Monthly Archives: August 2014

It is no secret that I am a big fan of French wines, particularly those that are tasty and affordable.  My older brother Bob, who also used to be in the wine business, loves French wines as well. For years we sipped and discussed various Burgundies, Bordeauxs and Rhones.  Occasionally we’d find something out of the ordinary that struck us as being a hidden gem.

The Fair is over, it’s getting darker earlier, parents are thinking about getting “back to school” clothes for the kids…Summer is ‘setting’.  I’m not saying it’s over, so please don’t panic.  There is still plenty of nice days left before the big chill comes.  But nights have been a bit cooler and with that change brings the return of red wines which may have taken a back seat to Roses and crisp whites in the last couple of months.

Once in awhile we stumble across a wine that we find delicious and expect to pay a premium price, but are pleasantly surprised to find that the wine is actually a great bargain. Sometimes it happens with a Cotes du Rhone that tastes like a Chateauneuf du Pape or a Cremant de Loire that could stand in for a fine Champagne.  This is the case with 2013 Gran Passione Veneto Rosso.

When I was a kid, I used to get a kick out of the quirky eating habits of my Dad.  He wouldn’t eat a sandwich without a pickle on the side, had to have his coffee in a cup with a saucer, never a mug, and instead of vanilla ice cream with his apple pie he liked a slice of sharp cheddar cheese. At the age of 9 or so, I thought that was just plain gross.