Thomas Caestecker

Evanston’s Quince to give Spanish wines center stage

Believe it or not, it wasn’t long ago that an eclectic and urbane college town on Chicago’s North Shore was once bereft of cool restaurants. That’s right: the bustling city of suburban Evanston had...

The aroma and taste of pleasure: Cabernet Franc

Innovative vintners and creative viticulture are just some of the good yields in an otherwise lean economy. While over-extraction, the non-judicious use of oak and the objective of making wines for scoring purposes – “trophy” wines...

Merlot makes a comeback, thanks to value from Washington

The surge in popularity of once-neglected wine regions or multi-syllable grapes – without the multi-numeral prices – has made the world of wine one of discovery. So, it is in this milieu that Chicago Budget Wine Examiner...

Restaurant Profile: Q&A with Lance Gresak of III Forks

When a steakhouse restaurant that started elsewhere raises the “open for business” sign here, Chicagoans might raise an eyebrow. Not only have local, independent steakhouses been established in the city for decades, but Chicago and its legendary stockyards...

Choose value-priced wines and meats for barbecue season

There is a habit that people need to jettison before achieving barbecue stardom and/or becoming wry wine heretics: Stop one-stop shopping at the supermarket. That’s right, with winter over (fingers crossed) and National Barbecue Month...

Viognier and Torrontés are ripe for the season

The rites of a Chicago spring usually include garage cleanups, finding newly hatched spiders crawling in the grill and shivering through baseball’s Opening Day. A less hazardous seasonal activity might be to taste different value-priced white wines...

Restaurant Profile: Q&A with Betsy Simson of Jerry’s

A little over a decade ago, Betsy Simson took one look at the English Tudor-lined Chestnut Court in north-suburban Winnetka, and was charmed. The quiet, Old World-style of the village square inspired Simson to “create a...

Portuguese trade association unveils U.S. promotional campaign

Responding to the growth of Portuguese wine sales among American wine drinkers, the trade association ViniPortugal has announced a new $3 million campaign, promoting the country’s wines in the United States. The program involves integrated public relations and...

Sicilian wines are modern jewels of Mediterranean culture

The epitome of the “new normal” in the wine industry is often sourced from the regions that make up the “old country.” Portuguese, Greek, Spanish and Italian wines typify this new discovery of the old. A...

Unique white wines say spring has sprung

Most Chicagoans know that, despite the rapid demise of dirty snow mounds and increased bird chirpings (and droppings) that spring usually takes the long way around. Nevertheless, the long-awaited equinox and sunsets-minus-the-shiver aren’t far...

Currently in Los Angeles