Pictured: Alan Donatelli and B.J. Sulka at the wine taste at Donavito’s Restaurant in Struthers. (Electronic image by John Webster) By JOHN WEBSTER | METRO MONTHLY WINE & FOOD COLUMNIST This holiday season saw many fine wine events for thirsty wine aficionados. I attended Cork & Cap’s dinner taste at Vernon’s Cafe and was very pleased […]
Wine Guy January 2016: Donavito’s pairs cuisine with wonderful California wines
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October 2015 Wine Guy: Annual Bacchanalia includes judging wines, stomping grapes
September 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
By JOHN WEBSTER | METRO MONTHLY COLUMNIST As autumn arrives, I have great wines to share with you for upcoming holiday get-togethers. Most of my picks are surprisingly undervalued, and won’t break your holiday wine budget. My first tasting took me to the Trumbull Country Club in Warren for Micro Doctor’s Wine Down Business Mixer […]
September 2015 Wine Guy: Station Square pairs special menu with superb wine selections
August 27, 2015 by Leave a Comment
By JOHN WEBSTER | METRO MONTHLY WINE COLUMNIST Our midsummer weather is always a challenge for wine selections at mealtime. This month, I’ve selected a number of red and white wines that should please most palates and budgets. In mid-July, I attended a Station Square Ristorante wine dinner featuring six delicious Italian white wines paired […]
July 2015 Wine Guy: Rounding up seasonal tastes, picks on varieties
July 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment
ABOVE: Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center volunteers at their fundraiser. L to R: Karen Henry, Paula and Jay Patterson, Tom Butch, Jim Kerr, Darlene Naukam, John Ferrante, Kathy Cattrell. Metro Monthly electronic image by John Webster. By JOHN WEBSTER | Metro Monthly Wine Columnist This month, I have lots of wine tastings to report on, […]
March 2015 Wine Guy: Springfield Grille hosts wine dinner showcasing Clos du Bois winery
March 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Pictured: Chookie Alberini (left) performed with his band at the annual Mardi Gras celebration last month at Vernon’s Cafe. Vernon Cesta is pictured on the right. Electronic image by John Webster. By JOHN WEBSTER | Metro Monthly Wine Columnist Late January and February with all its cold weather provided a number of great wine dinners and […]
February 2015 Wine Guy: Mead flows at Rust Belt’s Viking heritage festival
January 31, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Left to right: Bob Miller of Woodland Cellars, Tap House owner Ken Blair, and Nathan Wilson and Mike Robbinson of Woodland Cellars celebrate at the Tap House’s Nordic Viking festival, Thorrablot. Metro Monthly photo by John Webster. BY JOHN WEBSTER | METRO MONTHLY WINE COLUMNIST January provided many great opportunities to sample fine affordable wines at […]
January 2015 Wine Guy: Great wines at great prices; seasonal beers at Rust Belt Tap Room
January 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Tap Room Manager Matt Lageson (left) and Southern Tier representative Travis Sessions at the Tap Room’s seasonal beer tasting in December. Photo by John Webster. By JOHN WEBSTER | METRO MONTHLY WINE COLUMNIST December was filled with many fine tasting and house parties, and I discovered quite a number of great wines at prices everyone […]
November 2014 Wine Guy: Fall wine pairings prepare Valley for holiday season
November 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment
By JOHN WEBSTER | Metro Monthly Wine Columnist October wine tastings produced a number of great wines, paving the way for the upcoming holiday season. On Oct. 24, Michael Charles Wines (Elm Road) teamed up with Vernon’s Café in Niles to host another of Michael Charles’ wonderful bimonthly dinner tastings. The evening began with a […]
October 2014 Wine Guy: Seasonal beers, whiskeys on tap at Rust Belt Brewery
October 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Bob Sanata is the new wine director at Springfield Grille in Boardman. Electronic image by John Webster. By JOHN WEBSTER | Metro Monthly Wine Columnist September was filled with many fine events featuring great wines, tasty beers and handcrafted whiskeys. Jeff Brayn of Rust Belt Brewery invited me to the Tap House on Commerce Street […]
September 2014 Wine Guy: Cooler summer makes Valley wine tastes more enjoyable
September 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment
By JOHN WEBSTER | Metro Monthly Wine Columnist One benefit of a cooler summer is that it’s better wine-tasting weather, and there were many opportunities to try great wines at local tastings and restaurant dinners. Michael Charles Premier Wines on Elm Road held delicious dinner tastes at two lovely locales, the Trumbull County Country Club […]
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