Italy boasts 371 Michelin star restaurants, ranking third behind France and Japan. Sicily is just beginning to come into its own in this culinary realm with two 2* and fourteen 1* restaurants. I had the pleasure today of a five-course “Equilibrio” lunch at 1* Ristorante Coria in Caltagirone. The hilly town of Caltagirone is perhaps…
Author: Kathy Merchant
I am a passionate wine educator and writer.
Diploma graduate of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, French Wine Scholar, Italian Wine Scholar, and Certified Specialist of Wine.
Aging Gracefully: Connecticut’s Haight-Brown Vineyard
Many of America’s first wineries were established by state farm acts permitting small vineyards to sell wine commercially. Haight-Brown Vineyard was #1 in Connecticut.
Future of Wine in 2021? Some Answers.
In my post last weekend about the post-pandemic future of wine, I included a few questions posed during industry webinars in February and March. April brings more than May flowers! See the latest projections from SevenFiftyDaily. U.S. distributors are optimistic about the future of wine. “Vaccinations are here, weather is warming, and restaurants in every…
Post-Pandemic Future of Wine
The future of wine in 2021 and beyond is looking up!
Road Trip: Midwest Urban Wineries
As travel opportunities begin to reopen, you may be planning a summer road trip. For Midwesterners who love wine, a road trip through Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky offers surprising treats! Midwest urban wineries in Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Louisville add spice to the overall wine tourism experience. “Road Trips” was the theme for the…
Farm to Table at the Farmstead: Chef Lauren Reed
My story about Farm Chef Lauren Reed highlights her unique role bringing farm-to-table dining to life at The Farm At Prophetstown near Lafayette, Indiana. Chef Lauren’s creative menus demonstrate how home cooks can transform ordinary dishes into delicious meals using fresh farm products. Monthly dinners sell out in just a few days. The theme for…
Game Changer: Chef David Danielson
As executive chef at Churchill Downs, Chef David Danielson leads the culinary team of one of the largest sports and entertainment venues in the United States. Best known for the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs offers so much more–race days, holiday events, and since July 2020, Matt Winn’s Steakhouse available for fine dining Wednesday through Saturday…
A Food and Wine Tour of Cortona
The joy of travel in Italy is just a short read away. I’m thrilled to share my first article written for The Florentine, a magazine for English-speaking residents of Florence, Italy. Photography of Cortona by Alberto Sadini. Enjoy, and please let me know what you think!
A Conversation About Wine
This blog post was a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Originally written for April publication in an Italian magazine, other matters (understandably) took priority. In the spirit of better-late-than-never, please enjoy this conversation about Tuscany’s exceptional wines with Marco Molesini, co-owner of Cortona’s Enoteca Molesini. Brunello di Montalcino ● Chianti Classico ● Vernaccia…
Come Fly With Me: France’s Rhône Valley
Dreaming of the day when you can resume international wine travel? Perhaps this story will inspire you to visit France’s Rhône Valley.