Just in time for the holidays, I'll be leading a class at Jefferson State Community College's "Culinary & Hospitality Institute" on Saturday, December 6th.  For those of you in the Birmingham area, the class -- open to the entire community -- will focus on the basics of serving and enjoying wine -- I'll also demonstrate a few recipes that are perfect for your next get-together.

The class will be from 3 to 5 at the College's Shelby-Hoover campus.  In addition to the instruction, we'll sample some great wines and nibble on a few appetizers...and generally have a good time in a very laid-back atmosphere -- this is not a class for wine snobs.

For more information or to register on line, check out the Jefferson State Community College website. 

I sure hope y'all have flipped through the November issue -- it's just stunning.  I'm really proud of the story "Break Bread Together."  Senior Food Writer Donna Florio perfectly captured the true spirit of Thanksgiving as a group of New Orleans friends gathered to give heartfelt thanks.

Sometimes things just fall into your lap.  That was defnitely the case for me while attending a wine tasting yesterday when a glass of 75 Wine Co.'s super-tasty Sauvignon Blanc graced the table like an angel sent straight from Heaven. (And its sister wine, Amber Knolls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, is pretty darn special too.)

I'm always on the lookout for smart, unbiased wine recommendations, and the folks at Fearless Critic Media have assembled a super little guide called THE WINE TRIALS. 

The authors, Robin Goldstein and Alexis Herschkowitsch, have done a terrific job of examining some of the most popular, value-based (under $15) wines in an easy-to-read format that's sure to be a hit with the novice and enthusiast alike.

I'm not exactly sure why it's taken me so long to write about Château Potelle's (outstanding, well-crafted, easy-drinking, food-friendly...I can go on and on) Riviera Rosé.  I reckon it's because this rosé is such an integral part of my on-hand wine arsenal, I just assume everyone else knows about it.  (All my friends sure do.)

If you regularly follow my blog, you know that two of my passions are running and wine--and depending on the time of year and my training schedule, one is ever-so-slightly more important than the other. 

Right now, I'm in the middle of training for the Chicago Marathon this October (check out my Team World Vision page), so I've had to temporarily cut back on my enological field study in lieu of more electrolyte-rich beverages, but I still like to relax with a glass or two of wine on the weekend.

Summer's probably my favorite time to visit Napa and Sonoma -- the nights are cool, everything's lush and green, the roads and wineries are not nearly as crowded as they are in the fall, and, compared to the South, there's almost no perceptible humidity (which I'll take all day long).

Join me as I look back on a recent trip (which was out of this world!) where I visited Flora Spring Winery, Bennett Lane Winery, Frank Family Vineyards, and J Vineyards. 

In addition to sampling outstanding wines, along the way, I also cooled my heels in a sweet hotel and was able to kick back in one of my favorite restaurants in the country.

It's no secret that I love wines from Washington -- I recommend them often in the pages of Southern Living.  Generally speaking, I think it's tough to match the state's consistent quality and value.

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to try Milbrandt Vineyard's 05 Legacy Syrah and 05 Legacy Merlot -- both are terrific wines.

Last week, iVillage’s “Supermarket Guru,” Phil Lempert, said on national TV (the Today Show, to be exact, as well as his website), that North Carolina is the new Napa.  That’s one bold statement.  To be fair, I think what Mr. Lempert was trying to say is that some areas of the state, the Yadkin Valley in particular, have the necessary attributes (i.e. climate and soil) to produce notable wines (perhaps, someday, even those considered to be world-class) and he feels like wines from the Tar Hill State “will be hot this year.”  I think that’s a more down-to-Earth assessment. 

Actually, I wish Mr. Lempert would have pointed out to his national audience that due to backwards, out-dated, draconian shipping laws, most folks will never have a chance to sample these "hot" wines.  So long as legislators keep up their buffoonery by prohibiting consumers from purchasing wines directly from wineries and retailers, North Carolina will never reach its full Napa-esque potential (read up on the issue at Free The Grapes).

Thomas Jefferson was onto something back in the day when he envisioned the hills of Virginia planted with vines whose fruit would yield top-notch wines.  Unfortunately, Jefferson moved on to the great Rotunda in the sky before his dream was realized; however, based on the current state of winemaking in Virginia, I reckon he’d be pretty darn proud.

I’m in the plane back to Birmingham (you Carlin fans out there will appreciate his bit about getting “in” the plane and letting the daredevils get “on”) thinking about all the cool things I experienced the day before--one of my most enjoyable days in “wine country” anywhere in the world.