Blog

A Must See Show!

Want something fun to do on a Sunday nite?  Go check out my Argentine pal, Franco Meschini. You’ll love his charming acoustic sound.

Love the Wine You’re With

As many of you already know, I write monthly for a number of publications across the nation. Whether it be a regular piece recommending wines, or a cameo spot amongst a national wine or food publication, my work as a writer keeps me quite busy. Many times, because I write so many of my pieces… Continue

Minnesotan Hospitality

Friday I had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to train a winery in my own backyard. Well, not exactly my own backyard, but when you’re from Minnesota, an hours drive feels like something from your neighborhood. Crow River Winery, a Minnesota Winery, located just one hour west of the Twin Cities is an outstanding one… Continue

Mr. Zagat’s Most Annoying Restaurant Trends

Passed on to me by a friend…I found this pretty funny!  The 10 Most Annoying Restaurant Trends Written by: Zagat  Some restaurant trends are easy to embrace: lower prices, bigger portions, free refills, you get the idea. But other, more recent trends are bordering on the absurd. In fact, some of them are just downright… Continue

A Review of Minnesota Wines from Crow River Winery

No kidding, it’s one of my most Frequently Asked Questions… What do YOU think about Minnesota Wines? Here, I review a whole line up from a winery located just one hour west of the Twin Cities, Crow River Winery. Complete with food pairings, I share with you a line up of eight wines, detailed with… Continue

Miss last nite’s Vines to Reefs Class?

I teach a number of great Twin Cities Food and Wine classes across the board, but really our Vines to Reefs Series at Cooks of Crocus Hill is always a ton of fun!  Chef Mike, culinary director for Cooks, and I team up to teach a full five course menu paired to all things seafood, explaining… Continue

Spicy Hawaiian Styled Ribs paired to Zinfandels

Twin Cities Sommelier Leslee Miller brings you one zesty winter pairing: Hawaiian Styled Baby Back Ribs (Recipe Compliments of Chef Mike Shannon from Cooks of Crocus Hill) with a combo of Zinfandels from both California (Peterson Winery of Dry Creek) & Oregon (Sokol Blosser Winery of the Willamette Valley). Check out this fun review on… Continue

Great Article on ‘Moscato’ in the Wall Street Journal

Why You’ll Be Drinking Moscato This Year By LETTIE TEAGUE Anyone who claims to be able to see into the future is often forecasting the past. (Isn’t that how history manages to repeat itself?) Since this holds true as much for wine journalists as anyone else, I’ll make my own backward-facing prediction: The hottest wine… Continue

Girls n Grapes Go Glam ~ A Luxury Wine Tasting

This close to the holidays, the Girls & Grapes group got together one last time to celebrate ‘all things wine’.  In fact, our mission this month…bring a wine that you thought of as ‘luxurious’.  Or, a wine that really was one of the first wines or wineries that shaped your passion for wine. For many of… Continue

Wine & Chocolate Pairing Tips

Pairings: Wine + Chocolate Written by Leslee Miller / Photography by Steve Henke / Cambria Style Magazine ~ November, 2011 Leslee Miller of Amusée Wine takes the mystery out of pairing wines with chocolate.   Pairing wine to chocolate is not exactly as hard as some will tell you. Most, in fact, say it is… Continue

Great Gift Ideas for the Wino/Foodie on your Holiday List

Holiday gift guide 2011: For the oenophile Vita.MN Article:  November 24, 2011 By Christy DeSmith, photo by Tom Sweeney Forged in the crucibles of the West Coast wine industry, sommelier and event planner Leslee Miller recently returned to her native Midwest to launch Amusée, a wine consulting and events firm. Check out her plum wish… Continue