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Latest by Mark Stock

Albarino white wine

What’s Albariño? Digging into One of Spain’s Most Famous White Wines

A refreshing and unsung white in the world of wines, Albariño is native to northern Spain and should be in your glass.
Azari Vineyards

A Quick Guide to Iranian Wine (and What You Can Get in the U.S.)

While technically illegal today, Iranian wine enjoys one of the richest histories on the planet, dating back more then 7,000 years.
wine folly south africa map

How Are Wine Country Maps Made? We Asked an Expert

As the American wine industry continues to grow, so too does the fascinating mapmaking side of the realm.
best virtual tours google earth finney county kansas 0004 mt fuji

Get Lost on the Best Virtual Tours Around Google Earth

It's easy to get lost in these remarkable locales throughout the world, accessible during the pandemic thanks to Google Earth.
donation online

8 Places Your Donations Are Needed Most During the Coronavirus Crisis

People and organizations need help than ever. Here are a few major ones worthy of your attention as the pandemic unfolds.
Sauvignon blanc white wine on a table with grapes

It’s High Time to Revisit Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc has its lovers and haters but at its best, it is spring-like and all kinds of refreshing, as these examples indicate.
wine bottle vintage 2011 closeup

What’s in a Vintage? Exploring The Importance of Years on Wine Labels

Vintages are important timestamps in the world of wine, primarily because of climatic factors that shape the fruit and resulting wines.
People at a grocery store produce section

The Groceries You Need to Survive Quarantine

Surviving quarantine involves shopping for groceries that will nourish, satisfy, and keep you interested in food.
Chenin blanc wine

A Quick and Easy Guide to South African Wine

South African wine has surged over the last decade, bringing new and unique takes on things like Chenin Blanc and Cab Franc stateside.
bale breaker

Breweries, Distilleries, and Wineries Are Hosting Virtual Tastings and Tours

As group gatherings come to an intermission, imbibers can find solace in these virtual tours at distilleries, wineries, and breweries all over.
grand canyon night sky

Don’t Explore the Great Outdoors and Let Nature Reset During Quarantine

Nature has never been more inviting but it's best to leave it alone amid the pandemic, for health reasons and more.
Lebron James in his #23 Lakers uniform

Pro Athletes, Pay Cuts, and the COVID-19 Pandemic

As pro sports continues its lengthy pause, players are coming off the bench to pitch in through pay cuts.
future of the music festival crowd confetti getty

The Future of the Music Festival Post-Pandemic

The pandemic has shut down music festivals left and right, begging the question: What will things look like in the future?
can of fish

What is Conserva and Why Canned Seafood is Perfect for Quarantine

Conserva is delicious utilitarian seafood brought to you by Europe and all the more attractive as the quarantine unfolds.
Cherry bbq sauce on chicken.

The Best Barbecue Sauces for Grilling

Barbecue sauce can be used for so many dishes and recipes and anybody who appreciates grilling knows it is always in season.
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The Legend of the Moog, the Synth That Changed Music

In 1964, Robert Moog created a new version of the electric piano called a synthesizer, forever changing music.
indigenous new zealand wine tohu wines toho feature

A Introduction to Indigenous New Zealand Wine

Tohu Wines is New Zealand's first indigenous-run cellar, established in the late 90s and overseen by the Māori community.
Sauvignon blanc white wine on a table with grapes

What’s Verdejo? Exploring Spain’s Ancient White Wine Varietal

Grown almost entirely in Spain, Verdejo is a relatively hidden white wine but very much worth hunting for.
Little Richard

The Most Stylish Male Musicians of the Modern Era

Musicians tend to be fashionable but these ten lead the way when it comes to style and clothing knowhow, from Kanye West to Elvis Presley.
vineyard

LODI RULES and the Issue of Wine Sustainability

Back in the early 90s, a sustainability program called LODI RULES took shape, the first of its kind in American wine history.
maps

Go Ahead, Get Lost in Map Land

The Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection touts a massive cartography catalog and is a great way to get lost.
Tuscany

How to Build Your Own Virtual Wine Tour on Google Earth

Thanks to the internet, you can peruse some of the most iconic vineyards and winery estates on the planet, right from home.
Methode Ancestrale Winemaking

What You Need to Know About Methode Ancestrale Winemaking

There are multiple ways to make sparkling wine but the methode ancestrale is the oldest and perhaps most interesting, dating back to the 16th century.
wine sale

Why Wine Purveyors Are Having Fire Sales and Auctions During Quarantine

With the pandemic still in mostly full swing, restaurants are offloading assets like library wine to stay afloat.
Bandol

The Pull of France’s Bandol Wine Region

Provence is deservedly known for its rosés but within the lauded region, Bandol may just be its brightest star, with its great pink and red wines.
carbonic maceration

Why Simple Carbon Dioxide Is the Hottest New Ingredient in Modern Winemaking

More than just a cool phrase, carbonic maceration is a cellar style that yields fresh, vibrant, and immediately approachable wines.
csa

Why Now is the Best Time to Join a Farm Share Program

The farm share is an attractive option for getting fresh produce, especially as we enter the best of the growing season.
Friends relaxing outside mini van at beach

Catch Some (Sound) Waves With An Intro to Surf Rock

Surf Rock is a sub-genre very much as advertised, created in the early 1960s as a fusion of rock 'n' roll and surf culture.
drive in movie

Film in the Time of Coronavirus: The Return of the Drive-In Movie Theater

One of the unique by-products of the pandemic is the resurgence of the all-American drive-in movie theater.
Glasses of brandy or cognac on the wooden table

Understanding The Big Three Types of European Brandy

Brandy is hipper than you thought, based around three regional producers in Cognac, Armagnac, and Lourinhã.
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Exploring The Slow Restart of Professional Sports

Pro sports are slowly coming back to life to empty stadiums and eager fans.
Valpolicella

What’s Valpolicella? Exploring One of Italy’s Most Famous Wine Regions

Long loved in its native Italy but relatively unknown in the states, Valpolicella is your new favorite red wine for summer.
blue raspberries

What Is Up With Blue Raspberry Flavor and Why Do We Love It?

As head-scratching as it is, blue raspberry has become a prominent flavor since its creation in the 1950s.
what is considered essential in wine during coronavirus covid 2

Breaking Down What’s Considered Essential in the Wine Industry During the Pandemic

Wine is a complex industry facing major shifts as it adapts to the pandemic and pushes to survive.
smart envinronmental drinking practices beer nature

The 4 Best Craft Beers From Alaska

The 49th state is home to long summer days, grizzly bears and moose, and some fantastic craft brews. Some of which have made their way to the lower 48.
Muscovado

Beyond White Sugar: What’s Muscovado and How Can You Use It?

Muscovado is a great, molasses-driven example of the vast and intriguing world of unrefined sugars.
what athletes drink after winning championships soccer beer

What Athletes Drink When They Are Crowned Champions

It's customary for a sports team or athlete to enjoy some celebratory drink after a big game, but what's in the cup?
the most creative restaurant re openings cicoria pizza by aj meeker

The Most Creative Restaurant Re-Openings During COVID-19

The restaurant industry is in the midst of a real reckoning but some places are reopening with creative new concepts and approaches.
Chianti

Hold the Fava Beans, It’s Time to Get to Know Chianti

Chianti is so much more than easygoing red table wine fit for pasta, as the many styles and these options suggest.
Water

We Wanted to Know: Can Water Show Terroir Like Wine or Beer?

Water is rarely picked apart and given the terroir treatment to the extent that wine and coffee are but should it be?
Sauvignon blanc white wine on a table with grapes

How to Pronounce Scheurebe (And What Kind of Wine It Is)

Don't be fooled by its unsexy name, Scheurebe is an enjoyable, highly aromatic white wine hailing from northern Europe.
White wine in a glass

Soave Used To Be The Most Popular Italian White Wine in The U.S. Here’s How It Has Changed

Grown in northwestern Italy, Soave is a versatile white wine that was once more popular in America than Chianti.
clear ice

A Brief Guide to Enjoying Better Ice In Your Cocktails

Now's the time to pay more attention to ice, a staple in cocktail culture and a fun thing to experiment with at home.
Hop farms.

This Road in Washington is Where All Your Favorite Beers Get Their Start

Lateral A Road in the Yakima Valley has one of the greatest concentrations of hop farms on the planet, fueling the beer industry.
Sherry fortified wine in a glass

Spain’s Txakoli Wine is a Perfect Summer Sipper

There's hardly a more refreshing, summer-ready wine than Txakoli, a light and sometimes sparkling wine from Spain.
why we should have less packaging in drinks industry carlsberg wood bottles

Why Less Packaging Should Be More in the Drinks Industry

The drinks industry continues to look for ways to trim down, often cutting unnecessary or non-reusable packaging.
Lavender flowers

A Quick and Easy Guide to Edible Flowers

A lot of your favorite flowers are also edible and can be used in a number of dishes, from pastries to sauces.
the new california pinot noir glass

California’s Pinot Noir is More Than Just Sideways References

California was the first to plant Pinot Noir in the states and it continues to help define where the varietal is headed in the New World.
Red wine pouring.

Tannat May Be Your New Favorite Barbecue Wine

Tannat is a full-bodied red still coming into its own and great alongside summer barbecue, produced all over the globe.
Arashi

Arashi is the Most Popular Band You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of

Arashi is an extremely powerful force in the realm of international pop music, despite having no major presence in American music.