JJ Buckley Fine Wines Blog

For wine aficionados around the world, pairing is an essential way to enjoy wine at its full potential. Pairing wine with the perfect food elevates the best of both, by balancing and harmonizing flavors. To aid and organize the art of wine pairing, many people utilize a wine pairing chart — which offers a visual guide to pairing food with wine.

Wines from the Napa Valley are highly sought after among wine collectors and wine consumers alike. One of the primary reasons is this: the lush valley offers a near-perfect wine-growing environment. It was even designated as California’s first American Viticultural Area in 1981 because of its climate, terrain, and vibrant history. Essentially, Napa Valley offers the perfect trifecta for growing grapes: perfect climate, rich soil, and diverse terrain. The result is some of the best wine the world produces...

Nestled in the curve of the river Garonne in southwestern France is the beautiful city of Bordeaux. Beyond being a prolific port town, Bordeaux is the most popular and well-known wine region on earth. Bordeaux has thrived as a wine-growing region because of its temperate climate and rich history. The red wine is a unique blend of at least two varietals from the region — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, while the dry and sweet whites are comprised of Sauvignon Blanc and/or Semillon. Here's a quick look at the 57 appellations of the Bordeaux region.

Peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese and tomato soup, steak and potatoes—there are some well-known, incredible pairings out there. Another top favorite: wine and cheese, of course. These two may even top the list of the most iconic food combinations—and when paired correctly, each brings out the best elements of the other to create an unrivaled flavor experience.

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to save a special bottle of wine. You may have recently gotten married and want to put a bottle into storage to open on your 10th anniversary. Or you just had a baby, and you want to store a great wine to share on their 21st birthday. Maybe you know you’re going to retire in 15 years, so you want to have an excellent aged wine to celebrate the occasion. Whatever your reason, you'll want to find a wine that will truly improve over time.