In this article, we got brave and visited an insect farm, getting a full immersion, literally, of beetles, flies, maggots, larvae and wasps, all with the intention of learning how “good bugs” are used to combat the “bad bugs” as a natural pest control.

It is a safe, effective and natural approach to farming, and gardening, that is embraced by many farmers practicing regenerative agriculture, with the ultimate goal of letting Mother Nature do its thing to create authentic, farm-made products which we enjoy so much, including wine and EVOO. Learn more in this article.

If you love wine, or perhaps work in the wine industry, you have probably heard or read about some recent alarming reports about health issues which drinking alcohol, and wine, can apparently cause.

For those of us who do like to have a glass or two of wine with dinner or when meeting friends, this is a “buzz kill” (no pun intended). Like it or not, it has brought health and wine to the forefront of conversation.

How does one react to such concerns?

Is there any change you could introduce to your life?

How can you continue to enjoy wine while keep staying healthy?

We got inspired recently and are sharing our own perspectives in this article.

As we are saying goodbye to an old year and ringing in a new one, we’ve checked out the topics that interested our blog readers the most in 2024.

These are people who certainly love wine, but not only. They seek out flavors that excite them, authentic, nature made wines and foods, and experiences that will heighten their enjoyment.

These Americans are also those from different walks of life and professions, like those who work in wine and hospitality industry, professional writers and wine loving consumers.

This wrap up of the past year’s most popular articles gives insight into the unanimous interests which you all share, as well as those topics that excited wine consumers more than wine trade buyers. As well, we have uncovered topics that got more attention from those who work in wine, food and in media. 

All in all, the insights we share foreshadow future trends in wine and food, and, you could say, is a reflection of yourself. 

Dear Reader, read on…

While achieving balance is in life is an art, balance in wine and food has a lot of science to it.

It starts with our individual taste buds and the interplay of our sense of taste & smell and the tactile sensation which, with our brain’s help, determines our own take on the flavor and textures of wine and food.

The ultimate pleasure is when it all balances out.

This article is all about how to achieve this “magical” balance and to raise the bar on your own wine and food tasting experiences. Check it out!

Here is Vero Founder, Sheila Donohue, in her happy place: a vineyard at sunset in Italy.

She takes wine exploration seriously, literally scouring the earth for hidden gems of wine and olive oil.

How did she get into wine? What motivated her to start her business?

Learn about Sheila’s mission to take wine down a notch through a down-to-earth, and fun, approach to wine discovery in this article.

While many wine professionals come about mid career, Helen Gallo Bryan’s career in wine started early, inspired by her studies in France where she was exposed to “better wine” than a typical college student. Her career in wine was driven by her passion for small production, authentic wines, which allowed her to get to know everything behind that glass of wine. Her gift of connectedness allowed us to share her joy and build community with her and amongst each other. Get to know this incredible wonder woman of wine in this article.

When shopping for wine, how do you sift through the myriad of choices to find the hidden gems?

To find out, we turned to a wine expert with many years working in a wine store fielding questions from wine lovers with this question in mind.

She came up with 4 tips on how to stretch your dollar further without sacrificing quality, while amping up your wine cellar at the same time. Discover how to find good values in wines in this article.

As a country whose culinary cuisine has revolved around fast food for over a hundred years, is National Junk Food Day something to shun or to celebrate?

If you go back to the roots of fast food, it's street food, which is "the true testimony to the identity of a people.” Behind street food is a wealth of traditions and diversity of flavors and textures which all tie to a place, a people and ultimately are rooted in authenticity.

In this article we elevate the humble fast food by digging into the history of street food and provide ways to enjoy them more with fun and delicious wine and food pairing ideas.

Start with an aromatic red sweet sparkling wine beaming with flowers and strawberries (think a red Moscato), pick an assortment of fruits and herbs from your garden and local farmers’ market, then get your hands on a really good dry Prosecco and sparkling water, then what do you get? A delicious, low alcohol wine cocktail, fine-tuned to please any palate. Learn more in this article.

What does “real wine” really mean? This is what journalist Helen Gregory was on a mission to find out.

It took some digging around and talking with people in-the-know. In the end, it looks like she found it. Learn more in this article.

What wine did the Roman Emperor bring to Cleopatra to win her over?

What wine epitomizes the dolce vita, literally?

What wine would almost everyone like at your next party or family gathering?

It’s Brachetto, also known as the red Moscato. Learn about this wine known as happiness in a glass in this latest article.

The wine industry seems to be experiencing a “perfect storm” that has those of us in the wine industry scratching our heads. Sure, there is inflation and economic pressures, but there is more to this story. To get some more perspectives, we looked outside the US, on a global scale and then honed in on the Italian wine consumer, comparing them to American wine lovers. What did we find out? Find out in this article.

Pizza is by far America’s favorite food. Not only is it yummy, but it also brings people together with fun, memorable and delicious experiences. While ordering out for pizza is what most of us are used to, it is easy enough to make at home, even by making your own pizza dough. Even better if the dough is made using a natural yeast fermentation, which creates a more distinguished, tasty and healthy bread, and pizza dough. Want to know how to make your own dough from your own homemade yeast? Want to learn about how to make one of your favorite foods? And enjoy it better with great wine pairing choices? Read on!

What is the common denominator of some of the best Italian red wine?

Hint: think Brunello and Chianti red wine…. it’s Sangiovese!

It’s an old world wine grape that is often shrouded behind the name of a wine name or appellation, which changes depending on where it is planted and the conditions it undergoes… And despite what Wikipedia says, you find it in many wine regions beyond Tuscany. In fact, it is a grape that has been, and still is, the source of many debates, in Italy and around the world. Learn about this key, behind the scenes player in some of the Italian red wine best.

With year end 2023 upon us, we’ve discovered the most popular topics which have caught wine lovers’ attention across the US, from wine professionals to wine writers to wine loving consumers. What drew the most interest and why? Find out what’s making the American wine buyer tick in our latest article.

Embark on a journey through the hills of the historic part of the Valdobbiadene wine region, where the enchanting and rare Boschera grape vineyards are hidden amidst an area where the Prosecco grape, glera, takes center stage. In the heart of Italian white wine growing, a story unfolds; one of tradition, sustainability, and the effervescent charm of Pet Nat natural wine. Join us on this odyssey, where craftsmanship and tradition intertwine, giving birth to an Italian sparkling Pet Nat that captivates the senses. Explore the nuances of the rare Boschera grape which makes a wine that not only tantalizes the palate but also reflects a commitment to the land and the timeless beauty of Valdobbiadene.

There aren’t enough words to express our admiration and fondness for the natural wine legend, Lorenzo Corino.

He was learned yet approachable, passionate yet pragmatic, wise yet obstinate. All of these character qualities made him a vocal and admired figure in natural wine circles, first to defend natural wine, yet first to say that the term doesn’t exist, seemingly paradoxical until you sat down and really listened to him. Then you got hooked, like we did.

We take you down our journey, short as it was, in getting to know our friend, viticulture researcher, vigneron and winemaker, Lorenzo Corino.

What in the world is going on with wine? Both globally, where France is reporting to be throwing out 80 million gallons of perfectly good wine, while in the US wine sales are down 7% in the first half of the year.

In this article we’re going back to the future in wine to get beneath the numbers and to the people and wine drinking American public to understand the dynamics and trends since we started our business 5 years ago. Our findings are revealing.

Who says there has to be a season for rosé wine?

Who says that a rose wine has to have a specific pale pink color?

Who says that a rosé wine is not age worthy?

Whether you drink rose or not, this article will open your eyes to rose wine dry. We’re breaking the myths on rose wine in this article!

Organic wineries like the ones we select to sell are battling the challenges of nature all the time. After a long drought, this year is bringing lots of rain but the wet weather is an ideal environment for a fungus that attacks both the leaf and the grape, making it much more difficult especially if you make organic wine. How does an organic farmer address this threat? Find out in this video, and learn more in this article.