Reviews & pairings
Wine reviews & food pairings you can use tonight
Honest takes on wine, beer and spirits: what it tastes like, what it’s worth, and what to put on the plate next to it.
Does it taste good?
Plain-English tasting notes. No “hints of wet slate” unless it really tastes like wet slate.
Is it worth the money?
Every pick is judged against its price, whether it’s a $9 bottle or a special-occasion splurge.
What do I eat with it?
Each review comes with a real-world pairing, so dinner and the bottle work together.
Costco wine reviews
Costco Finds: big value, no guesswork
The wine aisle at Costco is one of the best values in the country, and one of the most overwhelming. Jeff tastes through the Kirkland Signature labels and the rotating bottles to tell you which ones punch above their price and which ones to skip.
New Costco picks go to subscribers first.
What each Costco review covers
Price and value · Taste in plain English · Who it’s for · What to cook with it · Buy it, try it, or skip it
Wine
Wine reviews
Reds, whites and bubbles from France, Italy, Spain, Argentina and beyond, each with a pairing.
France · Red
Southern Rhône from TerraVentoux
A Southern Rhône red that shows why this region is a go-to for flavor per dollar.
Argentina · Red
Selene Vineyard
A look at Selene from Argentina: ripe fruit, easy drinking, crowd-pleasing.
Know your grapes
Shiraz or Syrah?
Same grape, different styles. Learn which one matches your taste.
Red · Myth-busting
Yes, I Do Drink Merlot!
Merlot deserves a second look, and here’s why it earns a spot on your table.
White · with Regine
Rieslings with Regine
From bone-dry to off-dry, how to pick a Riesling you’ll love.
Sparkling · with Regine
Summer Prosecco
Bright, affordable bubbles for porch nights and patio parties.
Spain · with Regine
Rioja with Regine
The ins and outs of Rioja: crianza, reserva and what the labels mean.
Wine · On the water
Copa di Vino: Wine for the Boat
Single-serve wine made for summer on the lake. Is it any good?
Portugal · with Regine
Vinho Verde
Light, zesty and low in alcohol, the perfect summer white.
Beer
Craft beer, minus the snobbery
Michigan is one of the best craft-beer states in the country. Beer gets the same treatment as wine here: what it tastes like, what it costs and what to eat with it. That includes Craft Beers Gone Wild from contributor Rod J BeerVentures.
Beer · Michigan
Founders Nitro Pale Ale
A Michigan craft classic poured on nitro: creamy body, soft bitterness.
Craft Beers Gone Wild · Rod J
Let’s Review Some Beers
A craft beer tasting session, pouring and reviewing a lineup of beers. With contributor Rod J BeerVentures.
Craft Beers Gone Wild · Rod J
Great Lakes Brewing Beers
A tasting run through beers from Great Lakes Brewing. With contributor Rod J BeerVentures.
Craft Beers Gone Wild · Rod J
Belgian Ales on Tap
Belgian-style ales on tap: fruity, spicy and stronger than they taste. With contributor Rod J BeerVentures.
Rod J BeerVentures
Contributor · Craft beer
Rod J brings his Craft Beers Gone Wild tastings to Straight from the Bottle, with Great Lakes brews, Belgian ales and craft beer reviewed with the same honest approach.
Spirits & cocktails
From the back bar
Bourbon, gin, rum and the cocktails that show them off, with simple home-bar recipes and value picks.
Coming soon
Spirits · Bourbon
Everyday bourbons worth the shelf space
Value bourbons for sipping and mixing, and which ones to leave behind.
Coming soon
Cocktails · Home bar
Three-ingredient cocktails for the lakeshore
Easy, impressive drinks you can make without a mixology degree.
Coming soon
Spirits · Gin
Michigan-made spirits to know
Local distilleries making bottles worth seeking out.
Pairing guide
What to pour with what’s for dinner
Simple rules of thumb for the meals you actually make. Match weight with weight, balance spice with a touch of sweetness, and when in doubt, bubbles.
Steak night
Go bold: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah/Shiraz, Malbec or a Southern Rhône blend. For beer, reach for a porter or a malty amber ale. Bourbon drinkers can pour a neat, higher-proof pick.
Seafood & Great Lakes fish
Crisp whites like Vinho Verde, Sauvignon Blanc or dry Riesling for perch and whitefish. Richer fish like salmon can handle a Pinot Noir. For beer, try a pilsner or a Belgian-style wit.
Pizza, burgers & weeknight comfort
Juicy, easy reds with good acidity: Chianti, Barbera, Zinfandel or a value Rioja. On the beer side, a pale ale or a nitro pale is hard to beat.
Spicy food: Thai, Mexican, BBQ
A touch of sweetness tames heat. Try off-dry Riesling or Gewürztraminer, or a fruity lower-alcohol red. High-alcohol wines make spice burn hotter. Crisp lagers work great too.
Holiday dinners & big gatherings
Pick crowd-pleasers that go with everything on the table: sparkling wine to start, then Pinot Noir or a lighter Merlot plus a dry Riesling. Buy by the case to save money, and ask about Costco picks.
Cheese boards & appetizers
Bubbles and salty snacks are a perfect match. Sharp cheddar loves a pale ale; blue cheese loves something sweet. Manchego and Rioja is a classic for a reason.