The Ivy Inn conjures up an unforgettable meal

I was so elated after a recent meal at The Ivy Inn that I woke my husband when I got home to tell him all about the six delicious courses that chef and owner Angelo Vangelopoulos had served us. My husband fell back to sleep halfway through the second course, but I continued my exaltation […]

Wine is but a dream, or so say the owners of Afton Mountain Vineyards

Afton Mountain Vineyards’ motto is “grapes don’t grow in ugly places,” and a trip up the mountain in Nelson County confirms that. Morning mist tumbles over the estate’s 82 acres and lingers above the 15 acres of grape vines pretty as a picture. It was precisely this romantic scene that wooed Tony and Elizabeth Smith […]

Montepulciano’s a wine for hard times

If ever there were a wine that could answer our prayers in this winter and economy of discontent, it would be Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. It’s red, alcoholic, consistently tasty, meant to be drunk young, divine with weeknight pasta, and best when it’s under $15. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is made from the montepulciano grape—not to be confused with […]

How to age gracefully

We all know from cleaning out the fridge after a vacation that wine’s ability to improve with age sets it apart from other consumable goods. But not all wine gets better with time. More than 90 percent of the wine produced is consumed within a year of bottling, and drinking many wines beyond a year […]