Wine, Beer & Spirits

A Labor of Love Between Brothers

In Wine Buzz By JoAnn Actis-Grande / August 2019

Hard work pays off. Not many people I know work harder than wine producers - remember wine stems from the ground up. Planting vines, harvesting grapes, building a winery, making great wine, and selling product is truly a labor of love.

A Toast to 40 Years of Winemaking Excellence

In Wine Buzz By JoAnn Actis-Grande / July 2019

La Crema celebrates 40 years of winemaking this year! The winery's original name, La Crema Viñera, means "best of the vine.”

Down Under and Over the Top

In Wine Buzz By JoAnn Actis-Grande / May 2019

Lighter easier drinking wines are filling the shelves at our favorite wine shops. There are many wine choices, some we seek out to enjoy for a special occasion, others we stock up on for all occasions.

The Greenest WINE DESTINATION: Mendocino County and Anderson Valley

In Wine Buzz By JoAnn Actis-Grande / April 2019

California’s Mendocino County is widespread and extremely diverse, encompassing 2.4 million acres of land. The area sprawls across narrow valleys, giant redwood forests, and reaches out to the pristine northern California coastline. The scenic route and my favorite way to get there starts at Highway 128 in Cloverdale, at the northern tip of Sonoma County, and continues north until you reach Anderson Valley, an AVA (American Viticultural Area) most known for pinot noir, chardonnay, and Alsatian grape varietals.

Riding High with Organic Argentine Wines

In Wine Buzz By JoAnn Actis-Grande / March 2019

Jean Bousquet, a third generation French winemaker, traveled to Argentina in the early 90’s and fell in love with a very particular area named the Gualtallary zone of Tupungato, sub-region of Mendoza’s Uco Valley. Sitting 4,000 feet in the Andean foothills, these high-elevation grape vineyards are considered to produce some of the finest wines in Mendoza.

Cleanse Your Palate with New Zealand Vodka

In Spirited Tastes By JoAnn Actis-Grande / January 2019

January is the biggest month of the year for wine in New Hampshire, featuring many happening events during the Winter Wine Festival at Wentworth by the Sea Hotel & Spa, and New Hampshire Wine Week. With so much wine around, I am cleansing my palate with Broken Shed Premium Vodka, a smooth and clean vodka I discovered a few years ago that is now available here!

Thanksgiving – An American Family Tradition

In Wine Buzz By JoAnn Actis-Grande / November 2018

On the Central Coast of California, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, is where you will see the best views of the rugged Pacific coastline. This area is also home to the Paso Robles wine region. Once known primarily for cattle ranches and grain fields, the region also has a rich history of grape growing by true American farmers.