Need for Mead

Written by Surdyk's Staff There is no more appropriate time to talk about Mead than when the Minnesota Ren Fest is going strong and the Vikings are about to kick off their regular season. But how many of us know the history of the ancient drink behind horned goblets and Game of Thrones? { "__shgImageV2Elements" … read more

Henri Prudhon Feature

Written by Peter Plaehn, Wine Buyer Burgundy is a region defined by location: your vineyard is either in the right place or it isn’t. While this has held true for centuries, climate change has moved the boundaries. Vineyards deemed too high on the slope to ripen fully are now getting ideal sun exposure, and the trees that may have sha … read more

Chablis Feature

Written by Peter Plaehn, Wine Buyer Hi, my name is Peter, and I have a Chardonnay problem.    It’s mostly a mineral-driven, barely-to-no-oak Chardonnay problem, but I’m a fan of a well-made bottle from just about anywhere. This doesn’t extend to Champagne, however, where I prefer Pinot Noir and Meunier to Char … read more

Jason DeRusha's Summer Wine Pick

Written by Jason DeRusha I had a wonderful opportunity to get out to the Willamette Valley in Oregon last year for a quick getaway with Alyssa. Among the many great wineries we were able to visit was Soter Vineyards. Many thanks again to local distributors The Libation Project for getting us an appointment, since you need one in advance to … read more