Welcome. I'm Tara Q. Thomas, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine Basics. I've been writing about wine for ten years, mainly at Wine & Spirits, where I specialize in wines of the Mediterranean. I'm also frequently review books as well as restaurants with great wine lists, which we highlight in our Cityscene section.
Occasionally, I contribute pieces to Gourmet.com's new blog. I also write regularly for the Denver Post. I've been voted "Best wine writer for a newspaper" by the Colorado Vine.
Appearances Join me for "Not Your Bube’s Manischewitz" 3rd Annual Kosher Wine Tasting on Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. The tasting, a benefit for the ALEPH Institute for Jewish Culture at the University of Denver’s Center for Judaic Studies, will be held at the University of Denver's Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management School, 2044 E. Evans Avenue. The $36 ticket will not only get you 8 great wines, but also a performance by Jewlia Eisenberg, composer, cantor and creator of the band Charming Hostess. Call 303.871.4633 for reservations.
Books Feel like a complete idiot when it comes to wine? Me too, which is why I wrote the Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine Basics. Writing the guide forced me to think about what's really important when you're learning about wine, and to figure out how to put it simply and straightforwardly, without getting caught up in a secret-handshake style of writing.
Wine of the Week Every other week in the Denver Post, I highlight a wine that's grabbed my attention. Some are splurges, but since I buy my own wines, most are $15 or less.
Wine Pairings As a former professional cook, I also love to think about how wine and food complement each another. So every week, I suggest wines to go with the recipes featured in the weekly food section of the Denver Post.
Articles From sake to sommelier interviews, Grüner Veltliner to Zinfandel, I write on all sorts of wines and trends. In addition to writing for the Denver Post and Wine & Spirits magazine, my work has appeared in Gastronomica and Golf Connoisseur, as well as The Philadelphia Enquirer, The Charlotte Observer, and many other newspapers across the country.
Book Reviews There's no better way to learn about wine than to drink it, but sometimes it helps to get some background information. Here are some books that are both helpful and good reads — because reading about wine should be as fun and interesting as drinking it.
Classes What good is all this knowledge about something I love if I can't share it? Whenever I can, I teach classes at Mise En Place cooking school in downtown Denver. I'll also customize classes for groups of one to one hundred (maybe more if you ask me) in a setting of your choice: an evening tasting at your office, a Saturday afternoon wine and food pairing event, a wine class at your culinary school, or whatever fits your needs. Send me a note (web-reader-mail@TaraQThomas.com) for more information.
Freelance writing Need a piece on great organically-farmed wines? Or the up-and-coming wines of Greece? Or just a list of ten greats? Contact me at web-reader-mail@TaraQThomas.com and we'll talk.
Consulting With a degree from the Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park) and experience in both the front and back of the house coupled with my knowledge of the wine industry today, I'm well prepared to help you shape your wine list into an exciting, profitable one. Send email to web-reader-mail@TaraQThomas.com to contact me.