In my childhood household, the Easter meal was a second runner-up to the Christmas meal, differing only in the Easter feast being followed with an egg hunt for real boiled eggs colored with food coloring.

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, I face an identity crisis. My ancestor surnames include Morris and Campbell. I have always felt the very Irish “Morris” certified my right to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day (not to mention imbibing a bit of Irish whiskey in a cup of coffee), while the “Campb…

Few things are more comforting on a cold winter evening than a deliciously braised piece of beef and a good bottle of red wine.

If asked to name the king of California wine, I would likely name the late Robert Mondavi — not Kanaye Nagasawa, who was known as the King of California Wine until his death in 1934.

In the premiere appearance of this column in March 2001, I was tasked with recommending locally available wines for stocking a wine cellar. Most of the wines I recommended then would not receive my nod of approval today — with the rare exception of Bogle merlot.

With all the wine on the American market today, chardonnay remains the best-selling varietal by volume. That it remains Americans’ favorite can be explained by four words: Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve.

Now that turkey leftovers have been dispatched and Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us, the brave among us may be considering hosting a Christmas soiree. Inevitably, there is angst associated with estimating the amount of wine to have on hand for such gatherings.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. If you ask me, Thanksgiving is observed at the wrong time of the year and would be much better received if it occurred in February, because nothing ever happens in February.

With Thanksgiving approaching, visions of that Norman Rockwell scene with family and friends gathered around the table admiring the presentation of a gorgeously bronzed roasted turkey come to mind.

Almost exactly nine years ago, upon returning from a visit to California that included an afternoon at Bugay Vineyards in Sonoma, I wrote, “This is a small production, almost cult winery that grows grapes in what is arguably one of the most beautiful spots on the face of the globe.”

California is home to 4,700 vintners and 5,900 growers, with some 602,000 acres under vines scattered over 49 of its 58 counties.

All wine marketed in the United States is required by federal law to carry its place of origin on its label. But “place of origin” can be rather non-specific.

One can hardly watch TV without noticing commercials for Ancestry.com. If you are perhaps laboring under the impression that you are Italian because you like spaghetti and your first name is Leonardo, Ancestry.com can, through DNA analysis, dispel those myths, determining that you are not It…

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when putting ice into wine or, God forbid, freezing wine was considered the ultimate wine faux pas.

We Southerners have a reputation for loving sweets. Dessert is often my favorite course. I even sprinkle sugar over my grits, eating this Southern breakfast staple like porridge.

In 2001, the year “Uncorked” made its debut in The Anniston Star, California wine shipments in the U.S. amounted to 162 million 9-liter cases. (A typical 9-liter case holds 12 bottles of wine.)

As Father’s Day approaches if father appreciates wine, perhaps a gift of a good bottle is in order. It might be his favorite wine if known, or because he is a special dad the occasion might call for  a more upscale bottle.  While a $1,000 bottle of a Bordeaux first growth may be totally out …

What’s not to love about a restaurant whose credo is, “We live, breathe and dream steak and wine.” Sign me up, Fleming’s. You had me at steak.

Research for 2016 reveals the three bestselling white wine varietals in America are chardonnay, pinot grigio/pinot gris, and sauvignon blanc.

Growing up in the South during the Dark Ages, many things stand out about childhood Easters, especially the live baby chicks, rabbits and ducklings that had been dyed in Crayola colors.

According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent $60 billion on their pets in 2015. Although 2016 statistics are not in, it is expected last year’s expenditures will increase by about $2 billion.