Fondue!
Fondue It’s wintertime and thoughts turn to melted cheese. That’s right, it’s Fondue Time! Persona...
30
May
30
May
Alameda and Oakland Magazine Article on Loire Wines
(Article originally appeared in May/June 2011 issues of Alameda and Oakland magazines)
The Loire Valley is one of France’s largest and most diverse wine regions, with 65 designated wine appellations (called AOC or Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) along a 300-plus mile stretch of beautiful countryside, dotted with chateaux and lightly rolling hills, and filled with history, wars, romance, great cuisine and lovely wines.
The Loire River is the longest in France, and one of the last wild rivers in Europe; it starts in the Massif Central, and travels north and west until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Brittany.
Loire wines are crafted from around a dozen different grape varieties, including some of the best expressions of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Melon de Bourgogne in the world. Other varietals include include Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Malbec (called Côt in the region), Pineau d’Aunis and Grolleau. Loire wines can be bone dry, off-dry or sweet; still or sparkling, crisp or round, made for immediate consumption, or crafted to age for dozens of years.
The Loire produces primarily white wines (over 70 percent of production), and is the second largest sparkling wine region in France, after Champagne. Red wines tend to be softer and lighter in style and very food friendly.
16
Apr
Gourmet Names Farmstead One of the Best Cheese Shops in the USA!
Tucked into a cozy space in the Alameda Marketplace, Farmstead Cheeses & Wines offers a small ...
16
Apr
Oakland Magazine Article on Cahors
Impressed by Cahors: A Bit About the Jewel of Southwest France
– Jeff Diamond (also appeared in Alameda Magazine)
I had the great fortune to visit the winelands of France twice this year — the first a whirlwind trip from Roussillon to Alsace, with stops in Provence, the Rhône and Burgundy; while the second trip focused on the southwest, where I visited wineries in Bordeaux and Cahors. I was very impressed with the wines and wineries of Cahors.
Cahors is in the beautiful Lot River Valley, home to stunning scenery, deep history and pre-history, amazing gastronomic culture and noble red wines made from Malbec grapes.
01
May
Alameda and Oakland Magazine Article on the Roussillon
Discover Roussillon: Hardscrabble Southern France Region Produces Great Table Wines by Jeff Diamond
I recently returned from a wine buying trip in France, and while the entire sojourn was informative, eye-opening and full of the joy of great wine, food and, well, France, it was my first stop that opened my eyes to a new world of wine that I had known little about beforehand. It was the Roussillon, a tiny appellation tucked against the Pyrenees in far southern France.
05
Jan
Alameda and Oakland Magazine Article On Sherry
Here’s an article I wrote on Sherry, which appeared in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of Alameda and Oakland Magazine
Sherry – Not Just for Grandma Anymore
Sherry is one of the world’s most misunderstood and under-appreciated wines. Most folks who don’t know about Sherry think it’s either for cooking or for solely to serve when your grandmother visits.
Sherry is classified as a fortified wine – one that’s made stronger by and preserved by the addition of brandy. Sherries can age for years, or even decades.