Personal Wine Blog

Darren Scott - Sommelier

Recent Posts

How to Order Wine at Restaurants Like a Pro

Posted by Darren Scott - Sommelier on October 2, 2018
 
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Tags: Education, how to

Our Guide to Ageworthy Birth Year Wines

Posted by Darren Scott - Sommelier on September 22, 2018
 
There’s a popular misconception that wine categorically improves over time, and that older wines always taste better than young ones.  In reality, a vast majority of the wine in today’s marketplace is meant to be consumed within 2-5 years of release, and only a select few possess the structural components to last until the newest member of your family comes of age.
 
Because of this, we’ve created a guide to the key characteristics of wines that can be gifted to your child decades in the future:
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Tips for Proper Wine Storage

Posted by Darren Scott - Sommelier on September 19, 2018
 
So you received a bottle of personalized wine, but you don’t plan on drinking it right away - now what do you do with it?   We get this question all the time, so we created this handy guide to proper wine storage that will help you protect your wine gifts over time:  
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Tags: Education, how to

Classic Wine and Cheese Pairings | Best Cheese for Wine

Posted by Darren Scott - Sommelier on September 17, 2018
 
There’s an old cliché inscribed on countless wine labels: “Pairs well with cured meats and aged cheeses.”
 
When it comes to finding the best cheese for wine it’s hard to go wrong with just about any pairing, but to simplify your strategy for your next party or gathering, we’ve broken down the principles behind the four timeless classic wine and cheese pairings:
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Three Must-Try Fall Reds

Posted by Darren Scott - Sommelier on September 10, 2018
 
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Wine Gifts for Labor Day

Posted by Darren Scott - Sommelier on August 27, 2018

Celebrated on the first   Monday   in September, Labor Day is a holiday that honors the contributions that American laborers have made to the prosperity and cultural wealth of the nation. It also functions as the unofficial end of summer, and in fashion, it is the last day when it is acceptable to wear white.
 
With all of this in mind, we’ve selected a group of American white wines that will make perfect accompaniments to any Labor Day celebration:
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French Wine Gifts

Posted by Darren Scott - Sommelier on August 14, 2018
Megan Mallen [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
 
By any measure,   France   is the greatest   wine -producing country in the world.    France   was the first nation to implement a system of legislation that codified viticultural practices and protected geographical designations of origin, and its laws served as a model for the rest of the winegrowing world.
 
France   is also the original home of the world’s most famous   wine   grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Grenache, and Syrah for red   wines , alongside Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling for whites.
 
No other country produces such a large volume of fine   wine , and at Personal   Wine , we’ve tasted through hundreds of bottles to bring you the very best   wine   gifts that   France   has to offer:
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Italian Wine Gifts

Posted by Darren Scott - Sommelier on August 13, 2018
 
Italy is the world’s largest producer of wine by volume, with a staggering 36 million cases exported to the United States alone in 2016.
 
Italy is also home to over 2,000 indigenous grape varieties, by far the largest number of any winegrowing nation, and each of the country’s twenty regions produces a unique range of wines according to highly differentiated local traditions. 
 
This dizzying variety of Italian grapes and winemaking styles can be daunting to the uninitiated, but at Personal Wine, we’ve tasted hundreds of bottles to find the very best wine gifts that Italy has to offer:
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Wine Gifts from Napa Valley

Posted by Darren Scott - Sommelier on August 6, 2018
Stan Shebs [GFDL, CC BY-SA 3.0]. from Wikimedia Commons
 
On the heels of last year’s devastating wildfires in Napa Valley, one of the best ways to support recovery efforts is to purchase wines from the region. What's more, a recent string of outstanding vintages in Napa Valley has yielded wines of extraordinary quality that also represent some of the best values in today's marketplace.
 
For both of these reasons, we strongly recommend wine gifts from Napa Valley for any occasion, and Personal Wine is proud to offer a wide selection of critically acclaimed bottles:
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Our Favorite Red Wine Pairings with Everyday Foods

Posted by Darren Scott - Sommelier on July 23, 2018
J ust as a dash of seasoning can enhance the flavors of a dish, the right wine can elevate a meal beyond the sum of its parts.  You can spend years studying the nuances of food and wine pairing, or you can just give our sommelier-selected wines a try.
 
Bonus: they’re all under $50 per bottle, so they will make excellent everyday wine gifts for the home chef in your life.

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Tags: Red Wine

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