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video library
Wine Tasting with Joël and Ludo Gigou
food travel
Like a Pig in...
by Greg Kramer
by
events
You might say, We had a night!
by Greg Kramer
events
Wine & Cheese Tasting at the James Beard House
by Gregory Kramer
Generations of Taste: American Cheese & European Wine Pairings   Join the James Beard Foundat...
Generations of Taste: American Cheese & European Wine Pairings   Join the James Beard Foundation, Voix de la Terre, and Culture magazine for an intimate evening of cheese and wine pairings insp...
events
VDLT's moment in the Beard Foundation Spotlight
by info vdltwine
On Sunday, November 10, 2024, The Guru (Greg Kramer) lead a tasting of 6 featured VDLT wines:   C...
On Sunday, November 10, 2024, The Guru (Greg Kramer) lead a tasting of 6 featured VDLT wines:   Champagne Hervé Dubois Cuvée Millésime Blanc de Blancs 2018  Christophe Pichon Père et Fils Saint Jos...
decantations
A Note on Our Notes
by Greg Kramer
We offer our impressions of why we like the wines and what we believe makes them distinct. We wil...
We offer our impressions of why we like the wines and what we believe makes them distinct. We will not provide scores because we think it is unfair to reduce the hard work and dedication of winemak...
Food & Travel
Tuscan Ribs
by Greg Kramer
Bruce Aidells, famed California sausage purveyor who writes for many food publications, published...
Bruce Aidells, famed California sausage purveyor who writes for many food publications, published a wonderful recipe for savory. oven, slow-roasted spare ribs. The combination of herbs, spices and ...
video library
How to cook Steak
by Greg Kramer
video library
How to prepare Prosciutto & Parmesan Appetizer
by Greg Kramer
video library
How to make Fried Halibut
by Greg Kramer
video library
How to make Linguini & Clam Sauce
by Greg Kramer
video library
How to cook Fried Oysters
by Greg Kramer
video library
Chief tasting Champagne with Hervé and Nina of Champagne Hervé Dubois
by Greg Kramer
video library
How to make Sweet Potato Puree
by Greg Kramer
video library
How to cook Fried Shrimp
by Greg Kramer
video library
How to prepare Tongue with Fried Egg & Caviar
by Greg Kramer
video library
How to prepare Pork Chops & Sauerkraut
by Greg Kramer
video library
How to make Pea Soup
by Greg Kramer
video library
Wine Tasting with Abel Osorio of Nau Frères
by Greg Kramer
video library
How to make Scrambled Eggs and Caviar
by Greg Kramer
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
All is not rosy
by Greg Kramer
The photo above is the 14th C wine cellar of Traslanzas. Kind of curious when you consider that i...
The photo above is the 14th C wine cellar of Traslanzas. Kind of curious when you consider that it is in Cigales, part of the region of Castilla Y León near Valladolid. Cigales only became a D.O. w...
video library
Wine Tasting with Corentin & Alexis Pichon of Domaine Christophe Pichon
by Greg Kramer
video library
Wine Tasting with Guillaume Guiton of Domaine Jean Guiton
by Greg Kramer

VDLT members join in tasting and discussion with Guiton of 2016 Savigny's. 

VDLT members join in tasting and discussion with Guiton of 2016 Savigny's. 
Food & Travel
More Hall of Fame Honors
by Greg Kramer
  The VDLT Hall of Fame launched with some...
  The VDLT Hall of Fame launched with some great selections. Here are some worthy additions:  Domilese's Po-Boy & Bar You could argue tha...
events
Party in Astoria
by Greg Kramer
Anyone who has ever attended a VDLT event knows, there ain’t nothin’ like em. Friday evening at T...
Anyone who has ever attended a VDLT event knows, there ain’t nothin’ like em. Friday evening at Trattoria L’Incontro in Astoria Queens was no exception. Forty revelers (members and their guests) en...
Food & Travel
Food/Wine Pairing Unhinged
by Greg Kramer
There is a book entitled, “Red Wine with Fish,” but even that couldn’t have conceived of w...
There is a book entitled, “Red Wine with Fish,” but even that couldn’t have conceived of what we did last night. You are going to think the Guru has been tippling from too much of the VDLT i...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
Great Grenache
by Greg Kramer
David and I rolled into Gigondas mid-morning last June. First time for both of us.  The s...
David and I rolled into Gigondas mid-morning last June. First time for both of us.  The sky was like a foreboding El Greco painting. Yet, as we ambled through this beautiful village, the su...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
Some for Now...Some for Later
by Greg Kramer
After our recent member tour in France, Mayda and I had the pleasure of spending a couple ...
After our recent member tour in France, Mayda and I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days in the beautiful Loire Valley. Speaking of which, don’t forget to drop-in for the tasting to...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
How the Smart $ Plays
by Greg Kramer
My first tasting note for the 2014 Maison Roche de Bellene Morey-Saint Denis 1er Cru is th...
My first tasting note for the 2014 Maison Roche de Bellene Morey-Saint Denis 1er Cru is three words, “Pure, Transparent, No-Brainer” and the second one, months later says, “Ditto.”Quite simp...
events
VDLT near Traverse City
by Greg Kramer
In the last newsletter, Chief mentioned that Mayda and I were in Michigan visiting ...
In the last newsletter, Chief mentioned that Mayda and I were in Michigan visiting VDLT members Julie & David DeWitt. More specifically, they have a wonderful home on Lake Michiga...
Food & Travel
Stick to Your Ribs
by Greg Kramer
Whenever I travel to wine producing areas, I try to drink as local as possible. The food and the ...
Whenever I travel to wine producing areas, I try to drink as local as possible. The food and the wine are products of similar terroir so there is a strong likelihood that together they will be enjo...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
Something to Talk About
by Bold Commerce Collaborator
In 1991, Bonnie Raitt released her transformative album, Luck of the Draw, which included the son...
In 1991, Bonnie Raitt released her transformative album, Luck of the Draw, which included the song, “Something to Talk About.” Shortly thereafter, Guillaume Guiton joined his father at Domaine Jean...
Food & Travel
A Cook’s Weekend
by Greg Kramer
This weekend was one of the first in a while that we were free of plans, so I had a chance to do ...
This weekend was one of the first in a while that we were free of plans, so I had a chance to do some cooking. First up was a grilled rack of Australian lamb chops cut into 2-bone portions and simp...
Food & Travel
It’s About The Pizza
by Greg Kramer
Sometimes wine and food experiences can be perfect. It doesn’t have to be...
Sometimes wine and food experiences can be perfect. It doesn’t have to be a fancy restaurant or a trophy bottle, but somehow the stars align.They did for me this weekend at ...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
Saint Pourçain, wherefore art thou - Burgundy or Loire?
by Greg Kramer
An early 13th Century poem, called "Battle of the Wines", recounts a competitive tasting of more ...
An early 13th Century poem, called "Battle of the Wines", recounts a competitive tasting of more than 70 of Europe's best wines ordered by a Capetian king. The wines of Saint-Pourçain were deemed 3...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
Serious Sangiovese that Sings
by Greg Kramer
The flagship wine of Cantine Innocenti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is the least known of the 3 ...
The flagship wine of Cantine Innocenti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is the least known of the 3 main Tuscan appellations. You could make a case that it is the sweet spot because it blends the fine...
decantations
Tuscany & Sangiovese Intro
by Greg Kramer
As previously noted, we are very excited about VDLT’s impending introduction of Italian wines.  ...
As previously noted, we are very excited about VDLT’s impending introduction of Italian wines.  We thought it might be helpful to provide some context for the grapes and regions we will be offerin...
Food & Travel
Ideal Cheese Is Ideal
by Michael Kimelman
Fifty years ago, Americans thought that cheese was the substance lodged between their hamburger a...
Fifty years ago, Americans thought that cheese was the substance lodged between their hamburger and their roll, so that when the Chief heard bells ringing, he turned to Marie-Pierre Mikulski and sa...
Food & Travel
Tradition isn’t only Jewish
by Michael Kimelman
As a young lad, Chief enjoyed (on non-golfable weekends) shopping with Curly (his bald father) fo...
As a young lad, Chief enjoyed (on non-golfable weekends) shopping with Curly (his bald father) for the ethnic delights offered on Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. Today, he loves taking his family and f...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
A Loire Red - Ultimate Bistro Wine
by Greg Kramer
We love @Le Bon_Georges in Paris.  No pretension or complication - just fresh, wonderful ...
We love @Le Bon_Georges in Paris.  No pretension or complication - just fresh, wonderful food and a wine list full of undiscovered talent.  Proprietor Benoît Duval-Arnould is a wonderful ho...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
New from Burgundy: The Anti-Bling From Bligny-Les-Beaune
by Greg Kramer
Just 5 minutes south of Beaune and the same east from Volnay, lies Bligny-Les-Beaune. I wasn’t su...
Just 5 minutes south of Beaune and the same east from Volnay, lies Bligny-Les-Beaune. I wasn’t sure what to expect as we pulled up late in the day to the modest and rustic Domaine Jean Guiton, in t...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
The Wine Decides When It Is Ready
by Greg Kramer
Jasnières & Coteaux du Loir I am pleased, but frankly a bit surprised, that several of you ha...
Jasnières & Coteaux du Loir I am pleased, but frankly a bit surprised, that several of you have ordered some of the wines we are offering from Domaine Gigou. Surprised for a number of reasons: ...
decantations
How to Drink Wine at Restaurants
by Michael Kimelman
or Eat Your Cake & Have It To In wine language, we’d say it's wonderful to have a wine you en...
or Eat Your Cake & Have It To In wine language, we’d say it's wonderful to have a wine you enjoy with your dinner, and upon arriving home, finding the exact same wine back in your wine cellar. ...
Food & Travel
...Then on to Tuscany!
by Greg Kramer
Chianti: Maybe the world's most iconic wine   This famous scene from the Disney classic shows a w...
Chianti: Maybe the world's most iconic wine   This famous scene from the Disney classic shows a wine bottle candle.  None of us need to see the label to know it is Chianti because of the wicker cov...
Food & Travel
Wines of Italy - Gearing Up!
by Greg Kramer
Returning to Italy Thirteen months after my last visit to Italy, I will return to build on some w...
Returning to Italy Thirteen months after my last visit to Italy, I will return to build on some work with wine estates started last year and introduce VDLT to numerous new prospective partners.   I...
decantations
Before We Can Taste Wines...We Gotta Find Them
by Greg Kramer
We are gearing up for a trip to Italy with a goal of soon adding wines from Piedmont and Tuscany ...
We are gearing up for a trip to Italy with a goal of soon adding wines from Piedmont and Tuscany to the VDLT portfolio.  This will be a combination of deeper dives with estates we already know and ...
decantations
Our Wine Standards Are Incredibly High
by Greg Kramer
There are many factors that go into deciding which treasures from our hunt will become wines offe...
There are many factors that go into deciding which treasures from our hunt will become wines offered to the VDLT Wine Community:  Special Wine Producers The winemakers in the VDLT portfolio share ...
decantations
Transparency!
by Greg Kramer
Here are some of my wine preferences, biases and defining principles.  I offer them for perspecti...
Here are some of my wine preferences, biases and defining principles.  I offer them for perspective on my selections and advice. Wine is part of the meal. I don’t prefer to drink it like a cocktai...
events
VDLT Members Wine tasting event at Katz's Deli
2:40
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
Don't Sleep on Beaujolais from Domaine Girin
by Greg Kramer
Bucolic Beaujolais is the southernmost appellation in Burgundy. Most of the production is red fro...
Bucolic Beaujolais is the southernmost appellation in Burgundy. Most of the production is red from Gamay. A modicum of white wine, mostly from Chardonnay and some Rosé is made. The reds tend to be ...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
Christophe Pichon Is Nothing Short of a Superstar Domaine
by Greg Kramer
How to avoid constant hyperbole when you truly adore and admire every wine you hunt down? But in ...
How to avoid constant hyperbole when you truly adore and admire every wine you hunt down? But in a world of extraordinary wines, there are a precious few that stand out. Beyond distinct, these gems...
Drink Distinct: Wine & Producers
Cornas is on fire
by Greg Kramer
If you pay any attention to the world of wine, you can’t miss that Cornas is hot right now. A few...
If you pay any attention to the world of wine, you can’t miss that Cornas is hot right now. A few producers, their US distributors and the press have parlayed great wines, a string of outstanding v...
events
Notes from the VDLT board meeting
by Michael Kimelman
Donald Kramer, an owner and wonderful advisor to VDLT. Where do VDLT directors hold meetings? Of...
Donald Kramer, an owner and wonderful advisor to VDLT. Where do VDLT directors hold meetings? Of course, at very good restaurants that have free corkage. Wu's Wonton King serves up better than goo...
decantations
Champagne 101 - Most of your questions answered
by Greg Kramer
OK, now for the drier stuff (or should we say brut?). Here is a quick primer on what I think are ...
OK, now for the drier stuff (or should we say brut?). Here is a quick primer on what I think are Champagne matters relevant to us as consumers. All sparkling wines are not Champagne. Only those pro...
decantations
Make any occasion sparkle with Champagne
by Greg Kramer
Many Americans cut their teeth on California wines. In time they expand their repertoire to inclu...
Many Americans cut their teeth on California wines. In time they expand their repertoire to include other new world wines like Australia and South America. What these wines have in common is ripe f...
community news
Paradise Found
by Greg Kramer
Optimal experiences in food, wine and travel have been my life pursuit and now I am pleased to sh...
Optimal experiences in food, wine and travel have been my life pursuit and now I am pleased to share them with the VDLT Community. My introduction to VDLT was winning a couple of contests and an am...
community news
Welcome Aboard Greg Kramer
by Michael Kimelman
Greg, we’re lucky to have you. Welcome aboard. Greg Kramer, as of August 3rd, has become the Man...
Greg, we’re lucky to have you. Welcome aboard. Greg Kramer, as of August 3rd, has become the Managing Director of the new VDLT community. He has skin in the game and will work full-time without sa...
decantations
Goodbye To A Friend
by Michael Kimelman
In a strange way, the founder of the VDLT wine community. Auguste Clape, the winemaker that put ...
In a strange way, the founder of the VDLT wine community. Auguste Clape, the winemaker that put Cornas on the map, has died at the age of 93. In the words of his importer, Kermit Lynch, "In the wo...
Food & Travel
David and Greg are hunting gems
by Michael Kimelman
Greg and CarolineThe above picture isn’t worth a thousand words, as it doesn’t tell the real stor...
Greg and CarolineThe above picture isn’t worth a thousand words, as it doesn’t tell the real story. The delightful blue-eyed girl is Chief’s favorite waitress in Burgundy and might just be a finali...