Melissa Chamberlin, Ph.D.'s Page

I would love to know more about your book. I am merely a consumer of wine, but love to learn as much about it as possible. I, also, have a book that should be available in December. "Events You Design", is an 80,000 word non-fiction on event planning. I cannot wait to hear more from you. Teresa

Boeuf Bourguignon is one of my faves. I served it at our family's Christmas dinner last year. Everyone is requesting it again this year. Perhaps, a tradition is beginning. It's funny that you ask about favorite olive oil regions because I recently learned that in January I will become the US spokesman for Tunisian olive oil. They are starting to import estate, individual grower oils into the US. At this point they are hard to find, but be on the look out. Of course, there are the traditional growing regions such as Tuscany, Sicily, and Spain. I'll give you some new ones to explore...Australia, New Zealand, Chile and our own California. There's a real oil boom going on CA and it doesn't involve rigs. These along with Tunisia have the benefit of a better currency exchange. I can pass on individual producers if you need them.

Thank you, Melissa. I appreciate your comment very much It had plenty of challenge, although it was actually Rhone and Provence. The Burgundy exam will be available next year which is my preference of course. Next, I will continue writing, blogging, speaking, and tasting. Ironically, the real next step is to launch an online olive oil retail store, Crush and Press, after the first quarter of 2010. Wine education will still be a major component since most wine lovers are also foodies. If you are on Facebook, please join the Crush and Press Fan page. What have you been drinking lately? I hope all is well with you.

Dear Melissa

Enchanté de faire votre connaissance.

Suite à votre question, j'aime le muscat de Rivesaltes, c'est un muscat doux, qui se déguste en particulier pendant l'apéritif.

Michel

Just tell something about your wine feelings.
All the best

João

Hello Melissa,

It’s very nice to know that wine has such a wonderful lover, and exigent in the choices.
Portugal Dão region has the most gastronomic wines: fresh, intense, elegant with very nice acidity, made with autochthonous grapes from very particularly varieties.
Just try.
I am a producer in Portuguese Dão region, and I suggest you to taste an old Dão.

Just see what Paul White Thinks about as:

So far, Portugal has managed to remain true to its traditions, while at the same time offering up a huge range of distinctive grape varieties and unusual wine styles precisely when many of us are tiring of endless New World makeovers of French varietals.

Dao has a lot going for it in that respect: first rate grape varieties firmly rooted in granite-based ‘terroir’ that sparkles back like diamonds, all this shaped by a growing season that’s relatively gentler and longer than other Portuguese regions. Although relatively unknown and sometimes tricky to pronounce, Dao’s red wines offer consumers genuinely new and exciting tasting experiences.

Absolutely, "Judgment in Paris" is a great read with amazing factual information about famous California and French wines and wineries.

I believe I mistakenly deleted my comment...So, again.. Don't get me started, but I'll give you a sampling of my gathering or other wish list...Unfortunately, no Romanee Conti (I'm depending on you for that one)...Armand Rousseau, Hudelot Noellat (Madame Noellat is a sweetie), Bruno Clair, Francois Lamarche, Taupenot-Merme (Romain Taupenot is one of the nicest guys in Bur), Bernard Dugat, Henri Gouges, Humbert Freres, Huber-Verdereau (great friend), Jean Marc Millot, Mongeard-Mugneret, Dominique Lafon, Michel Lafarge....I like to buy from nice people. Despite that I still buy Rousseau when I can. I like Vosne Romanee, Chambolle, Gevrey, Volnay, Puligny Montrachet...Hell, I like it all. I also like northern Rhone. What are your favorites?