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Meet Schioppettino: An Italian Outlaw Grape

Meet Schioppettino: An Italian Outlaw Grape

by Mary Beth Vierra | Feb 5, 2022 | Wine Education, Featured, Wine Regions

  Crackle, crunch, boom— are the sounds invoked by the name given to a rare, nearly lost red grape from the Friulian hills in far northeastern Italy. Meet Schioppettino [ski’OH–pet–TEE–noh], the elegant, perfumed, floral yet pepper-savory red...
Holiday Wine: Pairing Wine to Holiday Dishes

Holiday Wine: Pairing Wine to Holiday Dishes

by Mary Beth Vierra | Dec 22, 2022 | Food & Wine, Featured, Wine Education, Lifestyle & Products

  ’Tis the season—for festive celebrations, grand family feasts—and questions about holiday wine pairing. What’s a great wine for the holidays?  Which wine for my prime rib? How about my desserts? I recommend drinking seasonally. And this time of year,...
Lugana Wines: Liquid Gold from Glacial Soils

Lugana Wines: Liquid Gold from Glacial Soils

by Mary Beth Vierra | May 14, 2022 | Wine Education, Featured, Viticulture, Wine Regions

  Not far from the soaring Alps of northern Italy lies a placid lake in a dream-like setting.  At this northerly latitude we expect brisk days and a Continental climate. Instead, we find a pocket of Mediterranean-like climate, where grapevines grow amidst lemon...
Vino “Col Fondo”: Italy’s Ancestral  Sparkling

Vino “Col Fondo”: Italy’s Ancestral Sparkling

by Mary Beth Vierra | Dec 12, 2021 | Wine Education, Featured, Wine Regions

  Maybe decade ago, we began hearing a quiet, fizzy buzz about a sparkling wine style born of an ancient production method. You may have heard of it referred to by a few names — pét-nat, méthode ancestrale, Col Fondo, and Sui Lieviti, to list a few. That quiet...
Prosecco:  The Pairing Possibilities!

Prosecco: The Pairing Possibilities!

by Mary Beth Vierra | Nov 27, 2021 | Wine Education, Featured, Food & Wine

  When I’m asked to name my favorite wine — even my favorite wine right now — I likely won’t have an answer. That’s partially because I love too many wines at any given time. But here’s a response you’ll likely hear from me: First,...
Pairing Wine to Thanksgiving:  A Tasty Guide

Pairing Wine to Thanksgiving: A Tasty Guide

by Mary Beth Vierra | Nov 23, 2021 | Food & Wine, Wine Education, Lifestyle & Products

Of all holidays, I look forward to Thanksgiving the most – because really, it’s all about the wine pairing! Around September I start setting aside interesting bottles in anticipation.  With its complexity of warm flavors, there’s a world of wine options to...
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Recent Posts

  • Meet Schioppettino: An Italian Outlaw Grape
  • Holiday Wine: Pairing Wine to Holiday Dishes
  • Lugana Wines: Liquid Gold from Glacial Soils

About Mary Beth

Crushing on..... silky pasta -- strong coffee and bright wines -- a world map -- and a good dance beat
Mary Beth Vierra

crushcoursewine

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🍷Crush Course and wine educator Mary Beth Vierra help you navigate your path to Wine confidence, expertise! 🍇 CrushCourseWine.com

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Feb 15

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Last night’s Pour + Explore was a Bordeaux lover’s dream! 🍷✨ @sonomacountyvintners first themed tasting of the year was hosted at Rodney Strong Vineyards with @SawyerSomm. 30+ local vintners poured their best Cabs (Franc & Sauvignon) and Bordeaux blends. Killer wines, DJ vibes, and electric energy made for an unforgettable night.

Next up? The prince of reds—Pinot Noir! Stay tuned for 2025 dates and the next host venue. What better way to sip and chat with the winemakers behind the magic? 🍇🔥

@sonomawine @rodneystrongvineyards @chrisogwine @sawyersommelier @ziggythewinegal @lasasil16 @kpmarchitect @lesdamesco @winemoxie 
#PourAndExplore #SonomaCountyWine #BordeauxBlends #SonomaVintners #AlexanderValley #DryCreekValley #SonomaValley #DrinkSonoma #WineLover #CabernetSauvignon #PinotNoirComingSoon #Crushonwine #wineeducator

Last night’s Pour + Explore was a Bordeaux lover’s dream! 🍷✨ @sonomacountyvintners first themed tasting of the year was hosted at Rodney Strong Vineyards with @SawyerSomm. 30+ local vintners poured their best Cabs (Franc & Sauvignon) and Bordeaux blends. Killer wines, DJ vibes, and electric energy made for an unforgettable night.

Next up? The prince of reds—Pinot Noir! Stay tuned for 2025 dates and the next host venue. What better way to sip and chat with the winemakers behind the magic? 🍇🔥

@sonomawine @rodneystrongvineyards @chrisogwine @sawyersommelier @ziggythewinegal @lasasil16 @kpmarchitect @lesdamesco @winemoxie
#PourAndExplore #SonomaCountyWine #BordeauxBlends #SonomaVintners #AlexanderValley #DryCreekValley #SonomaValley #DrinkSonoma #WineLover #CabernetSauvignon #PinotNoirComingSoon #Crushonwine #wineeducator
...

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crushcoursewine

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Feb 10

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Lazy Sunday with a flight of 5 gorgeous, lithe, bright and aromatic white wines from the Anderson Valley, from some of my favorite winemakers and friends. @maisonhealdsburg 
 Get to Maison here in Healdsburg to pre-game the International White Wine Festival or Head to Boonville/Anderson Valley next weekend (15-16 February) for an abundance of shining white wines from Anderson Valley and the world. 

White grapes and wines are the foundation of Anderson Valley (Pinot Noir fame came later). “Alsatian” whites, like Riesling and Gewürztraminer were the first planted and commercially produced in the valley in the late 1960s. 
#internationalwhitewinefestival @maisonhealdsburg 
@avwinegrowers
#whitewines  @lichenestate @baxterwinery @readhollandwines @smithstorywines @ottavinowines

Lazy Sunday with a flight of 5 gorgeous, lithe, bright and aromatic white wines from the Anderson Valley, from some of my favorite winemakers and friends. @maisonhealdsburg
Get to Maison here in Healdsburg to pre-game the International White Wine Festival or Head to Boonville/Anderson Valley next weekend (15-16 February) for an abundance of shining white wines from Anderson Valley and the world.

White grapes and wines are the foundation of Anderson Valley (Pinot Noir fame came later). “Alsatian” whites, like Riesling and Gewürztraminer were the first planted and commercially produced in the valley in the late 1960s.
#internationalwhitewinefestival @maisonhealdsburg
@avwinegrowers
#whitewines @lichenestate @baxterwinery @readhollandwines @smithstorywines @ottavinowines
...

21 1

crushcoursewine

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Feb 8

Open
Love 🍫? Love🍷? Unwrap here for my most beautiful chocolate and wine pairings—for every type of chocolate indulgence—for your Valentine. 🍷+🍫=🌹♥️✨ 
  WINE + CHOCOLATE - the most scrumptious pairings, AND those to avoid (and for inquiring minds - why!) 
  Go to Crush Course Wine , Blog page. *Impatient? Skip the why’s. Scroll 1/3 down and go directly to the pairings
 
 🍷Tell us - What are your favorite combinations?
https://crushcoursewine.com/sweets-for-your-sweet-or-how-to-give-wine-chocolate/  #wineandchocolate  #chocolateandwine #valentinesday  #valentinepairings #wineandchocolatepairing

Love 🍫? Love🍷? Unwrap here for my most beautiful chocolate and wine pairings—for every type of chocolate indulgence—for your Valentine. 🍷+🍫=🌹♥️✨
WINE + CHOCOLATE - the most scrumptious pairings, AND those to avoid (and for inquiring minds - why!)
Go to Crush Course Wine , Blog page. *Impatient? Skip the why’s. Scroll 1/3 down and go directly to the pairings

🍷Tell us - What are your favorite combinations?
https://crushcoursewine.com/sweets-for-your-sweet-or-how-to-give-wine-chocolate/ #wineandchocolate #chocolateandwine #valentinesday #valentinepairings #wineandchocolatepairing
...

4 0

crushcoursewine

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Dec 19

Open
My view this morning/ afternoon: Final judging day- to select the Sweepstakes winners in each category and Best in Show! 🏆 🍷 

Day 3 of the San Francisco, Francisco International Wine Competition. 

  #winejudging #behindthescenes #bestofthebest 
#lovewine

My view this morning/ afternoon: Final judging day- to select the Sweepstakes winners in each category and Best in Show! 🏆 🍷

Day 3 of the San Francisco, Francisco International Wine Competition.

#winejudging #behindthescenes #bestofthebest
#lovewine
...

19 0
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