A few things helped get me through the challenges of the past year: family, the home garden, music – both listening to others and attempting to play – home cooking, wonderful beverages and a great dessert.

The smiling Frenchman pulled a bottle of Burgundy from his cave. He turned his back to obscure the label, dusted off the bottle and carefully removed the cork.

It is hard to be convivial in a pandemic.

It should have been a glorious adventure; instead, it was ominous.

Most don’t think about the contribution “texture” makes to the perception of a wine.

The first time I peered into that ground glass viewfinder, I was hooked.