Wine has a love-hate relationship to oxygen. Not enough oxygen when it is in the winery and wine can be reductive—engendering volatile sulfur compounds. Burnt match and rotten eggs are common odor descriptors. Too much oxygen and the wine tastes “tired” and eventually turns to vinegar. Continue reading “Wine’s love-hate relationship 3-15-2023”
Category: Recent Columns
Wine questions answered 3-8-2023
Answers to whimsical wine questions. Continue reading “Wine questions answered 3-8-2023”
Finally, rain in California wine country 3-1-2023
After suffering desiccating drought for years, California found itself awash in alluvian floods in 2023. The state that produces almost 90 percent of U.S. wine is almost 170 percent ahead of normal precipitation. Continue reading “Finally, rain in California wine country 3-1-2023”
Glass and its alternatives 2-22-2023
Glass wine bottles have enjoyed a long and storied run since they were adopted after advances in glass making in the 1600s. Now, however, glass has competition. Continue reading “Glass and its alternatives 2-22-2023”
What is wine? 2-15-2023
What is wine? For many, that question was answered thousands of years ago. Wine is grape juice after yeast converts its sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Continue reading “What is wine? 2-15-2023”
Champagne’s rise 2-8-2023
The land was sheep country, too far north for grapes. The local wine was mediocre, pawned off to roughhewn wool buyers or consumed by locals as vin de table. Continue reading “Champagne’s rise 2-8-2023”
Wine sales statistics 2-1-2023
Which of these statements about the wine industry is correct? Demand decreases, the industry faces rocky times. The industry is doing fine, even if volume is down, value is steady. The industry has a rosy future as drinkers switch to higher-priced wine. Continue reading “Wine sales statistics 2-1-2023”
Wine is the most interesting drink 1-25-2023
Wine is the world’s most interesting alcoholic beverage. You expect wine columnists to make such an assertion, but we can back up the claim. Continue reading “Wine is the most interesting drink 1-25-2023”
Wine drinking tips 1-18-2023
As life semi-returns to pre-Covid normal, we return to restaurants and order wine. We have folks over for dinner. We pay attention to things besides vaccinations and masks. Observations, tips. Continue reading “Wine drinking tips 1-18-2023”
Pressing wine questions 1-11-2023
As we hurtle into the new year, answers to pressing wine questions. Continue reading “Pressing wine questions 1-11-2023”