Napa Valley

A Basketful of Wine Recommendations for Easter

Easter means brunch and wine. Left: Luciano Frascarelli Jermann of Taggia and a Pinot Grigio recommended by Sarah Falconer, wine sommelier of Del Frisco's Grille/td> We love drinking wine at Easter time. And we're not talking about communion wine. Easter is a holiday known for its amazingly diverse ... More >>

Friends of the James Beard Benefit Dinner Last Night in Scottsdale

If you've ever wondered why chefs do what they do, look no further than a kitchen on a night like last night to find the answer. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes an army of chefs to put on a James Beard-worthy meal -- and they have a whole lot fun doing it. See also: - ... More >>

A Documentary About Four Wine Geeks Being Judged By Even Snobbier Wine Geeks

See Also: Jiro Dreams Of Sushi See Also: Masters of Wine: The Test SOMM is a documentary film about wine obsession pushed to its terrifying endpoint. It follows four sommeliers over two years as they prepare for and attempt to pass the Master Sommeliers examination administered by the, we shit you ... More >>

Masters of Wine: The Test

Welcome to Vine Geeks, where Brian Reeder and Pavle Milic of AZ Wine Merchants take the drinking game quite seriously. Pay attention -- you might just learn something. This past week, a record 98 students took the test to obtain their Masters of Wine, trying to join the mere 298 worldwide who curr ... More >>

Pavle Milic's Quest to Make Wine: A Quixotic Exploit?

Earlier this spring, we launched Vine Geeks -- in which AZ Wine Merchants' Brian Reeder and Pavle Milic share advice, news and a little levity from the world of wine. Today, we bring you Romancing the Grape. In this occasional series, Milic will spill about his current mission to learn how wine is ... More >>

Wright's Winemaker Dinner Part Two and Pan de Muertos in Today's Eater's Digest

chow.com​ Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives? Wright's Winemaker Dinner Part Deux Wright's at the Biltmore will be hosting the second Winemaker Dinner of the 2011-2012 season this Thursday, November 3rd. Dinner number two wi ... More >>

BLT Steak Wine Dinner and Cookies & Cream Fudge in Today's Eater's Digest

www.loveveggiesandyoga.com​ Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives? Wine Dinner, BLT Style  BLT Steak's September installation of their monthly wine dinner series is happening  tomorrow night at 6. The award-winni ... More >>

Christopher Gross' Perfect Food Day

Christopher Gross​ We've known and loved Chef Christopher Gross' French-inspired cuisine for so many years -- we guess you could say we have a "crush" on him - sorry, couldn't resist. For a little fun, Chef Gross likes to fly across the pond and jump on his bike to give it a spin. This is him at ... More >>

Cheuvront Wine Dinner and Vegan "Cheese" Cake in Today's Eater's Digest

g0lubka.blogspot.com​ Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives? Frog's Leap and Slingshot Wine Dinner There is one thing we never get sick of --  Cheuvront's wine dinners -- and this week is no exception. Tomorrow, September 14 from 7 ... More >>

Beckett's Table Rosé Wine List Out to Break Stereotypes

Nicole Whittington​Rosé gives a perception of sweetness, but its cotton candy color can be deceiving. Beckett's Table just added an additional section to their wine list featuring all rosé wines, most of which are Provençal in style. This dryer style, characteristic of the Southern Franc ... More >>

Schweiger Wine Dinner and Churro Cupcakes in Today's Eater's Digest

Bakingdom​Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Schweiger Wine Dinner Join WineStyles in Paradise Valley tomorrow night May 10th  for an evening of wine and food during the Schweiger Vineyards Wine Dinner. Diana Schwieger, owner of the Napa V ... More >>

Jam Wine Dinner and How to Get Rid of Those Pesky Peeps in Today's Eater's Digest

The Decorated CookieChange the locks​Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives? Jam Wine Dinner Thursday, April 28th join Caffe Boa Ahwatukee for the 2011 Jam Wine Dinner. The Napa Valley winery will be premiering their new Chardonnay "Butter", along wi ... More >>

AZ Biltmore Hosts "Inside the Chef's Studio"

​Any excuse to hang out at the iconic Arizona Biltmore resort is great (oh, that architecture!), but if you've got a thing for gourmet cooking, there's extra incentive to visit, thanks to the new "Inside the Chef's Studio" series. This will be your chance to step inside the Biltmore's main k ... More >>

Food and Fun at the 2011 Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco

Carol Blonder artful display​ Twice a year, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), a not-for-profit trade association, sponsors the Fancy Food Show, open only to the specialty food trade. This year's winter show, held January16-18, at The Mascone Center in San Franc ... More >>

Wednesday Night Wine Tasting and Gingerbread Cheesecake in Today's Eater's Digest

thepastryaffair.com​ Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Wednesday Wine TastingJoin Armitage Bistro in Scottsdale tonight from 6 to 8 for a Wednesday night wine tasting with Buehler Wines from Napa Valley. Sample their Chardonnay, Caber ... More >>

Payton Curry Plays Reindeer Games

Sun Devil Liquors and Brix Wine Tastings, and Candy "Apples" in Today's Eater's Digest

duhlicious.com​Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Wine WednesdaysIt's Wednesday, so why not wind down after work with a glass of wine or two. Join the  Sun Devil Cellar Pub in Mesa tonight for a little wine and a little shopping. ... More >>

Sequoia Wine Dinner and Whoopie Spiders in Today's Eater's Digest

wingitvegan.blogspot.com​ Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Sequoia Grove Wine DinnerTuesday, October 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. join Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in Chandler for a four course dinner featuring wines from Sequoia Grove.  The eveni ... More >>

Phoenix Cooks!, Wine for Trees and Bacon and Egg Cups in Today's Eater's Digest

www.howto-simplify.com​Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Save A Tree, Drink WineFirebirds Restaurants are teaming up with Sequoia Grove Winery to help save their namesake trees. Sequoia Grove is a family owned, boutique winery named after one of ... More >>

Master Wine Tastings and Summer Salmon in Today's Eater's Digest

eatingwelllivingthin.wordpress.com​ Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Master Wine TastingRound two of The Capital Grille's Summer Master Wine Tasting Event has started. From now until September 5th, you will be able to sample up to 11 different ... More >>

Arizona Stronghold: Local Wines

Erica O'Neil Arizona Stronghold's red and white wines, ready and waiting. ​Northern Arizona isn't exactly synonymous with wine country, but Eric Glomski and Maynard Keenan (yes, that lead singer of TOOL) would like to change this assumption. Both are co-owners of Arizona Stronghold Winery, ... More >>

Valley Ho

Wine Tasting at Capital Grille, Sassi Cooking Class and Chocolate Ice Cream in Today's Eater's Digest

bakedbree.com​ Hungry for for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Summer Wine TastingStarting today and continuing through September 5th, The Capital Grille will be hosting Master  Wine Tastings every night during dinner. During the first seven we ... More >>

J.D. Hayworth Supporter Rips Page From Cancer's Playbook With "Race for the American Cure" Fundraiser

​Former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, in his bid to unseat Senator John McCain as the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, is pulling out all the stops when it comes to fundraising, and, now, one of his supporters is using the name of a fundraising campaign that raises money for breast cancer re ... More >>

FnB Brings Wine World Heavyweights for Arizona Judgement 2010

In Italy or in Napa Valley, drinking the local wine is a given. But in Arizona, where the wine industry has waged an uphill battle to improve its image, local wines are still a novelty at most restaurants -- so much so, in fact, that when FnB owner Pavle Milic and chef Charleen Badman commi ... More >>

Free Pastries, the "King of Cabernets" and Donut Bread Pudding in Today's Eater

An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. ​ Free pastry day at Starbucks! Tomorrow until 10 a.m. you can get a free pastry when you purchase a "handcrafted beverage". Click here to get the coupon. Tomorrow night, Nils Venge, owner of SaddleBack Cellars i ... More >>

Oakville Grocery to Join CityScape Development

​After Basha's Supermarkets' bankruptcy proceedings led to AJ's Fine Foods falling out the the CityScape lineup last year, locals have been wondering which retailer -- if any -- would step up to fill the void for a much-needed downtown grocery store at the 1.8 million square foot mixed-use pr ... More >>

Last Night: VIPs Flock to Oakville Grocery Grand Opening

​​Last night, the new Oakville Grocery at the Scottsdale Quarter opened to a packed house of chefs, industry professionals and local food lovers for a VIP Grand Opening celebration. At 6 p.m., guests began to trickle in while the grocery's in-house chefs and local vendors set up tables w ... More >>

Tavistock Restaurants Acquires Sapporo in Scottsdale

Sapporo will not be swimming with the fishes, thanks to Tavistock Restaurants, a boutique restaurant company based in Emeryville, California. Tavistock purchased the bankrupt Scottsdale sushi spot on December 22, promising "uninterrupted service," according to a press release last week. Other ... More >>

Hot Links: Dust Storms, Alien Spyware, and Oakville Grocery

​Two siblings were killed yesterday in an auto accident on the I-10 near Casa Grande. The victims were driving in a dust storm that caused a deadly pile-up wreck. The siblings, teenagers Mark Eide and Katie Eide, were on their way to Dairy Queen when they got caught in the storm...Gilbert police d ... More >>

Now Open: Oakville Grocery

​Just in time for holiday food shopping -- and refueling after hitting the malls -- Oakville Grocery opens today at the Scottsdale Quarter, 15015 N. Scottsdale Rd. The gourmet specialty store, founded in Napa Valley, boasts two well-known local talents on its staff, chef Walter Sterling (Au ... More >>

Thomas Keller Comes to Kierland

sloane burwell​ Cookbook fans and foodies alike crowded Sur La Table at Kierland Commons Wednesday afternoon as more than 200 people waited in line to meet award winning chef Thomas Keller, who was on hand to sign his new cookbook, Ad Hoc At Home. Keller is famous for his meticulou ... More >>

Your Meal Ticket to Valley Vineyards

​Wine lovers, are you tired of hearing about "Sonoma this" and "Napa Valley that?" It's time to put Arizona's wineries on the map. In this week's Meal Ticket dining newsletter, we'll tell you who's headed to Page Valley's vineyards and how you can get in on an upcoming tour. We've also got the dis ... More >>

Pop Culture: Napa Valley Soda Co. Orange & Cream

It didn't take long for Napa Valley Soda Co.'s marketing shtick to work on our tasters. "Look, it's from Napa Valley, I bet it's good," said our art director, Peter Storch, upon seeing four bottles of the stuff, purchased from Big Lots for $2. After trying the stuff, he wasn't disappointed.

Chef Vincent Guerithault Hosts 10th Annual Champagne Affair

You thought the time for bubbly came and went with New Year's Eve? Not at Vincent's on Camelback. Chef Vincent Guerithault is kicking off his 2009 wine dinner series with the tenth annual "Extraordinary Champagne Affair" on Friday, January 23. For $55 a head, guests will nibble on Guerithault's fa ... More >>

Bounty Hunter: Trolling for holiday booty in Tempe

By Wynter HoldenWe're down to the wire now, kids. Yes, there's just 6 more shopping days left until Christmas, and if you're shopping for Hanukkah or Kwanzaa gifts, you're similarly screwed. Hopefully, you've already bought your niece or nephew the "It" toy they've been coveting and purchased your ... More >>

Can Maynard James Keenan Put Arizona Wine on the Map?

Iron Chef

Maybe the Valley's best

Raging Machine

Digital deconstructionists

Lush for Life

Pray to the porcelain god for three days straight

Number Crunching

Calculating tasty calorie, after tasty calorie

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Success Story

Brothers dish up Baja-style seafood

Window Dressing

The Phoenician's revamped restaurant offers diners a discount

Bottle Fatigue

No more "Chardonnays that taste like baseball bats"

Sour Grapes

Field of Greens

Letters

Second Helpings

SECOND HELPINGS