If you’ve ever heard of the Internet – and really, even if you haven’t – you’re probably familiar with the interminable quarrel between ninjas and pirates over the question of who is cooler. And as much as I favor the maritime marauder over the island assassin, there’s one area in which pirates simply can’t compete with their stealthier foes: stealth. And so it was with ninja-like vigilance rather than my usual piratic rapacity that I embarked upon ...

When I first launched Convicted for Grape, many years ago (around 0.75 by my count), I was admittedly looking for little more than a quasi-productive outlet to justify the exorbitant amount of money I spent on wine. At the same time, however, I was dreaming of a loftier goal: that glorious, yet no doubt distant day on which my blog would become credible enough to require a page explaining my policy on press samples. In other words, ...

Due to the raging success of my Pinot Soiree, which shattered my original estimates with a total of two non-me participants, it wasn’t long before another request to set up a tasting came my way. And with spring more or less having arrived, I felt this would be a great opportunity to broaden my own palate a little and taste some seasonally-appropriate rosé wines. If you’ve read my last entry, you’d know that I don’t typically drink ...

Those of you who know me probably know that, when it comes to wine, I’m not much for credentials. This stems in part from my not having any, and in part from my staunch insistence that wine is a subjective hobby. Still, sometimes it’s fun to pretend that I actually know what I’m talking about; and occasionally, when I’m feeling particularly pretentious, I may just go all out and put together a soiree (or Noir-ee!) of my ...

As enjoyable as my last visit to Hoboken, New Jersey was, I couldn’t help but notice that the city seemed to suffer from a disappointing paucity of actual hobos. This time, though, I breathed a sigh of relief: not two minutes after my arrival, I was approached by an obviously homeless gentleman who, while insisting he wasn’t homeless, asked me for 50 cents. I gave him a quarter instead, for although it’s a matter of common courtesy ...

To date I’ve talked about a couple of Pinot Noirs, yet so far they’ve all come not only from the United States, but from my own vinographically obscure corner thereof: Southeastern Pennsylvania. I’ve also been more than happy with the results, even though Oregon is generally lauded as the best place in the country for Pinot. But in much the same way as you’d look to Georgia for peaches, Idaho for potatoes or Utah for religious persecution, ...

On Sunday I attended a free open house at Sand Castle Winery, and I’ve decided it would probably be fun if I took some time to brag about it here. You may remember Sand Castle as the producer of the 2004 Dry Riesling from my second review, which ever since has held the honor of being my all-time favorite white. If you don’t, you’ve either got a terrible memory, or you haven’t even read my entire blog ...

Hello again to everyone in Internet land! I’m back and better than ever – and yes, I’m ready to write about some Crossing Vineyards reds. Did you miss me? Be the first to like. Like Unlike