Terroir is that baffling French term you often encounter with wine. There is another French term that sums up the meaning of terroir—je ne sais quoi [something that cannot be fully described or expressed]. Continue reading “Scientific proof of terroir 1-31-2024”
Category: Facts About Wine
Old Vines 1-24-2024
You likely have seen the description “old vine” on a wine label. What exactly does that mean and is it important? Continue reading “Old Vines 1-24-2024”
Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Southern Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand 2022
Pale straw color; lemon-lime, peach—stone fruits, passion fruit, white flowers, mowed grass, minerality on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Southern Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand 2022”
Qvevri 11-29-2023
It seems inevitable. Whatever is “in” eventually will be “out.” Whatever is out eventually will be the next big thing. In the wine world, orange/amber wine and qvevri are examples. Continue reading “Qvevri 11-29-2023”
Random wine facts and hacks 10-25-2023
Random notes on wine conundrums, weird facts, and wine hacks. Continue reading “Random wine facts and hacks 10-25-2023”
Wine is history 10-18-2023
Every bottle of wine is a history. Usually a wine is an expression of a single year. It tells the story of that year’s climate, the people working the vineyard, the people making the wine. Plus, there is the backstory of the grapes, the vineyard, the winery, the people. Continue reading “Wine is history 10-18-2023”
Texas wine AVAs episode #2 10-11-2023
Texas wine facts: Texas is the fifth-largest winemaking state, behind California, Washington, New York, and Oregon. And Texas wine is No. 3 in economic impact, just behind California and New York. Both rankings according to the National Association of American Wineries. Continue reading “Texas wine AVAs episode #2 10-11-2023”
Texas wine AVAs episode #1 10-4-2023
Texas wine once was an amusing blip on the wine world radar. There was interesting activity around Lubbock, an ambitious project in the Big Bend, dreamers in the Hill Country, and—of course—ardent over-achievers around College Station. Continue reading “Texas wine AVAs episode #1 10-4-2023”
Wine geekiness 9-27-2023
It comes with the wine writer territory: people encounter me at the grocery store, in elevators, on the street and ask me about wine. “As a wine geek…” they begin their question. Continue reading “Wine geekiness 9-27-2023”
The religion of wine 9-20-2023
Is wine a religion? Wait—I am not suggesting wine will replace my Catholicism—but we cannot ignore religious elements associated with wine. Continue reading “The religion of wine 9-20-2023”