French Beauties Student Scores

Selection of French wines

From left in the photo above…Le Domaine Dedouet Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie 2018, AOP Sèvre et Maine, Loire Valley, $20. FSW Students say: B+ Domaine Schlumberger Pinot Gris Les Princes Abbés 2017, AOP Alsace, $24. FSW Students say: B Château de Montfort Vouvray Demi-Sec (off dry) 2019, AOP Vouvray, Loire Valley, $18. FSW Students say: Either A or C,…

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Wines for a European Summer Student Scores

Selection of European Wines

From left in the photo above…Voghera Langhe Favorita 2019, DOC Langhe Favorita, Piedmont, Italy, National price = $20; Utah price = $11. FSW Students say: B+ Astobiza Txakoli 2019, DO Txakoli de Àlava, Spain, National price = $22; Utah price = $15. FSW Students say: B Domaine Ansen Struch Brut Blanc de Noirs NV, AOC Cremant de Alsace, France, National…

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Italian Summer Classics Student Scores

Selection of Italian Wines

From left in the photo above…Tenuta Luisa Sauvignon Blanc 2018, DOC Isonzo del Friuli, $16. FSW Students say: BTerredora di Paolo 2019 “Loggio della Serra” Greco di Tufo, DOCG Greco di Tufo, $21. FSW Students say: B+ Bruno Giacosa 2019 Roero Arneis, DOC Roero, $38. FSW Students say: C+ LeSalette ‘19 Valpolicella Classico, DOC Valpolicella Classico, $18. FSW Students…

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Wine to pair to the inauguration

Portrait of Henry Hyde, Viscount Cornbury, later 2nd Earl of Clarendon (1688–1709) and his wife, Theodosia Capel, Viscountess Cornbury 1661

​A new president will be sworn in on January 20, 2021.I’ve never celebrated a presidential inauguration; in fact, I’ve never really thought anything about them except it is a lot of money to spend on a ceremony for an already-elected person. Agree or disagree with Trump, he’s gotten most of us to pay attention to…

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Wine or tequila to honor your dying pet?

Older picture of two kids with puppy

The kids dressed up as black labs. We pick up the soft, yellow-blonde puppy on a Sunday afternoon. My daughter, almost four, and my son, 18 months, can’t help but reach their chubby arms into the cardboard box between their car seats, shrieking happily every time the puppy moves, or licks them, or lays down.By…

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Champagne’s bad luck bubbles (Part 5 of 5)

Row of very dusty old champagne bottles

As I wait to start my interview with Devin Thorpe of Forbes, I sit back from the webcam on my desk, close my eyes and become still. Deep breaths in and out. I try to calm my racing mind.Will he ask me to show him a gift box? Do I know my financials well enough? Is there…

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Wines to pair with radiation (Part 4 of 5)

Kirsten posting with doctors next to a radiation machine

Radiation is the sneakiest of all the cancer treatments I go through.I meet with the friendly, smiling radiation doc. It’s hard to see her as a doctor—she looks like a P.E. teacher. With her pixie cut and glowing skin, she talks about beams of radiation, percentages of tissue damage versus effectiveness of the treatment and…

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Wines for a bigger bust (Part 3 of 5)

Pink and yellow bras hanging on rack at store

When studying red wines, people in the know use categories like the following to describe them: Fruit – How noticeable are the berry aromas and flavors in the wine? Acidity – How much does the wine make your mouth water? Tannin – How grippy or sandpaper-like is the feeling in your mouth when drinking the…

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Wines to pair with breast cancer (part 2 of 5)

Kirsten in a hospital gown going through breast cancer procedures

As I sit topless in front of a complete stranger—a handsome, 40-something, Indian-from-India plastic surgeon—I have thoughts running through my mind: These are pretty normal, right? Not bad for a 50-year-old with three kids? Could still get some Mardi Gras beads, eh? Then, as he takes his fingers and lifts my breasts up, effectively taking…

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Wines to pair with breast cancer (Part 1 of 5)

Two deer in green meadow with sun beans shining through the trees

Have you ever driven at night in the mountains? If so, you know that you should watch for deer. They often lurk just off the sides of the road, in the forest — the cute, soft brown creatures. Your kids scan the trees and gleefully point them out as you drive carefully, with your high…

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