Decanting wine is a strategy you often find recommended. Here are some of the whys and whens. Continue reading “Decanting 10-12-2022”
Category: Recent Columns
Wine metaphysics 10-5-2022
Are wines made in the vineyard or the winery? The answer is both, but today more wine professionals say soil, grapes, and the skill of grape growers to deliver the personality of their acres is the essential component. Continue reading “Wine metaphysics 10-5-2022”
What does chewy mean in wine? 9-28-2022
What the heck do wine writers mean when they describe wine with adjectives like “chewy” or “crunchy” or “meaty”? Aren’t those words descriptive of chocolate brownies, raw carrots, and T-bone steaks, not an alcoholic liquid? Continue reading “What does chewy mean in wine? 9-28-2022”
Fermentation vessels 9-21-2022
Winemakers have a choice of fermentation vessels—wood, stainless steel, and concrete. What is the difference between them? Continue reading “Fermentation vessels 9-21-2022”
Wine’s glass bottle blues 9-14-2022
Winemakers are among the most conscientious stewards of the environment. When vineyards pass down for generations and some of your creations will not be consumed for decades, thinking long term and big picture becomes part of your DNA. Continue reading “Wine’s glass bottle blues 9-14-2022”
Bright side of wine crisis 9-7-2022
Winemakers have a mandatory character trait: resiliency. They certainly have needed that trait in recent years while facing flattening wine sales, dramatic weather worries, global warming, Covid, rising production costs, and supply chain woes. Continue reading “Bright side of wine crisis 9-7-2022”
Pinot noir, chardonnay blends 8-31-2022
Many great wines are blends. Red Bordeaux is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and a smattering of other reds. Southern Rhône GSM wines are grenache, syrah, mourvèdre blends. In whites, sauvignon blanc and semillon enjoy a classic marriage. Continue reading “Pinot noir, chardonnay blends 8-31-2022”
Italian classification system 8-24-2022
Buying wine can be intimidating. How do you know if the wine is any good without buying a bottle and tasting it? Wine critics may help, but not all wines have a current score and you may find descriptors are just gobbledygook. Continue reading “Italian classification system 8-24-2022”
Sparkling stemware 8-17-2022
The proper Champagne or sparkling wine vessel is a pain in the glass. Wine professionals largely agree on what glass best presents the wine for tasting, but that is not the whole story.
Most searched Napa wines 8-10-2022
Napa is universally recognized as one of the world’s premier wine regions, and you pay to enjoy its exalted pours. How much and which wines get the most attention? Continue reading “Most searched Napa wines 8-10-2022”