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| Jan 12, 2021 | By the Glass: Make a match of wine, cheese | CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / [email protected]
Pair a double-cream cheese such as brie with Marcel Lapierre’s “Raisins Gaulois.”
I have noticed a growth in cheese selections offered in the specialty sections of Honolulu’s top markets, in... |
| Dec 8, 2020 | By the Glass: For a special gift, aim high | When it comes to a gift of wine during the holiday season, I try to give each person on my list something special and unique — something they’d never buy for themselves.
Here are suggestions for when an indulgence is in order. Honolulu has ... |
| Nov 10, 2020 | By the Glass: Wise wine choice elevates holiday feast | The Thanksgiving family feast is one of the most heart-warming and unforgettable get-togethers of the year.
To make it even more enjoyable, choose a special wine.
One of the more popular choices is pinot noir, because of how well it pairs w... |
| Oct 6, 2020 | By the Glass: Inspiration found in the fields | The second time around, a book can offer a new range of insights. I recently revisited two books that I’d originally picked up for what they could teach me about wine. When I re-read them, they led me back to time spent with some of the men... |
| Sep 1, 2020 | By the Glass: An influential group came together in Honolulu in the 1970s | Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
COURTESY CHUCK FURUYA
Most of the early American master sommeliers gathered in Monterey, Calif., in 1992. They included five with Hawaii ties: Chuck Furuya, left, next t... |
| May 5, 2020 | By the Glass: Value wines well-suited for tough times | With so many restaurants temporarily closed or serving only takeout, wine sales have undoubtedly decreased overall. But many retail stores are reporting spikes in wine sales as people continue to buy bottles to enjoy at home.
I’ve received ... |
| Dec 31, 2019 | By the Glass: Quality, value found off the beaten path | Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
When looking for value, in many cases we now search in lesser-known regions, where land is less expensive. Read more
Mahalo for reading the Honolulu Star-Advertiser!
You... |
| Dec 3, 2019 | By the Glass: Make your party better with bubbles | This is the time for bubbly. Sparkling wines foster gaiety and start the ball rolling at all of December’s festive occasions.
Store shelves are stocked with all kinds of sparkling wines, a virtual wall of choices. Selecting the right one is... |
| Oct 1, 2019 | By the Glass: Investigate the charm of chardonnay | The chardonnay grape variety produces some of the most highly acclaimed, prestigious white wines and has subsequently developed a huge following. It is one of the most widely planted white wine grape varieties in the world.
The big question... |
| Sep 3, 2019 | By the Glass: 4 great wines rooted in family | Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
You probably have not heard of any of these wines, but they can be found in Hawaii, and they are well worth seeking out, not just for quality, but also value. Read more
... |
| Aug 6, 2019 | By the Glass: Light California wines perfect for summer sipping | The category of wines grown and produced in California is still raging in popularity here. Local people seem to really love California wines.
Having said that, not all California wines are created equal. There are so many grape varieties an... |
| May 1, 2019 | By the Glass: Right wines make most of summer’s fish | Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
To prepare for all the fresh summertime fish that will soon be available, I suggest stocking your refrigerator with the right white wines. Read more
Mahalo for reading t... |
| Apr 2, 2019 | By the Glass: Reverence for heritage distinguishes Italian reds | Italian and Mediterranean foods — a growing category among Hawaii restaurants — offer lots of vegetables in their preparations, particularly eggplant, roasted peppers, fennel and mushrooms.
When pairing wines with this kind of fare, I’ve ha... |
| Feb 5, 2019 | By the Glass: Never compromise on enjoyment with wine | With all the facets of wine to appreciate, it can be easy to forget a most basic one: Wine should be enjoyable.
I’ve been reminded of that recently, so I thought I’d share a few wines from California that I enjoy.
>> 2016 Birichino Vi... |
| 2019 | By the Glass: Here’s to a new year of finding great wine | There’s never just one answer to any challenge. In terms of finding great values in wine, there are indeed numerous approaches, and I’d like to discuss a few here as we enter the new year eager to taste more good wine:
>> Carignan var... |
| Nov 6, 2018 | By the Glass: Corsican wines ready for world stage | Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
COURTESY CHUCK FURUYA
The vineyards of Ajaccio in Corsica, France, offer a picture-perfect view of the countryside.
Many parts of Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon, re... |
| Oct 2, 2018 | By the Glass: Wine seminars provide rare tasting opportunities | DENNIS ODA / 2015
Halekulani cellarmaster Kevin Toyama, right, is assisted by Mark Shishido during a champagne tasting event held during the 2015 Hawaii Food & Wine Festival. Toyama will host three seminars on Oct. 27 at the hotel as pa... |
| Sep 4, 2018 | By the Glass: Find finesse in pinot noir | NEW YORK TIMES
A wine panel tasting of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, in New York, Feb. 1, 2017. Pinot noirs from California’s Sonoma Coast can be quite good, but consumers may need to guess whether the wines truly come from near the Pacific.
Cal... |
| Jul 31, 2018 | Wines from family-owned projects worth checking out | CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / 2017
Chuck Furuya serves wine to customers at Vino in 2017.
This week, I’ll be highlighting wines from family-owned projects, each from a different wine-growing region of the world.
This topic has been on my mind for s... |
| Jun 5, 2018 | Wine seminar creates light-bulb moments | STAR-ADVERTISER / 2018
Some of the wines featured in a blind tasting event at Vino Italian Tapas & Wine Bar in May.
Each time my wife, Cheryle, and I travel throughout the Mediterranean, I am reminded of how the locals merge wine with t... |
| May 1, 2018 | Finding true value in a bottle | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bottles of wine and food, including grapes and chocolate, during New York Fashion Week in February.
I’m grateful to know wine collectors who share their latest “trophies” — wines from the latest face on the scene, or a rece... |
| Feb 6, 2018 | Paso Robles yields great wine finds | ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2011
Workers at Tablas Creek Vineyard prune away new growth in vines in Paso Robles, Calif. Although the daytime temperatures can be quite high in Paso Robles, Calif., they easily drop into the 50s at night. This range of... |
| Jan 2, 2018 | Kalani grad returns to Hawaii for wine events | PIXABAY
Michael Jordan, a wine educator for the Jackson Family Wines group, is making several local appearances, sharing his vast knowledge, his big heart and his guitar playing and singing.
A slew of truly memorable wine personalities has ... |
| Dec 5, 2017 | Notable wines help top off 2017 | COURTESY DOMAINE SKOURAS
Domaine Skouras “Zoe” white wine is a blend of two indigenous Greek grape varieties grown in southern Greece in the Peloponnese and is fashioned by Giorgio Skouras, one of the winemaking prodigies helping to usher G... |
| Oct 31, 2017 | Look to California for wine picks this Thanksgiving | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and wine professionals will typically recommend French Beaujolais for the holiday table.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and wine professionals will typically recommend Fren... |
| Oct 3, 2017 | Hawai‘i Food & Wine Fest offers rare opportunities for wine lovers | STAR-ADVERTISER / 2012
The Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival provides a golden opportunity for foodies and everyone else to take an amazing food vacation without leaving home.
The Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival provides a golden opportunit... |
| Sep 5, 2017 | Grenache wines perfect for fall | NEW YORK TIMES
Grenache noir grapes at Tablas Creek Vineyard, which practices dry-farming through its 105 acres of vines, in Paso Robles, Calif., in 2015.
As we head into the fall and winter months, it is an opportune time to change our win... |
| Aug 1, 2017 | Californian Neyers makes delicious, high-quality wine | NEYERSVINEYARDS.COM
Today, because of his rich experience — more than 40 years in California which includes 25 years of working with the best French artisan producers — Neyers is delivering some of the top wines of California.
Over the many... |
| Jun 6, 2017 | Sauvignon blancs lovely for summer | COURTESY PIXABAY
Wines light in weight, lower in alcohol and oak levels, and possessing fresh, crisp, refreshing profiles are great for warm weather.
June is here, and we should be thinking about wines appropriate for warm weather. This mea... |
| Apr 4, 2017 | Wines to uplift Mediterranean fare | TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Instead of a red, try pairing spaghetti Bolognese with a dry, light- to medium-bodied rose to freshen the palate between bites.
The inspiration for this article started as I enjoyed a lamb souvlaki dish at the Olive Tre... |
| Jan 31, 2017 | Pink wines help boost Valentine’s mood | Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and it’s a time for romantic dinners and connecting with your loved one. What better way to celebrate that connection than with a glass of fine wine? When I asked my wife what wines she would reco... |
| Jan 3, 2017 | Rhone grape varieties enhance Mediterranean food | Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
While talking story recently with a friend on Maui, I was reminded of the challenges restaurants have selling red wines produced from “Rhone grape varieties.” Read more
... |
| Nov 1, 2016 | Wines for Thanksgiving will complete your feast | Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and many local families do their own spins on what to serve. Here are some wine recommendations to round out that holiday meal.
For the traditional dinner of roast turkey, savory stuffing and fixings... |
| Oct 4, 2016 | Talent will overflow at the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival | I can’t believe it’s already October. In less than a couple weeks, the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, and all the world-class talent it brings, will be upon us. The festival offers outstanding learning opportunities for the wine lover, and ... |
| Sep 6, 2016 | Artisanal wines that get better with age are a joy to taste | In my work at Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar, I taste many different styles of wine.
There are times when I sample a bevy of “trophy” wines, each world-class, grand and truly memorable. This is especially enjoyable when I revisit a particu... |
| Aug 2, 2016 | Ease summer heat with light libations | We are in the middle of a very hot summer, so here are some wines to help quench the thirst and cool off.
They share certain common denominators: Each is delicious, light in weight, low in alcohol content and very crisp and refreshing.
Flor... |
| May 3, 2016 | Wines enhance everyday dishes | Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
I find it exciting that more and more people are asking me for advice on what wines to serve with their meals. Not only can wine make food taste better, but the reverse ... |
| Apr 5, 2016 | Side-by-side tasting can uncover wine’s character, quality | CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / [email protected]
A fun way to better understand wine is through side-by-side tastings. The approach is particularly insightful when comparing Old World and New World wines.
New World wines hail from areas su... |
| Nov 4, 2015 | Pink wines go with dinner, prep palates for new flavors | Let’s give a big shout-out for pink wines. Thankfully, roses are a fast-growing segment of the wine world.
A couple of reasons why: There’s a growing number of terrific renditions readily available. Add to that the support of the wine profe... |
| Oct 7, 2015 | Family vineyard possession lets wineries keep price low | We are always on the hunt for really good wines that offer great value. These are much harder to come by than most would think.
Finding something interesting at $12 a bottle, for instance, is a real challenge. Consider the cost of the bottl... |
| Sep 2, 2015 | As cooler weather nears, try wine that’s pink or red | We are heading into the fall, which hopefully means cooler, less humid weather.
To hedge my bets, here are recommendations for wines suited to those conditions:
» 2014 Scherrer Dry Rose (about $22 a bottle): My wife, Cheryle, and I are huge... |
| Feb 4, 2015 | Food-friendly Beaujolais ideal for Valentine’s meal | For a change of pace, I thought I’d recommend some Beaujolais for Valentine’s Day this year. Beaujolais is a region in France at the southern tip of Burgundy, home of the gamay noir grape variety.
Most people probably aren’t familiar with g... |
| Dec 3, 2014 | Find the right wine to pair with holiday fare, gift giving | Now that the holiday season has descended, and we’re busy with festive celebrations and thoughts of gift giving, I thought some wine suggestions were in order.
Here are a few, which I hope will ease the task of making selections.
HOLIDAY GA... |
| Nov 5, 2014 | 4 standout white wines pair perfectly with fish | Wine lovers are lucky to have a whole world to explore in the pursuit of good wine. Many of us gravitate toward award winners and those wines that garner high scores and accolades.
There is always a time and a place to enjoy these, especial... |
| Aug 6, 2014 | Light and buoyant wines are perfect for hot weather | There certainly have been some hot days this summer. Over the years, I have discovered that when I’m hot, heavy amounts of oak and higher alcohol levels in wine are not what I am looking for.
After a day of yardwork recently, my wife, Chery... |
| Jul 2, 2014 | Right soil lends crispness to wine for summer sipping | Recently we held a dinner with two highly revered winemakers from Italy. As expected, their wines were compelling and interesting, but it was the conversation we had that I found particularly thought-provoking.
The topic of that discussion ... |
| Mar 6, 2013 | 2 French winemakers share creations with isles | This is a banner year for Hawaii foodies and wine lovers, thanks to the number of star chefs and winemakers who will visit our islands.
Star-studded events such as Made in America at the Four Seasons Hualalai, the Four Pinots at the Four Se... |
| Feb 20, 2013 | KITV anchor will sit down with Obama for interview | KITV anchor and reporter Yunji de Nies interviews President Barack Obama today in Washington, D.C., and the interview will air on this evening’s newscasts.
Being the first local reporter to have a one-on-one interview with the nation’s Hawa... |
| By the Glass: Start Thanksgiving planning by picking wine | Is it too early to start planning the Thanksgiving feast? Perhaps.
But this year, I’d suggest trying something a little different: Why not choose the wine first, then decide what to prepare for the joyous festivities?
>> 2015 Melville... |
| Rieslings complement many sweet-sour dishes | COURTESY PHOTO
A well-chilled glass of 2015 Dr. F. Weins-Prum Riesling “Estate” was a terrific pairing with a kale salad from Maui Nui Farms.
While on Maui recently, I ate a kale salad that really caught my attention. The kale from Maui Nui... |
| By the Glass: Light wines ideal for summer sipping | Summer is upon us. The weather is getting hotter and the sun is out much longer. This kind of weather calls for much lighter, crisper and less-oaked wines.
A key consideration at this time of the year, therefore, should be to select a wine ... |
| By the Glass: Pairings for pizza night at home | BETTY SHIMABUKURO / [email protected]
The Greek white wine Domaine Skouras “Zoe” pairs well with a white sauce-based pizza with grilled vegetables and fresh herbs.
Even with the pandemic creating havoc for restaurants, three places m... |
| Family-owned vineyards can signal quality wines | Selecting a wine can be an overwhelming process for many wine drinkers faced with the multitude of bottles and labels lined up on shelves. I’ve heard countless times that, in the face of confusion, people will select a wine based not just o... |
| Rhone Valley excels with grenache blends | NEW YORK TIMES
Corks of Cotes du Rhone wine near a bottle of the wine during a tasting in New York in 2011.
I am a wine person who believes that soils and growing conditions greatly affect what ends up in the bottle.
Fortunately, Old World ... |
| 4 Mediterranean wines great for gulping | COURTESY PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL
The Italian vineyards where Sella & Mosca Vermentino de Sardegna is produced.
In the Old World, especially along the Mediterranean basin, wine was an integral part of dining.
It still is. Through the gene... |
| Wines on the rocks are suited to summer | CRAIG T. KOJIMA / [email protected]
Chuck Furuya
Temperature and humidity can affect how a wine tastes, so adjust the wine you drink when the temperature rises by adding two ice cubes to your glass. The hotter and muggier it gets, ... |
| Summer’s the season to sparkle | NEW YORK TIMES
Sparkling wine is a perfect companion for foods in the warmer months of summer.
This is a most fitting time to consider sparkling wines. As we head into the especially warm months, it makes sense to pay attention to options t... |
| Old vines often produce unique, interesting wines | I have been intrigued with wines produced from older vines. While vine age does not necessarily translate into wine quality, old vines in the right locations and farmed well can add nuance, intricacy and unique character to the finished win... |
| A Golden State sojourn reveals some great wines | My wife, Cheryle, and I just returned from a weeklong trip to California wine country, and we were reminded of some great wines that over-deliver on quality for the dollar.
Here are four standouts:
» 2012 Costa de Oro Chardonnay “Santa Barb... |
| Pinot noir grape varieties can offer remarkable value | Over the years, the pinot noir grape variety has garnered quite a reputation and following in Burgundy, France, and is now booming in both California and Oregon as well.
What most wine lovers do not know, however, is that pinot noir is al... |
| Family heritage, culture cultivate standout wines | The Halekulani recently hosted a most memorable wine and food tasting event. Kevin Toyama, cellar master, convinced an all-star group of artisan, family-owned wineries from southern France and Italy to come to the islands to share their win... |
| Kapalua festival promises star-studded winery lineup | Reminder: The 33rd annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival begins June 12. The four-day, star-studded event is one of the longest-running wine festivals in the country.
I remember attending this festival in its early years as a young buck. ... |
| By the Glass: Explore another shade of pinot | COURTESY AU BON CLIMAT
Winemaker Jim Clendenen is known for the elegance of his Au Bon Climat wines.
Wines based on the pinot noir grape are among the most popular in today’s wine world.
What is it about this grape that has caught the fancy... |
| By the Glass: ‘Wine Speak’ offers chance to share, learn | STAR-ADVERTISER PHOTOS
Mark Shishido, right, wine director at Alan Wong’s restaurant and member of the Hawaii Restaurant Association’s Hall of Fame, and Hawaiian Airlines’ Renee Awana took part in this year’s Wine Speak event in California.... |
| By the Glass: Springtime is for lighter wines | Spring is almost here. While we may not experience the same seasonal changes as many parts of the world, the season can still mark a time of change in what we eat — and what we drink alongside.
For me, spring connotes a rebirth, a coming ou... |
