Wine

Email John at chjonmc@yahoo.com.

Thinking ahead to holiday sparklers – why not sample...

John McDonald
4 days ago
The holiday season is rapidly approaching, so let’s start looking at affordable sparklers. I’m...

Dicey outlook for 2020 West Coast wines, but don’t...

John McDonald
1 week ago
This week it’s a mixed bag. Joel wrote, “Do you have a list of the most expensive wines?” I didn’t...

Pinot Noirs are food-friendly for Thanksgiving and...

John McDonald
2 weeks ago
This week will be about affordable Pinot Noir. Smart planners will remember that many PNs are fine...

Search out Syrah from Washington state for good variety

John McDonald
3 weeks ago
RIP, RBG. As an originalist, I was not a fan of several of Justice Ginsburg’s decisions on the...

More West Coast whites to sample; fire-ravaged...

John McDonald
1 month ago
I won’t dwell on the West Coast other than to type that an area slightly bigger than the entire...

Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, or by any other name, this...

John McDonald
1 month ago
California is still roaring, with up to 24 separate sites ablaze. Recently, a terrible heat wave...

I’m sampling Sauvignon Blancs - hey, somebody’s...

John McDonald
1 month ago
Before finishing with some upper-scale Sauvignon Blanc, let me recommend Angeline SB Reserve RRV...

Plan ahead for wine buying before fires affect...

John McDonald
1 month ago
The good news keeps on coming. To provide some idea of the scope of the California fires, which was...

Sometimes the family stories are as delightful as...

John McDonald
1 month ago
Let’s look at Cabs that are top quality and very affordable. Not easy but entirely possible. When...

Walter Hansel wines are consistently well rated

John McDonald
2 months ago
Walter Hansel North Slope RRV Pinot Noir 2017 is a good value around $45, 92 McD points. Hansel...

Exposure to several different varietal selections...

John McDonald
2 months ago
I’ve received several emails concerning the spate of mixed case wine offerings that seem to be...

What’s in a name? Check your wine labels carefully

John McDonald
2 months ago
I had the opportunity to sample the new-release Stags’ Leap Winery selections. Be very careful with...

Mondavi new releases are worth looking for now

John McDonald
2 months ago
Just finished reading an article which highlighted one reason I so enjoy reading Jancis Robinson,...

Try some Italians for summer food pairing

John McDonald
3 months ago
How many celebrated July 14th? Your faithful wine guy forgot a tickler last week, and July 14,...

Summer sangria can pop with local fruit flavors

John McDonald
3 months ago
Hazy lazy, no doubt. For those who are spending more time at home, here’s a brief tutorial on wine...

Virginia Governor’s Cup winners include a few surprises

John McDonald
3 months ago
Sometimes too much to drink is barely enough. More Virginia Governor’s Cup winners. Barboursville...

Virginia is for wine lovers, according to the experts

John McDonald
3 months ago
Thanks to the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office, I was introduced to a case of Virginia wines...

Look around for novel approaches to familiar wines

John McDonald
4 months ago
How about an upbeat open this week? Grant Long Jr. opted for a lighter look to help the paper over...

Quick reads on a variety of worthy wines

John McDonald
4 months ago
According to the Johns Hopkins website, there has been a general resurgence of COVID-19 in the...

Different oaks for different folks - it’s all good

John McDonald
4 months ago
Writing about wine this week seems trivial. I started today’s column with my thoughts on current...

Some vineyards offer several worthy wines to sample

John McDonald
4 months ago
Jamie wrote to ask about The Eyrie Vineyards Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. Unfortunately, her question...

Try some groovy German wine for a change of taste

John McDonald
4 months ago
Memorial Day is for remembering those who died in service to our country. I hope all will pause on...

Grilling season calls for hearty wines

John McDonald
5 months ago
“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble. Cool it with a baboon's blood, Then...

There are many Mother’s Day wine winners

John McDonald
5 months ago
Happy Mother’s Day! As the Germans say,” De mutter ist immer dar bie.” Hopefully this reminder will...

New Sonoma releases show fires didn’t ruin 2017 vintage

John McDonald
5 months ago
So far, those sending email are weathering this storm. Hopefully all are well and you are...

Fairly priced, friendly wines can ease stressful times

John McDonald
5 months ago
I hope some took advantage of the Stags’ Leap virtual tasting I recommended last week. They did a...

Everything is going virtual, even wine tastings!

John McDonald
6 months ago
Welcome back. I hope your holidays were blessed. I’m curious to learn how many actually were able...

Let’s offer a toast to spring holidays and warmer...

John McDonald
6 months ago
I’m delighted you can join me this week. Best wishes for a thoughtful and introspective Passover...

Travel restrictions trigger surge in wine pickup...

John McDonald
6 months ago
There has been a spate of great articles on how shops can get wine to customers safely during...

Malbec from Argentina garners good reviews

John McDonald
6 months ago
I hope all are still safe and well. The last paragraphs today will include COVID-19 information...

Be ready for Easter, Passover with the right wines

John McDonald
6 months ago
Observant soldiers usually were alert to an impending large-scale “surprise” operation. The markets...

Yes, you can find vegan wines if you look for them

John McDonald
7 months ago
I hope all who went shopping for staples, water and canned goods remembered to stock up on wine as...

Notes on wine tariffs, blends from Argentina

John McDonald
7 months ago
Big props to Cape! Cape High wrestlers handily won the most team points at last weekend’s State...

How wines are aged can make a real difference in taste

John McDonald
7 months ago
If you know any high school female student-athlete wrestlers, please inform them there are quite a...

Answering emails is safer than attending crowded...

John McDonald
7 months ago
I decided against NYC for the Kosher Wine and Food event as a precaution. Prudent winos may wish to...

Both quality and price determine wine’s true worth

John McDonald
8 months ago
Brief reminder about an opportunity to meet Baroness Ariane de Rothschild and to sample kosher food...

Internet wine reviews may be misleading

John McDonald
8 months ago
To all those who supported the Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics: The community raised $1,018,...

Think about Valentine’s Day wines to go with chocolate

John McDonald
8 months ago
RIP Kobe Bryant! In addition to being a star basketballer, he was a decent human being, a good role...

Topical wine lists offer info on ratings, vintages,...

John McDonald
8 months ago
The new year requires housekeeping. Here are items of interest. Following is a website which...

Look at homegrown products to avoid tariff woes on...

John McDonald
9 months ago
Let’s start with a little housekeeping. I was notified by Emma Mrkonic of Gregory Wine that...

Less-trendy wines may offer great bargains if...

John McDonald
9 months ago
Barbara and I watched the beginnings of Golden Globes. Right on, Ricky! It was refreshing to see...

Here’s to expanding your palate in the new year!

John McDonald
9 months ago
Happy 2020! Due to midweek holidays, I’m writing this prior to New Year’s Eve. So, I decided to...

Closing out another year in the rapidly evolving...

John McDonald
9 months ago
I hope your holidays went well. Unfortunately, early deadline caused me to send this out on Monday...

Celebrate the holidays with affordable bubbly

John McDonald
9 months ago
Since this will appear as the holiday weeks begin for so many, I’ll just write Happy Holidays. Many...

Affordable yet upscale wines are worth the search

John McDonald
10 months ago
Circle of derp. A gathering of individuals who share a fundamentally flawed, factually incorrect or...

Not a fan of wine clubs, generally speaking

John McDonald
10 months 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
10 months 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
10 months 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
11 months 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
11 months 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
11 months 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
11 months 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 year 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 year ago
Dan Cavanaugh, writing in Winesearcher, wrote that Pennsylvania State Liquor Board Control sells...

Vintage Imports tasting is a treasure trove for...

John McDonald
1 year 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
1 year 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
1 year 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
1 year 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
1 year 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

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