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

Fine Wine Source Club – March 2025

Posted on March 23, 2025 by thewineraconteur

It felt so good to get out in the real world as pneumonia really beat me up. It was seven weeks before I really attempted to join the world again, and did it feel good. My first stop was at … Continue reading →

Posted in Wine | Tagged Cabernet Sauvignon, Calaveras County, California, Chardonnay, Forlorn Hope, Il Colle, Italy, Muscat, Queen of the Sierra, Rorick Heritage Vineyards, Veneto IGT, Verdelho, White Wine | Leave a comment

Le Bistro

Posted on March 20, 2025 by thewineraconteur

Our final night at sea, and for me, it was fine. About two days earlier I started getting very lethargic and my Bride was starting to give me static that I was getting old. I did a quick check and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Brut Yellow Label, Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin | Leave a comment

Cagney’s

Posted on March 17, 2025 by thewineraconteur

When I heard that the steak house on the ship was named Cagney’s all I could think of was “you dirty rat” as I guess I have watched too many Warner Brothers films and watched Rich Little and Frank Gorshin … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Barolo, Castagnole delle Lanze, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Chile, Dogliotti, Domaines de Rothschild (Lafite), France, Grenache, Italy, Lange, Le Cellier de Princes, Los Vascos, Monastrell, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Vina Las Vascos | Leave a comment

A Brief Stop at the Dominican Republic

Posted on March 14, 2025 by thewineraconteur

While we weren’t scheduled for any excursions we did go and briefly explore the grounds off the port landing in the Dominican Republic. The island is rather unique in that it is known as Hispaniola and has two sovereign nations; … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Bodegas y Vinedos de Aguirre, Canada, Chile, Ice Wine, Inniskillin, Malbec, Morpho Helena, Niagara Peninsula VQA, Ontanon, Ontario, Valle Central, Vidal Blanc | Leave a comment

Birthday Greetings, Bottle of Wine

Posted on March 11, 2025 by thewineraconteur

If those two random thoughts flow in your brain with a medley, you are like my Bride and myself and of a certain age and era. We caught the first show of “The Beatles Invasion” and there were four different … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Wine | Tagged Borges Tawny Porto, Portugal, Sociedade dos Vinhos Borges, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Tinto Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional | Leave a comment

Palomar

Posted on March 8, 2025 by thewineraconteur

I have to admit that being on a cruise ship has changed considerably since the last time, which was about thirty years ago. Then there was one private restaurant for dinner, and a limited breakfast offering at another location; otherwise … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Champagne Haton, Chardonnay, Damery, France, Il Borro, Italy, Jean-Noel Haton Rosé, Lamelle, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Toscana IGT | 3 Comments

The Wedding Reception

Posted on March 5, 2025 by thewineraconteur

The great thing was that the Bride looked lovely and they had a wonderful ceremony which is the desire of all the attendees. Between the time of the wedding and the reception, all that were joining in for the honeymoon … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged 6eme Sens Blanc, Chardonnay, Crianza, Dow's, France, Gerard Bertrand, Grenache Blanc, Grupo Olarra, IGP Pays d'Oc, Mourisco Tinto, Port, Porto, Portugal, Quinta do Bomfilm, Rioja, Sauvignon Blanc, Single Quinta Vintage Porto, Souzao, Spain, SQVP, Tempranillo, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cao, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Viognier | Leave a comment

The Morning of the Wedding

Posted on March 2, 2025 by thewineraconteur

I have to admit that during my entire career I always enjoyed what was known for years as Cruise Season, as the fabrics and colors were fun. Everyone that flew down for the wedding and most were also for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Elia On the River

Posted on February 27, 2025 by thewineraconteur

We were getting closer to the wedding and more people were meeting up, and at least the majority of our crowd ended up at the same hotel, through the arrangements of the cruise line. The hand steamer that my Bride … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged 20 Year Old Tawny, Argentina, Chandon Argentina, Colli di Luni DOC, Italy, Lujan de Cuyo, Malbec, Mourisco Tinto, Otima 20, Portugal, Reserva, Sousao, Tawny, Tempranillo, Tenuta la Ghiaia, Terrazas de los Andes, Tinta Amarela, Tinto Barroca, Tinto Cao, Tinto Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Uco Valley, Vermentino, Warre's | Leave a comment

94’th Aero Squadron Restaurant

Posted on February 24, 2025 by thewineraconteur

Not only did we arrive early for our flight, but we were also actually two days early prior to the wedding. Of course, I had no idea who else was going to be in Miami so early and it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Albarino, Bouza do Rei, Douro, Lagar de Bouza, Porto, Portugal, Rias Baixas, Sandeman, Spain, Twenty Year Old Tawny | Leave a comment