Joanna Sciarrino

Jul 25, 2024 | thechalkreport.com | Andrew Chalk |Joanna Sciarrino

by Andrew ChalkIf there is a giant hole in the repertoire of Texas wines it is the absence of Pinot Noir. Despite the popularity of the grape and its sourcing from an increasing number of weird and wonderful places, the USDA 2020 Texas Wine Grape Varieties finds 66 different wine grapes grown in the state but pinot noir is not one of them. Vinepair  that the grape is grown in the diminutive Fredericksburg AVA but doesn't say by who, at what vineyard, or who uses it.

Feb 19, 2024 | vinepair.com | Joanna Sciarrino

I think it’s safe to assume that when you have a dinner party, that entails not only preparing for it and hosting it, but also cleaning up after. So while a guest might be willing to stay late to clear the table or do the dishes once the dinner is over, it should by no means be an expectation of the host, nice as it may be. Unless you’re co-hosting this dinner party or getting a cleaning service, that part is 100 percent on you.

Feb 12, 2024 | vinepair.com | Joanna Sciarrino

As with all service professions, variations in attention and expeditiousness are bound to happen from time to time. This can feel particularly vexing at a busy or popular restaurant or bar where there’s a time limit on your table. So if the service is slow but you only have 90 minutes to enjoy yourself, what do you do? First of all, this is very unfortunate. You’ve made the reservation and you’re paying for the experience, so you should get a well-paced meal in return.

Jan 29, 2024 | vinepair.com | Joanna Sciarrino

You’ve been invited to a dinner party, how nice. Unless you’ve been asked to bring something specific, like a dessert or your famous seven layer dip, you’re likely going to arrive with a bottle of something in hand. Maybe it’s a nice wine or tequila or a non-alcoholic spirit — it doesn’t really matter. Should you open it and drink it? Obviously this depends on your relationship with the host and how they might respond to such a gesture.

Jan 22, 2024 | vinepair.com | Joanna Sciarrino

It’s Saturday morning and you feel a cold coming on, but you’re meant to have dinner with a friend that you planned weeks ago. What do you do? Do you bail now? Or see how you’re feeling later and then decide? Canceling on someone is never a great thing to do (unless you have no conscience), but when you cancel can make all the difference. Which is to say, the later you do it, the worse it is. But how late is too late to call off plans?