Wine

Email John at chjonmc@yahoo.com.

Virginia Governor’s Cup winners include a few surprises

John McDonald
4 years 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
4 years 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 years 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 years 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 years 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 years 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 years 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
4 years 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
4 years 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
4 years 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 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years ago
This week is about Syrah. Some name it Shiraz, Antourenein noir, Balsamina, Candive, Entournerein,...

Baron Herzog Cellars Momentus sparkling white wine...

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

Vintage Imports tasting is a treasure trove for...

John McDonald
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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
5 years 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

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