If you're a fan of Californian sparkling wines, you've probably enjoyed a glass or two of Chandon. With over 200,000 bottles produced a year, an affordable price tag, and a tasting room that sees 2,000 people on a Saturday, it's one of Napa Valley's most well-known bubbly producers. What you may not know, however, is that the winery also makes some well-rounded and interesting still wines. I Read more

If you want to feel the World Cup fever in a crowded bar, chances are, you have your pick of rowdy pubs to choose from. But if you're looking for a more refined way to watch the game, here's my suggestion. Settle in with an exquisite bottle of Cape Chardonnay. At a recent tasting, Jardiniere wine director Eugenio Jardim introduced me to 2008 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay ($24), and I Read more

Over the weekend, I jumped in a car with some friends and hightailed it to Napa Valley, where we enjoyed brunch at Thomas Keller's casual family restaurant, ad hoc. With full stomachs, we headed up Highway 29 to Rutherford to hit up some wineries. Visiting Napa wineries isn't unlike barhopping; the experience depends more on the tasting room staff and the crowd than it does the actual wine. After Read more

Like the perfect handbag, a well-constructed potato galette is perfect for any time of day or occasion. Just ask Fresh Tart! A potato galette is simply thin slices of potatoes, fat, and seasoning layered into a shallow pan and roasted until crusty and browned. It's traditional to serve alongside a roast of some sort, and definitely do that, because you can imagine crusty, buttery potatoes do a Read more