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By Seema Tikare Why is South African wine a hard sell? I am having a hard time coming up with downsides. The wines being made there today display an expertise and care, grounded in an ethical commitment to the land on which they are grown, that makes for extremely high... Read More

By Pink Lady We love Marathon Monday here in Boston, and the race itself is as good a reason as any to raise a glass in our fair city. The real holiday we celebrate, Patriots’ Day, commemorates “the shot heard ‘round the world” and the ensuing battles that kicked off... Read More

by ANDY CROUCH Some breweries just feel like they have been around forever. Castle Island Brewing first opened in 2O15 but it seems like it could have been 2OO5. Co-founder Adam Romanow initially wanted the brewery, named after the South Boston landmark, to open in Southie. But that dream was... Read More

by PINK LADY Every month is Women’s History Month as far as we are concerned, but we would be remiss to let March pass us by without raising a glass to an enterprising forebroad who paved our way. This month, won’t you join us in toasting Martha King Niblo? Martha... Read More

by LEW BRYSON Irish whiskey, once a tiny shadow of its pre-Prohibition global glory, has recovered and is playing in the big leagues again. Jameson is an 8 million case brand worldwide, half of that in the U.S., and Tullamore DEW is at 1.5 million globally, with Bushmills just under... Read More

by Pink Lady Writing about Margaritas in February in New England might seem counterintuitive: It’s cold, possibly snowing or icing as you read this, and we are deep into whiskey and winter warmer season. But February 22nd marks National Margarita Day, so we say why not mix one up? A... Read More

By Kirsten Amann Champagne typically has quite an exhaustive run in the latter months of the year, between holiday parties and New Year’s Eve. Oenophile friends start popping holiday bottles as early as Thanksgiving (but who are we kidding, most oenophiles pop bottles on days that end in Y), and... Read More

By Seema Tikare I admit, I have mixed feelings about Merlot. There is always a small voice in the back of my head saying, “This is lightweight. As a professional, you should be drinking something more serious — or hipper — or more interesting.” But, at the same time, that... Read More

  Alexander N. Block, widely known as “Sandy,” died of cancer on November 21. He was a youthful 72 years old. He cut a wide swath in the wine trade, producing wine, selling wine wholesale and in restaurants, buying wine, teaching wine to employees and consumers, writing about wine, including... Read More