Daily News - Cheap Buzz

Welcome to Cheap Buzz, where we eavesdrop as sommelier Marnie Old attempts to teach the joys of wine and fine spirits to Buzz, a guy with no sophistication and not much money. Here's their latest conversation.

A quickie guide to tequila
Do Italian superwines have superpowers?

The intrigue of Southwest France's wines
Seven Ways to Reuse Wine Corks
Review: One bell for Southern Cross Kitchen

A hound's tooth ain't that clean 04/13/2013: THE IDEA that a dog's saliva has healing powers has been around at least since the ancient Greeks and Romans. Modern medicine, no surprise, doesn't look kindly on such theories. Soap and water, a dab of topical antiseptic and a Band-Aid are much better treatments for any cut. Because no matter what you've heard, a dog's mouth really isn't cleaner than a human's.
Do Italian superwines have superpowers? 04/11/2013: BUZZ: Hey Marnie, I keep hearing about superwines from Italy. Do they have superpowers? Marnie: No, they don't. Those are likely "Supertuscans." The term is informal, so it won't appear on labels, but it usually refers to nontraditional blended reds from Tuscany.
Sake to me 03/27/2013: What’s the deal with Japanese wine? Is it any good?
This wine will stand up to funky veggies 03/13/2013: Buzz: I hear wine people hate asparagus. Is that because you're scared of "spears" or don't like being "stalked"? Marnie: Funny, Buzz. I like asparagus as much as anyone. What you probably heard is that asparagus and artichokes are notoriously challenging for wine pairing. Some people call them "wine killers" because they can make wines taste funny.
The lowdown on wine labels 02/27/2013: Buzz: How come wineries put so much useless information on the label? Marnie: Some label statements are required by law, Buzz, such as where the grapes were grown and who made the wine. Others help distinguish that wine from other wines. This information could be grape varieties, style terms or vineyard names.
Picking V-Day vino is all about taste 02/13/2013: Buzz: I forgot to get my wife a present for Valentine's Day. What could I pick up at the store that could save my bacon?
Don't be fooled by the warming effect of booze 01/16/2013: Buzz: Hey Marnie, I'm going skiing this weekend and I always carry a flask. What's the best whiskey for keeping warm?
Hot bargains: Wine imports 01/03/2013
'Petite' wines defined 11/08/2012: Buzz: When did they start making a special wine for little ladies? Marnie: I've never heard of such a thing, Buzz. What do you mean?
When liquor meets candy 10/24/2012