Rachel Voorhees juggles the roles of Certified Sommelier, wine writer, wife and mother of two with grace and elegance—and a good dose of family support for her obsession of finding the perfect wine and food pairing. Voorhees is happiest when she’s helping someone build their own wine cellar, hosting a wine tasting or sharing a tip on her personal website. We talked to her about career, family and tasting lots and lots of wine. Read the interview.

The world of wine is morphing into a new scene as the younger generation hops on the social bandwagon. New wines, new concepts, new perceptions and approaches are emerging, and with them, the revolutionaries. Splitting away from the masses is an innovative wine company, Public House (Social by Design). The company is boldly going where many dare not venture: the world of boxed wine.

Williams. Selyem. Two words, that when put together make wine purists, pinot noir nuts, and chardonnay lovers (that appreciate the proper use of oak) swoon.  Swoon, and wait.

Clay went from banks to tanks, and is all the better for it. In fact, he professes to have the “coolest job on the coast” and it is hard to disagree. In his answers below he reveals, for me at least, an unexpected passion for pinot blanc (which frankly is going to make me seek out more of that grape), and a more expected love of French wines. His vinous work at Wild Horse Winery is exceptional, so I’d imagine his home brew beer must be delicious. Lets find out more about Clay now…

Gail Simmons is sweet; just the right amount of sweet. So it comes as no surprise that she is the host of Top Chef: Just Desserts, Bravo’s pastry-focused spin-off of the Top Chef franchise, which aired its third season in the fall of 2012. As a trained culinary expert and food writer she has lent her extensive expertise as a permanent judge on BRAVO’s Emmy-winning series Top Chef, where she is often seen with a glass of wine in her hand. Now in its tenth successful season, Top Chef is rated the No. 1 food show on cable television. 

Pairing wine and chocolate is something that everyone recognizes around the world as a romantic gift. It speaks to the heart, mind and soul of a person, and it shows just how much you care about them. As someone who has taught thousands of people the joys of chocolate and wine pairing, I’m going to share some basics of how to meld the rich tastes of chocolate with the fruity and sometimes spicy tastes in the wine. Here are some great pairings I recommend to get you started:

I’m in planning mode for my own Super Bowl party this year, and let me tell you, I’ve got my game face on. I’m set on scoring a touchdown in the execution of my planning, timing, and menu. Here are some of the tips I’m writing in my playbook as I develop my game day strategy. What else would you recommend?

We all think we know the rules: White meat and fish go with white wines; red meats, game, red sauces and stews go with red wines, right? Sometimes the options can be slim, and some foods actually do not go well with wine because of a sinister chemical reaction. But there are a few good rules of thumb to keep in mind when you’re not sure where to start. Read our guide.

Please take your seat. Make sure your tray is in its full upright and locked position and fasten your seatbelts, as we are about to take off for our flight! Wine flights are as popular as the leg from New York to London. No, these are not airline flights you pay for and wine is served as the beverage of choice. WineTable writer Janine Buchal explains why they are a hot trend not going away anytime soon and what you can expect when you try one.

“Grapes are sunlight held together with water,” Galileo said. He had a good point there because vines create much of their fruit from sunlight, so the quality of light in the vineyards is an essential part of the terroir that shapes the flavor of the wines."

Maybe we are all cavemen and cavewomen at heart, because just the mention of a wine cave during a tour is enough to make me change the itinerary so my clients can taste wine underground, surrounded by barrels. What is it about caves? In the past, maybe it was the sexy fur outfits or the ability to impress a girl with grunts. Well, we’re far past those primordial fascinations, but caves still play an important role in wine country.

Collecting wines for the budget-conscious seems almost as vast and insurmountable task as collecting car parts or motorcycles. But as with motorcycles, you need to focus on specific goals and actually set a realistic budget or you may quickly get into trouble with your spouse... Staying on budget requires looking at your overall goals. Price, length of storage, where you store it and for what purpose (investment or eventual consumption) are all things to consider. Wine consultant Janine Buchal walks us through the important things to think about.