An incredible wine bar … in Rapid City, South Dakota!
July 07, 2011 
Jason Kallsen 
Here’s a story about finding a nearly perfect wine bar in the most unexpected of places. If a wine bar like this opened in the Twin Cities, it would be packed every night, guaranteed. Last August and September we took a blissful ten days off and went to the Black Hills of South Dakota. No
Getting into the wine business
June 29, 2011 Jason Kallsen 
It’s the question I field more often than most. “How do I get into the wine business?” There is no simple answer, but let’s talk about this for just a bit. The wine business is not unlike other industries: more often than not, it’s who you know. This can be a daunting thing if you’re
Sen Yai Sen Lek: pairing good Thai with wine
June 21, 2011 Jason Kallsen 
Last evening I sat down with the wine buyer and manager of Sen Yai Sen Lek, Nicole Pappas-Stanoch, to taste through a variety of lighter bodied red wines paired with a selection of the most popular dishes from the kitchen. It was an eye opening evening to say the least. Those not familiar with Sen
Smile Network wine benefit on Friday June 24th
June 16, 2011 Jason Kallsen 
One of the better wine events of the year is coming up June 24th, including the chance to bid on some wines that you never thought you’d ever see, much less own. Our own local Leslee Miller is heading the event at Casa Verde at 50th and Bryant in Southwest Minneapolis. The “Sips For Smiles”
Drink Oregon Pinot for a good cause
May 25, 2011 Bill Ward 
OK, let’s see. Seriously worthy cause? Check. A bunch of awesome wines? Major check. Sublime setting? Check. Bocce ball? But of course. The Stars of Oregon breast-cancer benefit almost looks like a too-good-to-be true deal, especially since it costs a pittance. But it’s for real, and a real deal. For $20, you can sample 85
Local wine lists: Madeira at W.A. Frost
May 22, 2011 Jason Kallsen 
It’s fascinating to me, when asking people what their favorite wine lists are, how little W.A. Frost comes up. I don’t know if this is a result of the restaurant being seen as part of the ‘old guard’, or if wine people simply don’t get there as often as they should. If you have ideas
The Hooper Report – Live from Germany: Frost and Foie Gras Farms
May 18, 2011 Bill Hooper 
Guten Tag Party People, We had some bad luck in the early morning of the 5th when late season frost decimated thousands of hectares of vines in Germany. I was travelling to Hamburg and Berlin last week, but was kept informed by friends and colleagues in the Pfalz, Rheinhessen, and Franken throughout the ordeal. 2011
TCW Presents: The Buyer’s Pick – James from Alma
May 16, 2011 Mike Dombrow 
Every week Twin Cities Wine is asking those folks in the know for what they are drinking or what excited to talk about. This week we asked James Hirdler from Restaurant Alma for his suggestion and he shot back, without any hesitation, with the 2009 Domaine de Aubuisieres Vouvray “Silex”. This is what James had
