Rob featured wines that included the delicately lush Isabel Mondavi Rosé, a particularly exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and an amazing Petite Sirah that was so delectable, we asked him to sign a couple bottles for us!

In this segment, Rob opens up about his approach to winemaking, discussed tasting notes on each bottle as well and gave us the inside story behind the Spellbound name…

The museum is a one-of-a-kind Venetian style palace with over 2500 pieces of artwork and a breathtaking garden courtyard that would provide a spectacular yet intimate backdrop for wine tasting and conversation.

We spoke at length with the museum’s director of visitor learning, Jennifer DePrizio, to talk about a little about the history of the museum and how this amazing wine event was conceived and designed.

We also spoke with Peter Crowley, the chef and owner of the Gardner Cafe and sommelier Trevor Nelson, who together designed a delectable array of wines and passed appetizers for the event.

With a setting as special as the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum, the Vino & Verde event was a beautiful evening for wine and art lovers both. The event was also a wonderful tribute to Ms. Gardner herself whose presence was most certainly felt…

Several local restaurants like Franklin Cafe, The Fireplace, and Trina's Starlite Lounge prepared bacon in a variety of ways and with a wonder of complimenting flavors. The always delicious bacon wrapped scallops was right there with candied bacon, bacon infused Chex Mix, steamed and sauteed clams with hunks of bacon and garlic, and even a bacon milkshake (!!).

Of course bacon was only half of the fun with craft beer flowing from the almost 20 breweries (including Smuttynose, Harpoon, Mayflower, Just Beer, and Pretty Things) that took part in the festival, though some went as far as to brew special bacon flavored beers for the event.

As amazing an event as it seemed, the Bacon & Beer Fest was even better with all proceeds from ticket sales going to local charities in the Boston area including Community Servings, Share our Strength, South End Youth Baseball, and The Juniper Fund.

Thanks and thanks again to Aaron for having us at the event and perhaps it will go without saying, but we are already mouthwatering at the idea of the next edition of the Bacon & Beer Fest…!  – RL

Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project was a concept that had its roots in ideals of excellent beer, affordability, self-ownership, and locality. In its creation, form became content as Pretty Things is now a highly regarded brand in taste and price with business and brewing offices in Cambridge and Westport respectively.

Dann has grown Pretty Things literally from batch to batch (and label to label – his own artwork) and in it designed simple and delicious brews like the Belgian inspired Jack D'Or, an English brown ale called St. Boltoph's Town, and the Easter celebration ale, Baby Tree.

In our segment (filmed at craft beer haven Deep Ellum in Allston), host Hillary Coughlin chats with Dann about Pretty Things and covers a good deal about the brand and the idea of the project itself. Dann and Hillary complete the interview with a tasting (well, more than just a tasting!) and breakdown of the delicious Jack D'Or.

Many thanks to Dann – a wonderful guy who was quite gracious in spending an afternoon with us. We're quite pleased with this segment and hopefully you will be too! – RL

Small breweries have an even tougher road with the assumption of an excise tax, a cost they must pass on to consumers which most certainly affects their sales.

However, there has been some good news out of Washington lately as there is currently a bill in Congress that if voted to become law will “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a reduced rate of excise tax on beer produced domestically by certain small producers”.

And of course, here is where we all individually have an opportunity to help…

Contact your U.S. Representatives and Senators and ask them to become co-sponsors of the bill.

Here’s more info and the best way to get started:
http://www.brewersassociation.org/ … -bill-3339

http://www.brewersassociation.org/ … e-material

The 5 main styles of Johnnie Walker scotch vary greatly in aroma and flavor, so a pairing of appropriate food dishes was no easy task, but thanks to an innovative and elegant approach by Chef Aurelio Zacchi …. the complimenting relationship of food and drink was a stunning success…

The pairings included Johnnie Walker Red with a mixed cheese plate, Johnnie Walker Black with albondigas (Spanish meatballs), Johnnie Walker Gold with Marcona almonds, Johnnie Walker Green with Muscovy duck, and Johnnie Walker Blue with glazed short ribs.

While food pairings have long been the domain of wine and beer, this event introduced us to Scotch as a excellent compliment to food…and vice versa! – RL

Now, this was not your average wine tasting event. The Wine Riot featured a dress up photo booth, house DJ, local food pairings, and even tattoos.

And with a noted shift in the wine industry to a "green" sensibility, this edition of the event featured several wineries that produce organic and biodynamic wines as well as others that focus on sustainability in packaging.

We always say that the best way to learn more about wine is to taste more wine. Well when it comes to an event like The Wine Riot, education is plentiful and certainly a lot of fun. For much more on this great event, visit thewineriot.com and for more French Oak, check out our website at frenchoaktv.com.

Become a fan (or “Like”) French Oak TV on Facebook and have a chance to win a FREE CASE OF HARPOON SUMMER BEER!

At the end of this month, one lucky fan will be chosen at random and win this most excellent prize! Of course, you must be 21 to be entered into the drawing.

Cheers!

Here, our friend JC Tetreault takes an educational and step-by-step approach to brewing from the initial boil to bottling and capping.

For beginner home brewers, this is an EXCELLENT segment to watch as JC provides a great deal of expertise and delivers the information in a easy and simple to understand way.

And for intermediate or experienced brewers, the segment offers an opportunity to watch a fellow colleague and take note of some tips, ideas and maybe even learn a few new tricks…Regardless, it's a very entertaining and fun segment that reminds us of a cooking show…about beer! – RL

On Thursday evenings, Central Bottle Wine & Provisions offers a unique take on a Venetian wine bar where customers partake in small food plates paired with well matched glasses of wine.

In this segment, one of Central Bottle's founding owners, Maureen Rubino, takes us through one such evening of a paring of white wine and lsland Creek oysters. Look for a breakdown of the four Loire Valley whites served as well as a behind-the-scenes perspective on the preparation of 500 oysters!

A thousand thanks to Maureen and her team who so graciously had us in to film. Be sure to check out one of these wonderful nights at Central Bottle which is located in Central Square in Cambridge at 196 Massachusetts Ave. Salute! – RL