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Wine and spirits expert Becky Sue Epstein is an experienced editor, broadcaster and consultant in the fields of wine, spirits, food and travel. Currently based in New England, she holds several positions requiring a substantial amount of (mainly enjoyable) worldwide wine- and spirits-related travel.

In between trips, tastings and events, Epstein writes books. Her award-winning cookbook The American Lighthouse Cookbook (Sourcebooks/Cumberland, co-written with Chef Ed Jackson) came out last year. Her second book is an entirely new update of the classic kitchen reference Substituting Ingredients (Sourcebooks June 2010) which is already in its third printing.

Her latest book is Champagne:A Global History (Reaktion, September 2011) which includes sparkling wines from around the world; available in print and ebook formats.

Latest Articles

Follow me in my travels

2 Italian Wine Recommendations for Summer: 1 White and 1 Red
My new Italian white is a wine from Tuscany – though this region is better known for its red wines like Chianti and Brunello. This white is fascinating, but not expensive, retailing for in the neighborhood of $15. It’s made with the vernaccia grape, specifically Vernaccia di San Gimignano, named for the Tuscan town where it originated. Though some people might call it a rustic wine, it’s charmingly rustic when made by Il Palagetto: not a sweet wine, but honey underlies its aromas, flavors and finish – balanced by minerality. A red I would recommend for summer is the 2011 Pergola Rosso (around $13) from Angelini. It’s a light red, almost a hearty rosé, from the Italian region of Le… Read more
My new Champagne discovery – only 70 years old: J. Lassalle
I don’t know how boutique importer Kermit Lynch found them, because he’s known as a Burgundy specialist but Champagne isn’t too far away. Lynch is branching out, and I did sample some other very good wines he brings in, but at the end of the day this is what stood out freshly in my memory. The J. Lassalle Champagnes: medium-light in style and beautifully balanced. NV Brut Reserve “Preference” has very good red fruit and good acidity: again, it’s all about balance. 2005 Blanc de Blancs features minerality and acidity. NV Brut Reserve Rosé, a pale salmon color, has excellent acidity and freshness. The 2007 Cuvee Angeline is an almost Chablis-style wine, with the appearance of being austere but luring… Read more
Travel Wars: Delsey Aero Hardcase neater inside and out
Stepping out of the car at the airport, I winced as the driving sleet hit my face. Even under the overhang, the winds were whipping up the tail end of the February blizzard. My suitcase landed in an inch of slush before I could re-group and muscle it onto the sidewalk. Strangely, I felt invincible. This was the first time I used a hard-shell carryon suitcase. I had always shied away from hard suitcases, thinking they were somehow limiting. Well, there are a few negatives to this type of suitcase – which I’ll get to later. So why did I end up with this carryon? Someone at Delsey noticed I travel and write about it and offered me a test,… Read more