In a region steeped with tradition and history, the past decade has brought about some dramatic change. The beginning part of that change started with a trickling of grape growers, who had supplied the grand Champagne houses (Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon, Bollinger, Taittinger, etc...) with the grapes for their...

Paul Draper has all the trophies, accolades, honors, and celebrity trappings that any winemaker could possibly have. Yet, there is a sense of humility and purpose that seems to set him apart. When I asked the legendary winemaker from Ridge Vineyards in California's Santa Cruz Mountains, what his most...

The restaurant business is a very unique industry, packed with colorful characters, miscreants, thieves, liars, unique talents, wonderful personalities, horrible personalities, and truly dedicated people. Hal Goldman, a Long Island NY chef of extraordinary dedication, was a rare human being. Hal was my friend. He was not the friend who...

In a profession where confusion and pretense reign supreme, sometimes there is a voice of reason. Becky Wasserman, legendary namesake of French wine importer, Becky Wasserman Selections, is just that voice. I never needed to see a Wine Spectator score, or a Robert Parker score on a wine that she...

This is a question that gets to the heart of the issue of "the customer is always right." As a general policy, most restaurants will politely take back the bottle of wine which the customer rejected, without any issues being raised, and will most likely have their distributor salesperson...

One of the retailing come-ons that drives me out of my mind is the 80 percent off sale. Don't tell me the savings, just tell me the cost. I'll figure out if the price is a good price. The restaurant business, with huge competition, and an economy-driven loss of...

When people ask me where I look to find the best values in wine, I hesitate. I hesitate, because I don't have a pat answer that I can send them on their way armed with the security of a quick phrase, or a snappy all encompassing line. The best starting...