This week, the Patriot-News has an article about buying wine in Pennsylvania. It’s written by Sue Gleiter, who has written a string of similar articles over the years. Her articles often seem like barely veiled PLCB propaganda, but I was willing to give her another...
Clown Jewel
posted by John Grossbard
The Weyerbacher Brewing Company, located in Easton, PA (but considered a local brew by most Philly hopheads) is known primarily for two things: Full-flavored, high-alcohol beers that are complex and tasty Having the worst branding of any US brewery Their current logo looks like it was...
Daddy Cork: Eric Ora...
posted by Keith Wallace
One dude changed how America thinks about wine, and changed it for good. Eric V. Orange didn’t mean to, but that’s how history often works. In 2000, Eric started an online bulletin board to post local wine events. Not surprisingly, he named it www.localwineevents.com. As it caught...
Drink the Cheddar
posted by M.J. Wolfsohn
The first wine bar to exclusively feature wine from Pennsylvania is about to open in a few days. This is a significant moment for local viticulture: PA wineries have never been accorded this level of economic support and visibility in a major city. It would not be overstating that this is a...
#McFail
posted by John Grossbard
After having some success with their Twitter hashtag campaign #MeetTheFarmers (which promoted the supposedly good ingredients that McDonald’s uses and the farmers that produce them), the wise social media sages at Mickey D’s thought it would be a bright idea to introduce a new...
Fee Fi FooBooz
posted by M.J. Wolfsohn
I am going out onto a limb and be the first one to say it in print: FooBooz is dead and gone. It’s not a long limb to climb out on, though. Yesterday’s unveiling –after months of speculation– of the Philadelphia edition of Eater pretty much puts the nails in the...
Chain Bang
posted by John Grossbard
If a bunch of chain bar/grill-type places switch places in the ‘burbs, will anyone notice? This question is about to be answered, with Landmark Americana (locations in Philly, Glassboro, and West Chester) moving into the recently vacated Paddock at Devon space (which wasn’t a chain,...
Local Ox and the Six...
posted by John Grossbard
A few years ago, it would have seemed preposterous to pair high-end, big money Main Line Hotel dining with craft beer from a place like Brooklyn. (One typically showers before donning pink pants and sockless loafers). As such, it’s illustrative of how much respect craft beer has gained in...
Old is the New Big
posted by M.J. Wolfsohn
Who would have thunk it? Yuengling is now both the largest and oldest American brewery. Does this make the Mid Atlantic region the suds capitol of the USA? Do we get fancy capes and crowns? Tiaras? Not yet, probably (hopefully) no. What it does mean is that Yuengling beat out the...
Krunch went Yelp
posted by M.J. Wolfsohn
A small little wine school in Chicago is getting a whole lot of attention. Master Sommelier (and runner up in the International Silly Name Contest) Krunch Kretschmar has unwittingly discovered how to build a virtual nuclear warhead with nothing but social media. Krunch owns Bottled Grapes,...
Tequila University
posted by M.J. Wolfsohn
Not sure how the Pennsylvania Department of Education will react to the news, but apparently you can now attend Tequila University. According Verdad Restaurant & Tequila Bar, they are now accepting applications for the Tequila University 2012, winter semester. The semester starts...
NJ to NZ
posted by M.J. Wolfsohn
Philly boy goes to wine school, moves to New Zealand, and becomes a winemaker. Great little pick-me-up story from the Burlington Country Times. Good read for all of those folks out there who want to just say “fuck it” and get out of the rat race… or step out of the...
Under Corked
posted by M.J. Wolfsohn
The top six wines for $15 were highlighted as tonight's First Friday at the Wine School. A great list for the weekend binge purchases.
Respect the Gris
posted by M.J. Wolfsohn
For quality and value, one of the best white wines coming out of the USA is Oregon Pinot Gris. Problem is, it’s hard to find because very few wine shops sell the stuff. That problem (and yes, that is definitely a #firstworldproblem if there ever was one) is about to be a thing of...