Tom Hyland

For starters, the sesame focaccia, served with a variety of options is quite good; I went with the ricotta and honey dip, which added a nice tang.

The Leelanau Peninsula is located in the far nothern sector of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula; Leelenau is just north of Grand Traverse, on the border with Lake Michigan.

Consider El Che, a South American steakhouse in Chicago’s West Loop District. Opened in 2016, this has received rave rewards from day one and continues to impress.

While Dolcetto does not receive the attention it deserves, its importance in the region for so many decades gives the wine a special meaning with area producers.

If you've ever visited Napa Valley, or even just read about it, you are aware of the glamorous image that defines this land.

The wine offers textbook Gewürztraminer aromas and flavors, with perfumes of lychee, lanolin and yellow roses; the spicy character of the wine emerges in the finish, which is dry and tends to offer notable persistence, especially in a vintage such as 2019 and 2021. Upon release, the wine impresses, but it truly dazzles after a few years.

One item that stood out for me was the Misticanza del Campo, one of three salads. This was unlike any salad I had experienced in the past.

As climate pressures mount, biodynamic growers in Épernay, the Côte des Bar, and beyond argue that healthier vineyards lead to more precise, vibrant wines.

Chameleon variety Sauvignon Blanc assumes the character of its local terroir like few others, and in Italy’s wide-ranging regions and geographies, it means lots of stylistic variation and nuance.

Tom Hyland Dolcetto, among the most classic red wines from Italy's Piedmont region, does not often receive the critical acclaim it may deserve.