When I first started taking sommelier training classes, it was a really daunting task to remember the exact locations of all the wine producing regions in the world in addition to their sub-regions, climates and characteristics. In Burgundy for example just keeping...
Much like modern club design is based off older clubs, the sangaree is the original form of the modern sangria. This punch is the perfect way to finish the back nine feeling fine! You’ll find all the ingredients, and an enthusiast or two, at your neighborhood Spec’s....
With Auld Lang Syne on the tip of everyone’s tongue, it’s time to start stocking the bar for New Year’s Eve! Since it’s a time for new beginnings, raise the bar with this delicious Champagne cocktail recipe from your friends at Spec’s. This French cocktail is sure to...
French Champagne has long been considered the must-have drink for important celebrations. A symbol of luxury and excess, demand has been growing steadily in the United States. In 2015, according to Wine Institute statistics, imported Champagne outsold domestic...
Lone Star Mule With the temperatures getting down to just about perfect, you need a beverage that captures the brisk bite of fall while still going down refreshingly easy. Here at Spec’s, we put a Texas twist on the popular Moscow Mule to spur it along into the...
Though the grapes for Vin Santo, a beautiful amber colored dessert wine from Tuscany are picked in September and October they are destined to lie on mats of straw in barns and attics for up to 6 months before they are crushed to make wine. They are kept warm and well...
It used to be that you could look at a steer and tell where it came from by one look at the brand on its hide. But as more and more cowboys started to raise stock, the brands became as convoluted as the stock themselves. At the end of the day, the only thing that...
Rosé has always had a bit of an image problem in the U.S. It’s pretty, light, generally inexpensive and guys would never drink it if there wasn’t a girl involved. But according to the CIVP / Province Wine Council, the last decade has seen a steady trend of double...
I recently had to buy a birthday gift for a rather beautiful lady friend. She is a successful business owner and has a great sense of style. Needless to say, selecting the right gift for her is challenging. I explained the situation to the wine specialist helping me...