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

“Drink Wine Day”

Posted on February 17, 2014 by thewineraconteur

I have no idea who creates these so called national days of commemoration. In one of the recent glossy periodicals that I receive Hour Magazine that is about Detroit and the Tri-County area, I saw a little message that reads … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Wine | Tagged Rioja, Sherry, Spain | 4 Comments

A Zone 9 Toddy, Because I am Sick of Snow

Posted on February 15, 2014 by thewineraconteur

When I was growing up in Detroit, prior to Postal Zip Codes, we had Postal Zones and I grew up in Zone 9. Zone 9 for me, was where I grew up, and I grew up in an Armenian enclave. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Stonehouse in Escanaba

Posted on February 13, 2014 by thewineraconteur

Whenever I hear the city of Escanaba, I and most people, especially from Michigan, think of the play that Jeff Daniels wrote and premiered at his Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea “Escanaba in da Moonlight” which was later made into … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged "Bordeaux of South America", Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile, Maipo Valley, Santa Rita Reserva | Leave a comment

Devotion: The Monthly Wine Writing Challenge

Posted on February 11, 2014 by thewineraconteur

“Hopelessly devoted to you” was the lead in for the newest Monthly Wine Writing Challenge and hopefully, no one will ask me to sing the song, or what ever potential readers I have will run away in droves. The theme … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Monthly Wine Writing Challenge, Wine | Tagged Carignan, Champagne, Chardonnay, Cinsault, Clairette, Counoise, Domaine Mireille & Vincent, Epernay, France, Grenache, Moet et Chandon, Mouvedre, Muscardin, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Terret Noir, Vacarese, White Star | 11 Comments

Bijou in Southfield, Michigan

Posted on February 9, 2014 by thewineraconteur

I must be in the “way back machine” from my childhood, as I have been thinking of some of the old restaurants that used to cater to “foodies” before there was “foodies.” I guess I just happened to discover wine … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Brut, Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Reims, Ruinart Pere & Fils | 17 Comments

Pontchartrain Wine Cellars

Posted on February 7, 2014 by thewineraconteur

As I was looking at my collection of matchbooks, I looked at a place that was legendary when I was a kid. Most of the fine restaurants were still located in Downtown Detroit, and since I went to school Downtown, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Aloxe-Corton, Burgundy, Cote de Beaune, France, Pinot Noir | 20 Comments

Gaucho Steak House

Posted on February 5, 2014 by thewineraconteur

I recently had dinner with some friends at Gaucho Steak House. I believe that they were the first of the South American style eateries, in the Detroit area, where they bring the food on skewers and carve the meat off … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Argentina, Gascon, Licor 43, Malbec, Mendoza, Spain | Leave a comment

Bigalora Cucina

Posted on February 3, 2014 by thewineraconteur

The other night we met with our Son and his Fiancé for dinner at Bigalora Cucina. If the restaurant sounds familiar, I have mentioned it before as Pizzeria Biga, which was the name of the restaurant when they had two … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Bombino Blanco, Cocciola, Gran Sasso, Italy, La Bella Addornmentata, Malavasia Blanco, Passerina, Trebbian D'Abruzzo, Trebbiano, Ugni Blanc | 4 Comments

Windows in Traverse City

Posted on February 1, 2014 by thewineraconteur

As I was looking at some of the mementos that I keep, there was a generic blank white matchbook that I had inscribed Windows/Traverse City 6/7/95. I smiled because I remembered the dinner we had there. We had gone on … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | Tagged Bolla, Chardonnay, Italy, Puglia | 2 Comments

Aureole in Las Vegas

Posted on January 30, 2014 by thewineraconteur

Have you ever wanted to go somewhere and then when you got there, you were so disappointed? Thankfully this does not occur too often, but when it does it, at least my brain likes to bury the memory. The other … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Wine | 5 Comments