I've been writing about wine for a dozen years now, mainly at Wine & Spirits, where I'm Senior Editor and the wine critic for wines of the Mediterranean. I also write for Culture, The Word on Cheese, and Real Food (check out the upcoming issue for a piece on David Chang and his new Momofuku cookbook).

I'm also the wine critic for the Denver Post (where I've been voted "Best wine writer for a newspaper" by the Colorado Vine.) Where ever you find my writing, you'll see that I have no patience for pretentious prose and can't stand wine snobs. My goal is to make reading about wine as easy and enjoyable as drinking it, regardless how much you know. I used to contribute to Gourmet.com's blog, but we all know what happened to that. Still, check it out: there's a lot of great writing on it (and I'm not referring to mine). In the meantime, I've followed Francis Lam to Salon.com, where I'm part of the Kitchen Cabinet.

Appearances I'm in Hamburg, Germany for the summer, boning up on beer and obscure German wine knowledge, and waiting impatiently to see Opus Vino, a massive wine tome due out from Dorling Kindersley Publishing in October 2010 to which I contributed.

Books Check out my second edition of the Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine Basics. It's truly not for idiots; I've packed it with enough information that there's something for everyone in it. In this edition, I've completely renovated the food and wine pairing section, making it far more user-friendly; updated the information on Spain, which has exploded with fabulous (and often inexpensive) wines in the past few years; and added a section on organic, biodynamic and sustainably grown wines, which have become an important—and confusing—segment of the market. All the wine recommendations have been updated as well (and the aroma wheel is no longer upside-down!).

Articles From sake to sommelier interviews, Grüner Veltliner to Zinfandel, I write on all sorts of wines and trends. In addition to the Denver Post and Wine & Spirits magazine, my work has appeared in Gastronomica, Clear, Real Food, and Golf Connoisseur, as well as The Philadelphia Enquirer, The Charlotte Observer, and many other newspapers across the country.

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.