Somm at Your Service

“I — I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

We think Robert Frost knew a thing or 2 about how to get more enjoyment from a glass of wine... how is that?

By learning all about what’s behind that glass of wine.

Sure, the grapes, the vineyards, and the people that made it.

Go one step beyond to find out really what influenced the wine grower’s decisions when they were making the wine: the history, culture and people who have lived and visited their area. While they may be remnants of the past, they are also influences that are very much alive which have created traditions that, especially small, family producers, embrace and follow.

Help to make every drop of wine count where every sip becomes an experience unto itself.

While many wine professionals come about mid career, Helen Gallo Bryan’s career in wine started early, inspired by her studies in France where she was exposed to “better wine” than a typical college student. Her career in wine was driven by her passion for small production, authentic wines, which allowed her to get to know everything behind that glass of wine. Her gift of connectedness allowed us to share her joy and build community with her and amongst each other. Get to know this incredible wonder woman of wine in this article.

Unleash your inner foodie with our guide to the best wine and candy pairings. Discover delicious combinations of sweet and savory flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. From classic chocolate bars to fruity gummy candies, we've got you covered. Whether you're hosting a party or simply indulging in a late-night treat, our expert recommendations will help you elevate your wine and candy experience.

Looking for a white wine that has depth and texture beyond the fruitiness? If that’s you then Italian whites is your next wine destination.

In Italy, there are loads of native varieties to explore, made in all sorts of styles from dry to sweet and still to sparkling. When made by winegrowers hyper focused on quality and authenticity, you get a great white wine with amazing balance and complex flavors to exceed the expectations of the most discerning wine drinker.

Discover the world of Italian white wines in this article.

Now that harvest is taking over the wine world in the Northern Hemisphere, it's time to brush up on the ABC's of how to make wine.

While it seems like a simple enough process, after all wine was discovered by accident by women in ancient times who discovered that their grapes lying around started to create this juice which made them giggle and feel happy. 

But the 3 million dollar question is: how do you make a GOOD wine?

Meaning, a wine that has an enticing flavor and intriguing complexity that makes you want to take another sip.

Brush up on the basic building blocks of winemaking in this article.

What shapes a vineyard? What decisions and reasoning brings a wine farmer to cut, trim, and train their vines in a certain way? Each method creates a different vineyard profile, unique to the hand that trims, and also affects the quality and profile of a wine. Let’s explore some of the most popular vineyard trellising systems, and discover what drives a farmer to choose a method of grape vine training.

When shopping for wine, how do you sift through the myriad of choices to find the hidden gems?

To find out, we turned to a wine expert with many years working in a wine store fielding questions from wine lovers with this question in mind.

She came up with 4 tips on how to stretch your dollar further without sacrificing quality, while amping up your wine cellar at the same time. Discover how to find good values in wines in this article.

As a country whose culinary cuisine has revolved around fast food for over a hundred years, is National Junk Food Day something to shun or to celebrate?

If you go back to the roots of fast food, it's street food, which is "the true testimony to the identity of a people.” Behind street food is a wealth of traditions and diversity of flavors and textures which all tie to a place, a people and ultimately are rooted in authenticity.

In this article we elevate the humble fast food by digging into the history of street food and provide ways to enjoy them more with fun and delicious wine and food pairing ideas.