Author Archives: thewineraconteur

About thewineraconteur

A non-technical wine writer, who enjoys the moment with the wine, as much as the wine. Twitter.com/WineRaconteur Instagram/thewineraconteur Facebook/ The Wine Raconteur

Three Beverage Gadgets

Posted on January 1, 2026 by thewineraconteur

Indulge me in this article, as I sometimes write ahead, like this article because I am writing this prior to an operation to correct the prior operation. I received a leather embossed hip flask akin to what used to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Christmas 2025

Posted on December 29, 2025 by thewineraconteur

Normally at this time of the year, I write about the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners that we attend, and we usually just take a turkey or her famous Caesar Salad, and of course bottles of wine. Everything was … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged American Champagne, Brut, California, California Champagne, Chardonnay, Charmat Method, Domaine Gilles Noblet, E&J Gallo, France, La Collonge, Maconnaise, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Pouilly-Fuisse, William Wycliff Winery | 1 Comment

Merry Christmas 2025

Posted on December 26, 2025 by thewineraconteur

My Bride and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. May the Christmas Season bring you plenty of love, luck, health and happiness. And further adventures with Nick and Nora, as we settle in to being retirees.

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Fine Wine Source Club – December 2025

Posted on December 23, 2025 by thewineraconteur

I went back to my local wine shop The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan the next day after the Lingua Franca tasting, as the shop was wall to wall people with those leaving the tasting and making purchases, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Wine | Tagged Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Contra Costa County AVA, Faux Pas, France, IGP Pays de l'Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon, Lingua Franca, Mas de Daumas Gassac, Mataro, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Rose Frizant, Thre Wine Company, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

Larry Stone and Lingua Franca – Part Three

Posted on December 20, 2025 by thewineraconteur

We were coming up to the end of the special wine tasting at The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan. Larry Stone was very informative and unfortunately, he had only an hour per session to talk about his wines. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Wine | Tagged Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, Lingua Franca, Mimi's Mind, Oregon, Pinot Noir, The Plow, Tongue 'N Cheek, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton | 4 Comments

Larry Stone and Lingua Franca – Part Two

Posted on December 17, 2025 by thewineraconteur

Larry Stone, the founder of Lingua Franca, was at The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan for three wine tasting sessions of his wines. “Lingua Franca” has been referred to as the universal language used to connect people of diverse … Continue reading →

Posted in Wine | Tagged Avni, Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills, Estate Vinyard, Lingua Franca, Lynx Hill Vineyard, Maple Grove Vineyard, Mt. Pisgah, Oregon, Pinot Noir, Sisters, South-West Salem, Van Duzer Corridor, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton | Leave a comment

Larry Stone and Lingua Franca – Part One

Posted on December 14, 2025 by thewineraconteur

There was a special wine tasting event at The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan with only three one-hour sessions, and it was all booked up. The tasting was hosted by Larry Stone, the founder of Lingua Franca. More about … Continue reading →

Posted in Wine | Tagged Avni, Bunker Hill Estate Vineyard, Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills, Estate Chardonnay, Lingua Franca, Oregon, Van Duzer Corridor, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton | Leave a comment

Alpino Detroit in Corktown

Posted on December 11, 2025 by thewineraconteur

People think of my Bride and I when they want to try a restaurant off the beaten track, both in cuisine and destination. My Bride didn’t think twice about us going back to Alpino Detroit with someone that hadn’t been … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Arbois vin Jaune, Domaine Rolet Pere et Fils, France, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Gewurztraminer, Italy, Jura, Pierpaolo Pecorari, Savagnin, Savagnin Blanc, Traminer Aromatico, Tre Venezie, Venezia Giulia IGT, White Traminer | Leave a comment

My Bride’s Birthday 2025

Posted on December 8, 2025 by thewineraconteur

I must admit that it was a great celebration and unfortunately this time of the year always gets hectic, and I have articles that pile up on each other, especially when I have multiple part stories. I know that she … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cain Five, Cain Vineyard and Winery, California, Chardonnay, Cremant du Jura, Domaine Jean Bourdy, France, Malbec, Merlot, Methode Traditionelle, Napa Valley, Petit Verdot, Port, Roberts + Rogers Winery | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving 2025

Posted on December 5, 2025 by thewineraconteur

Thanksgiving is a holiday that makes us (my Bride) totally organized and totally impressive to all that hear her accomplishments. This year, two days earlier, she had gone to the post office to mail the out-of-town gifts and the Christmas … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Blue Curacao, Blumond Blue, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, Charmat Method, Chateau Haut Marbuzet, Cru Bourgeois, Cru Bourgeois Exceptional, Cru Grand Bourgeois Exceptionnels, France, Fratelli Saraceni, Glera, Italy, Merlot, Napa Valley, Petit Verdot, Roberts + Rogers Winery, Saint-Estephe, Saraceni Wines | 2 Comments