactly roll off the tongue, but with such powerful juice in the bottle, we know that’s about to change. Enjoy learning about these noteworthy April Wicked Wines on Wicked Local today! Are you familiar with any of these more off-the-beaten path picks?

Respect the grape: Chardonnay

Chardonnay gets a bad rep. Some people seem to find it too mundane. Others complain about the over-oaked Chards that used to dominate the domestic market. You know things are really bad when somewhere along the way a “group” called the ABC’s came into being (Anything BUT Chardonnay). But such hate is not just unbecoming, it’s also unnecessary. Pop over to Wicked Local today to get a fresh take on this highly "controversial" varietal! Are you a Chard lover - or hater?

Easter wine recs

Easter is a holiday that not everyone celebrates – nor in the same ways. Traditions are a bit more fluid somehow here in the United States. Maybe your family prefers a delicious Easter brunch after a morning visit to church and an Easter Egg Hunt for the kiddies. Maybe you do your own thing with your family in the morning, then visit with friends in the afternoon over a mid-afternoon dinner of baked ham or a leg of lamb. But one thing is certain: such a lack of specific tradition can cause some level of Easter week “panic.” Of course, there's no need to stress when a little advice is at the ready. Pop over to Wicked Local today to get some ideas for your celebration! Will wine have a place at your Easter table this year? What will you uncork?

A trip along the wine route

Have you ever saved a fine bottle of wine, one you don’t quite want to open for the sake of holding onto the dream of what lies within? Have you ever then had the overwhelming desire to just uncork it, pour a glass and then sip and savor it for as long as humanly possible?

For the better part of a year I’ve been “sipping and savoring” Kermit Lynch’s acclaimed Adventures on the Wine Route. It’s true.... Pop over to Wicked Local today to find out why I've been compelled to do such a thing!

Have you read this famous wine story? What were your impressions?