Wine

Email John at chjonmc@yahoo.com.

Not a fan of wine clubs, generally speaking

John McDonald
2 days ago
I like these quotes: “The best wines are those we drink together” Maya Angelou wrote, “Independence...

Old reliable picks and some new trends in wine

John McDonald
1 week ago
Thanksgiving 2019 was very special at Chez McD. Why so special, you may ask? Well, on Nov. 27,...

Turkey-friendly white wines offer variety of flavor...

John McDonald
2 weeks ago
I’ve been watching the hearings conducted by Congressman Schiff, and I’m curious about our readers...

Wines make great holiday and hospitality gifts

John McDonald
3 weeks ago
Wine is a terrific gift for the holidays. Well-chosen wine rarely lasts long enough to go out of...

Thanksgiving wines with a side of history

John McDonald
1 month ago
In 2018, this came in: “John, you’re too predictable. Every Thanksgiving you recommend Pinot Blanc...

Intriguing wines from off the beaten track

John McDonald
1 month ago
Thank you for positive feedback on paragraph bashing bankers. I did neglect you on the wine info...

Some producers from the ’60s-’70s still going strong

John McDonald
1 month ago
Remember Louis Martini, E&J Gallo, Inglenook, Sebastiani? Come on, now. There were times in the...

Make smart Syrah choices; don’t fall for the hype

John McDonald
1 month ago
This week is about Syrah. Some name it Shiraz, Antourenein noir, Balsamina, Candive, Entournerein,...

Baron Herzog Cellars Momentus sparkling white wine...

John McDonald
1 month ago
Dan Cavanaugh, writing in Winesearcher, wrote that Pennsylvania State Liquor Board Control sells...

Vintage Imports tasting is a treasure trove for...

John McDonald
2 months ago
The Vintage Imports tasting last Wednesday was terrific. I look forward to this event each year not...

Check wine labels and prices carefully to really get...

John McDonald
2 months ago
Big-Buck Buyers may wish to refrain from jumping on the presales for top-of-the-line 2016 Napa Cabs...

Wines from local and family connections to foreign...

John McDonald
2 months ago
Congratulations to Harvest Ridge in Marydel, which was just named the winery in Delaware most...

Toast the summer, prepare for the holidays with...

John McDonald
2 months ago
I just had one of my best Mondays ever. Bus and car loads of Coastal Sussex folks came down to...

Wines from near and far for change-of-season sampling

John McDonald
3 months ago
I hope all had a terrific Labor Day weekend. I have been a beach resident since 1971 and I still...

Kosher wines for Rosh Hashanah offer variety and value

3 months ago
Here’s wishing all a wonderful Labor Day weekend! Sensorium, Tweed’s music festival, was a smashing...

Shaking out the mailbag brings intriguing results

John McDonald
3 months ago
The hits just keep on coming, disgusting stupid, loud and repetitive. That’s my political statement...

Even great wineries can be affected by weather quirks

John McDonald
3 months ago
How many spent the weekend hanging around? I was lucky enough to have a case of Natale Verga...

A selection of seafood-friendly whites for high summer

John McDonald
3 months ago
Rías Baixas is a Spanish wine region that has been getting some play lately, and rightfully so!...

Find a wine critic whose palate is in tune with yours

John McDonald
4 months ago
I decided to avoid politics in this column in hopes a letter to the editor may be posted. My e-...

Tasting unusual wines with unique backstories

John McDonald
4 months ago
Sosie (so-zee) wines are very interesting. Prior to tasting two, I read a lovely puff piece...

More affordable, excellent wines worth the search

John McDonald
4 months ago
I’m sipping French wine while typing this on July 14, aka Bastille Day or la Fête Nationale...

A summer sampler of diverse wines

John McDonald
4 months ago
Riff Pinot Grigio sent me a puff piece with hints about global warming. Riff stands for reef. Some...

Some (but not all) expensive wines are worth the price

John McDonald
5 months ago
Happy Independence Day+1. I’ll be working on the Fourth, and the traffic on my ride home may be...

Off to a good start with gold-medal Chardonnays

John McDonald
5 months ago
How about a listing of Chardonnay gold medal winners? Let’s start with California’s J Vineyards NV...

The Masi family has been producing wine since turn...

John McDonald
5 months ago
There was a hint of romance in those oddly shaped Chianti bottles with the straw casing named...

Give Dad the best: superb wines at great prices

John McDonald
5 months ago
Happy Father’s Day to all you gents with children. Years ago, my wife Barbara bought me a shingle...

SommCon event June 23-25 draws wine pros, enthusiasts

John McDonald
6 months ago
I just enjoyed the opportunity to sample some of the new release from Herdade Esporao, a highly...

Find great wines close to home or from afar

John McDonald
6 months ago
Who could resist sampling a wine named The Oddity? Certainly not McD. So, Royal Tokaji Furmint (say...

California floods may affect 2019 wine production

John McDonald
6 months ago
Memorial Day is Monday. At the end of a long, happy weekend, please pause to remember all our...

Reds worth trying include spicy and organic blends

John McDonald
6 months ago
Those who enjoy spicy red wine which is well made and won’t break the bank may wish to look for a...

Internet shopping for wine can bring mixed results

John McDonald
7 months ago
Happy Mother’s Day! Don’t forget a card or a call and a nice present. Or, best of all, making...

Yes, some wines go with Mexican food for Cinco de Mayo

John McDonald
7 months ago
Big doings on the horizon – it’s almost Cinco de Mayo, May 5 for those with English as a first...

Breaking into the cellar for a special occasion...

John McDonald
7 months ago
In addition to celebrating Easter, the clans McCandless and McDonald assembled from far and wide to...

Hop on these great value wines for your Easter meals

John McDonald
7 months ago
Happy Easter! The long Lenten fast ends Sunday. It is time to celebrate Easter for some, while...

Passover wines to go with a variety of dishes

John McDonald
7 months ago
Today, you will find some Easter and Passover wine tips. How many are aware that Christ and the...

World Malbec Day is April 17 – let’s get ready!

John McDonald
8 months ago
I was informed by Donna White of White Communications that April 17 is World Malbec Day. She sent...

Celebrate daily with wines of all varieties

John McDonald
8 months ago
These are some highly regarded chocolatiers in the USA. I was surprised that three were from...

Wine: Herr Weis is my go-to guy from the Mosel

John Mcdonald
8 months ago
As promised, here are some Mosels from the Nik Weis dinner at Fish On. Most are available at Bin 66...

Food-friendly wines can be fun and fine

John McDonald
8 months ago
Domaine Paul Mas Cremant de Limoux Brut Rosé, from Languedoc, Roussillon, France, is a beautiful...

Some California wine regions hit hard by flooding,...

John McDonald
9 months ago
National weather watchers are likely aware that California is suffering huge flooding- and fire-...

From France to China, the past and the future

John McDonald
9 months ago
Domaine Alain Voge Cornas les Vieilles Vignes is a top label from the Rhone in France. I have found...

Trendy new wine ideas may really be old hat

John McDonald
9 months ago
Tired of paying big bucks for Pinot Noir? Take a look at Mark West, who produces several bottlings...

Wine: Recent California standouts and a little...

John McDonald
9 months ago
I hope young lovers and longtime pals enjoyed a fantastic Valentine’s Day. As I have previously...

The best of Pet-Nats is coming from the Loire region...

John McDonald
10 months ago
Perhaps you have had your curiosity piqued by the brouhaha surrounding the “new” sparklers labeled...

Don’t wait for Valentine’s Day to enjoy wine and...

John McDonald
10 months ago
Regulars are aware I am a longtime fan of Rhone Rangers. Fortunately, Gabrielle, one of my...

Supreme Court considers changes to wine shipping rules

John McDonald
10 months ago
Big doings last week in D.C. On Wednesday, the Supremes, minus Notorious RBG, heard arguments...

From value wines to big-buck beauties

John McDonald
10 months ago
It’s been a while since I’ve written of Fess Parker. People of a certain age may remember Fess as...

A wallet-friendly tour of French wines

John McDonald
10 months ago
Looking for affordable French reds? Search for Costieres de Nimes region of the Southern Rhone. One...

Lessons about cellaring wines for later years

John McDonald
11 months ago
Welcome to 2019. Looking forward to a great year and wishing all the same. I’m typing this on the...

Great food wines to start the new year right

John McDonald
11 months ago
I hope all had a wonderful Christmas. It’s not too late to find wine for New Year’s Eve/Day...