If you live in the southern part of the USA, summer 2023 has been a horror. Record-breaking high temperatures, the sort of records no sane person wants to brag about. Continue reading “Beat the heat with wine 7-12-2023”
Category: Recent Columns
Wine and hot weather 7-5-2023
John Steinbeck, riffing from Shakespeare’s Richard III, wrote: “Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun…” Continue reading “Wine and hot weather 7-5-2023”
Wine texture 6-28-2023
Wine descriptions often refer to “texture.” What the heck does that mean? There is a texture difference between silk and sandpaper. There is a texture difference between a crisp apple and creamy mashed potatoes. Wine is a liquid. Liquid is liquid texture, right? Continue reading “Wine texture 6-28-2023”
Back to basics 6-21-2023
Arcane knowledge is the bane of wine writers. While we fulminate over nuance differences between bâtonnage and pump-over, readers roll their eyes over esoteric words with obscure, oddly accented letters. Continue reading “Back to basics 6-21-2023”
Wedding Champagne 6-14-2023
Last week we argued Champagne was a poor choice for a wedding reception. Too many people, too high prices, too much cacophony to appreciate expensive French bubbles. Continue reading “Wedding Champagne 6-14-2023”
Wedding bubbly 6-7-2023
June—the wedding month. Time for celebration and Champagne. Well, yes and no. Continue reading “Wedding bubbly 6-7-2023”
Wine supply and demand 5-31-2023
The U.S. wine industry has been on an historic 50-year run. Demand from Baby Boomers drove the effort. Now the wine industry is fearful the run is done and tough choices loom. Continue reading “Wine supply and demand 5-31-2023”
Wine bottle shapes 5-24-2023
Wine bottles come in various shapes, sizes, weights, and colors of glass. A quick tour. Continue reading “Wine bottle shapes 5-24-2023”
Same-tasting wines 5-17-2023
We are privileged to live in a wine time that surpasses all of history for quality, consistency, and availability. Wines that would have evoked drooling admiration a half century ago now are available in quantity for $20 or less at your neighborhood supermarket. Continue reading “Same-tasting wines 5-17-2023”
Wente Clone made California chardonnay 5-10-2023
If you enjoy California chardonnay, you likely have Charles Wente and his children to thank for it. Continue reading “Wente Clone made California chardonnay 5-10-2023”