Wine With Wanda

Kevin Zraly Has a Way With Words and Wine

"I soon learned that wine is not merely learning about a beverage, but also understanding the history, language, culture, and traditions of the people and countries where each wine is made. Wine is a very complicated subject, one that reinvents itself every year with a new vintage; the fact that wines constantly change makes for a fascinating and a lifelong study."
Kevin Zraly, Wine Educator and Author of the Windows on the World Complete Wine Course

What a career and what a storyteller! The inimitable Kevin Zraly is an award-winning wine writer and one of the world's foremost wine educators. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Kevin on Instagram Live. 

Kevin has been teaching wine for 50 years and has written eight books, including his annually updated Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, which has sold more than four million copies - making it the number one wine book in the United States. The book is now in its 35th edition and is an indispensable resource for all wine lovers. In addition to essential information about grapes, wines, and regions, the newest edition also includes a fascinating chapter that details Kevin's career and the evolution of food and wine culture in the US over the last 50 years. 

In 1976, Kevin was hired by famed restaurateur Joe Baum to "Create the biggest and best wine list New York has ever seen, and don't worry about how much it costs!" for Windows of the World, located on the 106th and 107th floors of New York City's World Trade Center. Not only did Kevin create an award-winning wine list, he also founded the Windows on the World Wine School. The school continued uninterrupted for 25 years until the tragic destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Eventually, Kevin relaunched the school in a new setting and it ran successfully until he held his final class in November 2016. Kevin is now teaching his fun and fast-paced Virtual One Hour Wine Expert classes online, in addition to advanced and master classes. 

Say Ciao to Mionetto Prosecco Rosé

image courtesy of Mionetto

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you; there's a flirty pink glow emanating from the Prosecco aisle of your favorite wine shop. Prosecco Rosé was officially approved as a DOC in 2020 and the wines have started arriving in the US. Wine lovers no longer have to choose between Prosecco's perky bubbles and rosé's blush-hued charms. To learn more about the new Prosecco Rosé category, I recently chatted on Instagram Live with Enore Ceola, CEO and Managing Director of Freixenet Mionetto USA.


Enore Ceola, CEO and Managing Director of Freixenet Mionetto USA

A native of the Prosecco region, Enore is widely credited for not only introducing Mionetto to American consumers, but to Prosecco overall as a category. Founded in 1887 in Valdobbiadene, Mionetto Prosecco became available in the USA in 1997 and paved the way for the expansive selection of Prosecco wines at our fingertips. Even The New York Times proclaimed, “Perhaps no one has pushed harder to establish Prosecco in the United States than Mionetto.”

There are exacting standards that a wine must meet in order to be labeled Prosecco Rosé DOC. For example, Glera, the grape which is the heart and soul of Prosecco, must dominate the blend. Pinot Nero is the only grape permitted in the rosé blend and only 10-15% is permitted. And all Prosecco Rosé must be dated with a vintage. During our chat, Enore explained all of this and more as we sipped Mionetto Prosecco Rosé Millesimato 2019 ($15). A blend of 90% Glera and 10% Pinot Nero, it is Extra Dry with vibrant red berry flavors and a kiss of citrus. 

Add Sparkle to Your Day with Champagne Laurent-Perrier

Michelle DeFeo, President of Laurent-Perrier US
photo: Chris George 

A day that includes Champagne and compelling conversation is always cause for celebration, even when the bubbles are shared virtually! I recently had the pleasure of sipping Champagne Laurent-Perrier with Michelle DeFeo, President of Laurent-Perrier US, on Instagram Live. The elegant wines and sparkling conversation added some welcome ooh la la to my day. Watch our chat on IGTV or by clicking the video below. 

Founded in 1812, Laurent-Perrier remains family-owned. Following in the footsteps of the many dynamic women in the House's history, today Laurent-Perrier is managed by sisters Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt and Stéphanie Meneux de Nonancourt. Michelle is the first women to lead a subsidiary of Laurent-Perrier and she has built a successful sales team that is 85% women. As a young girl, Michelle became enchanted with France and this passion was the catalyst for an academic and professional journey that led her to Laurent-Perrier. Our chat covers all this and more!

 During our conversation, we tasted Champagne Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée ($49.99) and Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé ($99).



A blend of 55% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 10% Meunier, Champagne Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée was fermented In stainless steel to maintain the freshness and vitality of the grapes. When the House adopted this technique in the 1950's, they were among the first to do so in Champagne. Combined with 4 years of aging, the resulting bubbly is fresh  and full of life, but also complex. Crisp, with lively fruit flavors, and pronounced minerality; sipping La Cuvée is pure joy. 

100% Pinot Noir, Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé was introduced in 1968, long before "rosé all day" was a trendy mantra. This is not a meek and blah rosé Champagne. Its stunning color is only rivaled by the sensational taste. Rich and beautifully balanced, Cuvée Rosé is quite va va voom, but in the most elegant way.