So you’re a newbie to wine tasting, and you’ve never set foot in a winery tasting room. Well, worry not. A tasting room is an area set aside in a winery where visitors are encouraged to sample the various wines before purchasing. Tasting rooms can range from a grand space to an intimate, informal area… Read More…

Make a New Year’s resolution to experience fantastic new wines in 2012. Just because the holidays have passed and the credit card bills are piling up, doesn’t mean you should give up great wines in January and February. Likewise, you can break out of the old Chardonnay/Merlot/Pinot Grigio rut and enjoy new sensory delights from… Read More…

With the gift-giving season upon us, we often hear “It’s the thought that counts.” While you may indeed be thinking fondly of friends and loved ones when giving gifts this holiday season, how often do you really take the time to pick a thoughtful gift? When we give a gift, do we ever consider how… Read More…

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving Dinner or you’re traveling, wine can play a major role in your holiday. If you’re hosting a house full of family, in-laws and friends, your Thanksgiving Day wine experience likely begins with the Macy’s Parade and ends with the last man standing. If you’re on somebody’s Thanksgiving guest list, chances are… Read More…

“Do you crush the grapes with your feet?” This is by far the most common question asked at any winery, on any given day. While more seasoned winery visitors may discretely roll their eyes at the gentleman in the Hawaiian shirt asking the question (and it’s almost always a guy who asks this), it is… Read More…

Are you that guy or gal who likes to put ice cubes in your wine? Are you tired of your wine-savvy friends rolling their eyes at you for adulterating a fine Chardonnay? What’s wrong with a cube or two in your Chablis, after all? Whether you’re the one committing this faux pas or you want… Read More…

All wines have the potential to delight us, but some even have the power to inspire us. All wine lovers – at one point or another – have experienced that moment when all five of our senses seem to function together to bring true joy to life. Wine lovers understand that wine is an experience…. Read More…

Looking for a fun way to spend an evening with family or friends? Whether you are renting a beach house with a group of people or need an excuse to throw a party, home wine tastings are fun, easy and economical. You can easily turn your summer barbeque into an exquisite wine tasting event without… Read More…

I have a favorite expression: “Life’s too short to drink cheap wine.” You may have seen this motto embroidered into a throw pillow somewhere, on a painted kitchen knick-knack, or you may even have it silk-screened in block letters on your favorite T-shirt. There is, however, a caveat to this adage: “Never spend money on… Read More…

South Carolinians possess a fierce independent streak. For better or for worse, we’ve even been known to be downright rebellious, from time to time. We certainly admire the Old World’s great wineries – and like them – but we also understand the secret to making great wines lies in staying true to our “down home”… Read More…

By Georgene Mortimer, Island Winery Are you ready to become an international traveler without ever having to renew your passport? If you’re a seasoned veteran at wine festivals, then you already know they are a fun and inexpensive way to explore the great wine regions of the world. If you’re a newbie to wine festivals… Read More…