397 posts
A few years ago, as I began to develop an interest in wines, I embarked on a quest to find a truly exceptional wine that I could consistently return to and savor. Although the search for a remarkable wine was an enjoyable journey, it never seemed to ...
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Sparkling wines really do shine during the holidays—both literally and figuratively. Here’s a few tips on the various types of sparkling wines to enjoying them to the fullest. Champagne Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the relative...
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Last time we looked at the common flavors of white wines. So, now, here are descriptions of what common red wines tend to taste like. These are the broad, recognizable flavor profiles you can expect: Red Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Bold, full-bodie...
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One of the most common questions I get it is “Tell me what some good wines are?” While that’s a simple question, it’s also quite difficult to answer because not only is everyone’s palate different, but your palate for wines will evolve as you explor...
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I was recently enjoying a good glass of red wine and commented that it had good complexity. I was then asked “What is complexity in a wine? While there is no standard definition and it can be subjective, here’s a brief description and some key chara...
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In a recent conversation, the term “plonk” came up. And there was the question “What is Plonk?” Word has it that plonk came from Australian soldiers during World War I, who borrowed the term from a playful mispronunciation of the French vin blanc (m...
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Image of Red Wine Fermenting (FreePik) I was recently in wine country and visited a favorite winery. While tasting some of the recent releases with the owner/winemaker, I posed the question “Does the type of yeast used affect the flavor of with wi...
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Gewürztraminer is the name of the grape used to make Gewürztraminer wine. It originated in Germany and has spread to other wine-growing areas, especially Alsace in France, as well as parts of Italy, Austria, and even the U.S. The grape itself is a ...
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There are lots of wines being produced. Just look at the wine aisle at your local grocery story or wine shop. And then, look at how many different Chardonnay wines are offered. And how many Cabernet Sauvignons there are. And so on. But, these wines...
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The “wine world” can be a bit confusing. And, some of the terminology can seemingly make no sense. So, let’s take a look at a few obscure terms and what they mean… Angular - A wine can be described as being “Angular” when it has sharp or pronounced ...
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Last time we looked at Chardonnay which is one of the most widely planted varieties. Although it is probably best known as the white grape of Burgundy and a major grape of Champagne. Chardonnay is a versatile grape, and its style can vary widely depe...
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Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted varieties. Although it is probably best known as the white grape of Burgundy and a major grape of Champagne. Chardonnay is a versatile grape, and its style can vary widely depending on where it’s grown and...
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Sparkling wines always seem to be special. And plenty of corks get popped each year. It’s estimated that in 2024, the global consumption of sparkling wine was about 5.4 billion liters or 7.2 billion bottles! In 2024, the Prosecco DOC denomination of...
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In the U.S., the term “Reserve” on a wine label is not legally regulated. It can just be a marketing term to get consumer to believe the wine is somehow better than others. Or, it can actually mean that the winery has indeed gone above and beyond wit...
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An EverWonderWine reader recently had a bad experience with a non-alcoholic wine. It thickened and smelled bad just a few days after opening. The question asked was “What makes a non-alcoholic wine go bad quicker than regular wine?” There are severa...
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In Italian wines, DOC and DOCG are classifications that signify different attributes: DOC – Denominazione di Origine Controllata (Controlled Designation of Origin): This classification was established in 1963 It ensures that wines are made in a sp...
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I recently received a message from a EverWonderWine reader regarding a bottle of white dessert wine that said “Just opened a 2011 bottle. Wine is dark red brown and tastes like molasses with a hint of vinegar. Bleh! What happened? I loved it at the t...
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The amount of residual sugar (RS) in wine can be reported either in grams per liter (g/L) or as a percentage (%). They are just two ways of specifying the same sugar concentration. But, how are the two measures related? Well, it’s actually quite sim...
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Choosing the right bottle and label is the final step in the art of winemaking. While the bottle and label are more about marketing, branding, and presentation than the winemaking process itself, they do play a role in creating a complete wine expe...
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A wine maker using a Wine Thief to remove wine from a barrel for tasting Winemakers rely heavily on their senses of smell and taste to evaluate the evolution of their wine from the grapes in the vineyard to the final product that goes in the bottle...
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Aging of a wine before bottling is a balance between the wine’s inherent qualities and the winemaker’s goals. The decision often involves experimentation, understanding the vineyard, and following the wine’s natural development over time. Here are...
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An Amphora Wine Vessel (Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay ) Oak barrels are often the choice of a wine maker for an aging vessel. But, did you know, stainless steel, concrete and amphora are also used by wine makers in order to achieve the w...
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Wine may be fermented and aged in a variety of materials including stainless steel, oak and ceramic vessels, including concrete. The use of oak barrels is very common and its use dates back to the early days of Roman wine making. While stainless ste...
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Blending of wines plays a large role in the art of wine making. The main reason that winemakers produce blends is to make the best wine possible. Blending different grape varieties is useful in accentuating a particular grape’s virtues. But winem...
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Just before the wine is bottled, it may go through one of several processes to remove any remaining sediment. The processes for removing sediment from wine include (1) racking, (2) fining or (3) filtering. Let’s take quick look at each of these proc...
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Another aspect of the art of wine making is knowing when to top off oak wine barrels during the winemaking process. Winemakers need to routinely do this during barrel aging. Here’s why… 1. Evaporation Through the Barrel While the oak staves in t...
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Aging wine on lees (also known as sur lie aging) is a winemaking technique that can play a role in shaping the flavor, texture, and complexity of a wine—especially whites like Chardonnay, Champagne, and Muscadet, but also increasingly in reds and eve...
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Punchdowns and pumpovers are techniques used by wine makers in the production of red wine. They happen during fermentation and are used to manage the “Cap” - the grape solids (skins, seeds, stems) that rise to the top of the fermentation vessel and...
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Malolactic conversion, sometime called Malolactic fermentation, is a bacterial transformation (not a fermentation) that can take place in the wine making process. And, wine makers must decide if they want this conversion to occur in their wine. To g...
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Winemakers control the duration of fermentation by managing several key factors that influence how long the yeast remains active in converting the sugar in the grape juice to alcohol. Here’s are some ways a wine maker can control the length of ferm...
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Temperature is a critical factor in wine fermentation, directly affecting the rate of fermentation, the development of aromas and flavors, and the survival of the fermentation yeast. Winemakers make intentional, stylistic choices regarding fermentat...
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A large stainless steel tank used for fermentation Photo by Meg von Haartman on Unsplash Another aspect of the art of wine making involves choosing the type of vessel used for fermentation. Fermentation vessels are available in several materials wit...
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Natural Yeast on the Surface of Grapes — Photo by Wayne Christensen on Unsplash Wine makers have used yeast for centuries to ferment the juice of grapes into wine. And, part of the art of winemaking is choosing the right yeast to use. Wine makers...
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Maceration is part of the winemaking process, especially for red wines, and it is considered part of the art of wine making. Maceration extracts color, flavor, tannins, and aroma compounds from the grape skins, seeds, and sometimes stems into the jui...
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A Small Basket Press As previously mentioned, wine making is a blend of art and science. Another aspect that is often regarded as an art form is choosing the method to use to press the grapes to extract the juice. The wine press is thousands of ye...
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As previously mentioned, wine making is a blend of art and science. Another aspect that is often regarded as an art form is choosing whether to de-stem the grapes for fermentation of leave them as whole clusters. The choice between using whole clus...
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As previously mentioned, wine making is a blend of art and science. Another aspect that is often regarded as an art form is choosing the right time to harvest the grapes. The art of determining when to harvest wine grapes is a crucial skill in winem...
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As previously mentioned, wine making is a blend of scientific and artistic expression. Another aspect that is often regarded as an art form is “green harvesting.” Winemakers sometimes remove clusters of maturing fruit from grapevines before they rip...
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As previously mentioned, wine making is a blend of scientific and artistic expression. Another aspect that is often regarded as an art form is the management of grape vine canopies. Canopy management in the vineyard demands a combination of technica...
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Pruning mature grapevines while they are dormant is crucial for healthy growth and bountiful production in the upcoming season. Pruning grapevines is an intricate blend of art and science. The art of successful pruning hinges on making decisions base...
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As was previously noted, wine making is a combination of science and art. One of the factors that’s considered an art is selecting the right grapes to grow in the right area. In winemaking, terroir describes the interplay of environmental factors—so...
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While there is a lot of science and chemistry involved in winemaking, it is also considered an art. This is because wine making involves creativity, intuition, and personal expression. Here are just some the artistic factors that go into wine makin...
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Winemaking is a fascinating blend of science and art. We’ll dive deeper into the art of winemaking in a future blog, but for now, let’s explore some of the chemistry behind it. During the winemaking process, several chemical compounds are produced t...
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The Humboldt Current, a chilly current that flows right beside Chile’s coastal wine regions, plays a big role in the climate and how grapes ripen. Two popular grape varieties, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, are grown in Chile’s coastal wine regions. T...
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The Topography of Chile’s Coast (Image from the Wines of Chile) As we discovered last time, the Humboldt Current generates a river of cold water that profoundly impacts the Chile’s coastal climate. This cold water current cools the air over the sea,...
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The Humboldt Current (Image from The Wines of Chile) Behind some of the most distinctive wines of Chile lies an ocean current that has a major effect on vineyards in this area, not to mention weather patterns across the globe. How is it possible th...
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Embarking on a “Dry January” involves voluntarily abstaining from alcohol consumption for the entire month of January. This practice has gained popularity as a New Year’s resolution, with individuals choosing a temporary break from drinking to kickst...
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Sparkling wines are perfect for the holidays. Here’s a few types to consider enjoying: Champagne Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the relatively small region of Champagne in France. Only those sparkling wines produced in this regio...
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If you are serving the traditional turkey dinner this Thanksgiving, you might think that serving a white wine is the right thing to do. While most white wines do go well with turkey, there are plenty of other options. Traditional white wine choices...
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Georges Deboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau Thursday November 21st is Beaujolais Nouveau Day! Beaujolais Nouveau. Its name literally means ‘new Beaujolais.’ This wine is named for the village of Beaujeu in France, which is a small region just south of Burg...
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November 14th is International Tempranillo Day. Let’s get to know this Spanish wine a bit better. Rioja is maybe the best known Spanish wine, but did you know there are various styles of Rioja? First, let’s review a bit about Rioja. It is a regio...
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November 1st was International Xinomavro Day! But are you familiar with this wine? Let’s take a look at this lesser known wine. Xinomavro (ksino-mav-roh) is native to Greece where it is almost exclusively grown. And, it is known as the finest red ...
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Riesling is a wine that is most famously produced in Germany where nearly half the world’s Riesling grapes are grown. Other great producers of Riesling include the Alsace region of France, Australia, Austria, Uruguay, Canada and the United States. Ri...
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Join in celebrating International Pinotage Day today, October 12th. This special day honors the remarkable Pinotage grape, a unique variety that originates from South Africa. Pinotage was created by a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. Known for...
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In wine vocabulary, you may have heard of an “Old World Wine” versus an “New World Wine.” Let’s take a quick look at these two ‘worlds’ and how they differ. Old World Wines Old World Wines are primarily from Europe, including countries like France...
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France has its Champagne. Spain has Cava. In Italy, Prosecco and Asti are its two most popular sparkling wines. Prosecco is primarily from the Veneto region of Italy and made from the Glera grape. Like Champagne, Prosecco must be produced in design...
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A wine barrel with a clear end-cap shows the settled Fine Lees I was recently hosting a wine tasting that involved a white wine. On the back label, it stated that the wine had been “Aged on lees.” I was asked the obvious question “What are lees?” ...
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Have you ever taken a sip of red wine and noticed that your mouth feels dry or dusty? Almost that ‘cotton-mouth’ feel? Well, that is a sensation that is generally associated with red wines. The dry sensation is due to the wine being astringent and ...
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There was a time when ordering a glass of Chablis was generic for a glass of white wine. No specific type of wine, just a white wine. But there is so much more to Chablis than just a white wine. Chablis is a region located in the northwest corner o...
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I recently visited a “Winery” on a weekday in the downtown part of a city to check out their wines. When I entered, I was greeted by a hostess that grabbed a lunch menu and wanted to seat me in their large outdoor patio. I told her that I just wanted...
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August 18th is International Pinot Noir Day, so let’s take a quick look at some interesting facts about this wonderful grape. In previous blogs we got an overview of the Pinot grape and the tremendous number of Pinot synonyms (258!) and looked at th...
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U.S. wine label regulations require wines that have a level of 10 parts per million (PPM) or greater of sulfur dioxide to be labeled with the declaration “Contains Sulfites.” And if you pay close attention to wine labels, nearly all U.S. wines inclu...
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When a wine is described as “food friendly,” it means that the wine has characteristics that make it well-suited to be enjoyed with a wide variety of foods. Food friendly wines have flavor profiles that are harmonious with the food and aren’t too i...
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The grape growing cycle is currently at the point where berries (the actual term for individual grapes) begin to turn color. This marks the point at which the grape vines move from berry growth to berry ripening. The term for this stage is called Ve...
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Here’s an overview of how Prosecco is made: 1. Harvesting Grapes: The primary grape used is Glera, though other varieties like Verdiso, Perera, and Bianchetta can be blended in small quantities. Timing: Grapes are usually harvested early to retain...
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Sparking wine is versatile, aesthetic appealing, sophisticated, light and balanced in flavor, and suitable for various social settings and occasions. These factors combine to make sparkling wine a popular choice among wine drinkers. And, among sparkl...
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Summer is a great time to enjoy light, refreshing wines. Light wines are versatile and can be enjoyed on their own as a refreshing drink or paired with a wide range of summer dishes, from salads and grilled vegetables to seafood and lighter meats a...
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Here are a few fun facts about Vermouth: Vermouth’s history dates back to ancient civilizations. Its origins have been traced to ancient China, where it was initially used for medicinal purposes. It then gained popularity in Europe, particularly in...
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Brandy refers to a wide range of spirits, made mostly from wine grapes but sometimes also from other fruits (e.g., apricot brandy). The name brandy is a shortened form of brandywine, which an anglicized form of Dutch brandewijn, which means “burnt ...
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Low and non-alcoholic wines have been around for years. But, you may have wondered: “What exactly is a low-alcohol or a non-alcoholic wine?” “How are they made?” “Are they any good?” Low-Alcohol Wine Low-alcohol wines are produced just as any ot...
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In years past in the U.S., red wine blends were sold by the jug as “Red Wine” or “Table Wine.” These were inexpensive wines that were blends of grapes, vineyards or even vintages. So, today, blends are often disregarded as being of lower quality. W...
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Last time we learned that grape juice is basically clear and the color of wine comes from the skins of the grapes. The juice from white wine grapes spend little or no time in contact with the grape skins and juice of red wine grapes spend days or wee...
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It really is true that southern hemisphere wines are older than northern hemisphere wines! This is simply because of the opposite seasons between the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. So, if you compare wines labeled as “2020” from a...
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Wormwood Photo by Simone Garritano on Unsplash You probably know Vermouth simply as an ingredient in a cocktail such as a Martini or Manhattan. But, did you know it’s actually a wine? Vermouth is actually a fortified wine that is flavored with vari...
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Winemakers sometimes blend Viognier with Tannat. But why would they combine a white wine with a red wine? Blending Viognier with Tannat actually provides several benefits to winemakers: Enhanced Color: Tannat is known for its deep ruby red color. ...
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The major characteristics of a wine include alcohol level, acidity and pH, residual sugar and its level of tannin. Tannin is manifested in food and drink as bitterness and astringency. Examples include strong tea or coffee, dark chocolate and, of ...
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Tannat (tahn-naht) is a very old grape variety. It is believed to have originated in the Basque region of northwest Spain, as well as a centuries-old association with Madiran in southwest France. In the late 19th century Tannat was taken to Uruguay ...
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Continuing with the theme of wines of Uruguay, here’s a listing of their wine producing regions and the overall wine grape planting percentages of each sub-region (which are also knows as “Departments”): Northern Riverside (light brown regions): Ar...
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Tannat is a red-wine grape that originally came from the Basque country, on the border between France and Spain. It is known for producing full-bodied wines with strong tannin and acidity. Today, it is Uruguay’s flagship grape amounting for 27% of it...
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Uruguay is home to a proud winemaking tradition in an unusual location, and a far cry from the desert-and Andes-dominated landscapes associated with most vineyard regions in the South America continent. Uruguay means “river of the painted birds” i...
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You’ve been invited to a party and asked to take a bottle of wine. Now what? You don’t think you know a thing about wine but are expected to show up and not embarrass yourself. Well, fear not! There are several things to consider. First, who w...
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There are various type of problems that can occur in the winemaking process that result in the wine being damaged, or tainted. Some common wine faults include: Oxidized wine - Wine which is exposed to too much oxygen can take on orange/brown col...
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What is more natural than a glass of wine? Grow some grape vines, wait for them to produce grapes, harvest the grape bunches, de-stem them (sometimes), crush them to produce juice, leave the crushed grapes in contact with the juice to create color...
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While Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are well known grapes used for making wines, here are just a few grape varieties that you may not have heard of previously. But, several Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week have and will feature these lesser kn...
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While heat can be a bottle of wine’s biggest enemy, it turns out that light can also do damage. The biggest source of light damage comes from a bottle being exposed to too much sunlight and its harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. But even fluorescent li...
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Embarking on a “Dry January” involves voluntarily abstaining from alcohol consumption for the entire month of January. This practice has gained popularity as a New Year’s resolution, with individuals opting for a temporary break from drinking to kick...
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Amphora is a ceramic vessel usually made of earthenware (e.g., clay or terra cotta) that was originally used in the transport of grains in Roman times. Research has shown that the use of amphorae dates to as early as 6,000 B.C. Over time, amphora w...
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Looking for a good, affordable bottle of bubbly for the holidays? Consider Cava. Cava is a sparkling wine from Spain with a lot of similarity to French Champagne. In fact, the Spanish bubbly was called Champaña in Spain until the 1970s when French r...
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Italians really feel the holiday atmosphere starting in late November, but the Christmas season officially starts on December 8th, the Day of Immaculate Conception. On this day many Italian families decorate their home and trees, bake cookies, wrap t...
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A Riddling Rack Used in the Production of Sparkling Wines (Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash ) Méthode Traditionnelle: This is the traditional method for making sparkling wine. With this process, the secondary fermentation takes place inside the...
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Sparkling wines are perfect for the holidays. Here’s a few types to consider enjoying: Champagne Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the relatively small region of Champagne in France. Only those sparkling wines produced in this regio...
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The traditional turkey dinner for Thanksgiving is often served with a white wine. While most white wines do go well with turkey, there are plenty of other excellent options. Turkey, by itself, is a pretty neutral meat. So, you should actually focu...
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Beaujolais Nouveau. Its name literally means ‘new Beaujolais.’ This wine is named for the village of Beaujeu in France, which is a small region just south of Burgundy. On the third Thursday of each November, which is November 16th this year, France ...
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Beaujolais Nouveau. Its name literally means ‘new Beaujolais.’ This wine is named for the village of Beaujeu in France, which is a small region just south of Burgundy. On the third Thursday of each November, which is November 16th this year, France ...
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Today, a standard bottle of wine is 750 ml or 25.36 fluid ounces. This is seemingly an odd amount for a bottle to hold. And, having done a bit of research, it’s not perfectly clear how this number was picked. But, here are some findings… French ...
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Fun facts about Carménère Here, courtesy of the Wines of Chile organization, are a few fun facts about Carménère: Chile has the most Carménère under vine in the world, at 10,332 ha/25,530 acres in 2021. By comparison, France has just 80 ha/197 acr...
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Last time we took a brief look at the history of Carménère, thanks to the Wines of Chile organization. When we left off, Chile was faced with the question of what to do with the fact that an estimated one-third of what had been thought to be Merlot w...
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Thanks to the Wines of Chile, a non-profit, private organization of Chilean wine producers dedicated to promoting the quality and image of Chilean wines, here is a brief history of the Carménère (kar-men-nair) grape. In 1994, fewer than 10 hectares ...
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Kosher wine is made just like other table wine, with an extra set of rules to make it consistent with Jewish dietary law. In order for a wine to be deemed kosher (Yiddish for “proper” or “fit”), it must… Be made under the supervision of a rabbi Con...
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Some may be surprised to learn that there are only two ingredients in wine: grapes and yeast. Yet, white wines can be described as having flavors that include lemon, lime, grapefruit, apple, peach, pear and orange. And red wines can be described ...
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I recently ordered a glass of red wine at a nice restaurant. It came in a large wine glass and was a generous pour. But, upon taking my first sip it was obvious that it was much too warm. The temperature at which a wine is served matters. And here’...
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I recently came across a piece that asked the question “Can you buy good wine at the grocery store?” The answer included the statement that you are only going to find mass-produced wines in a grocery store. And, the bottom line was that these mass...
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Last time we looked at the difference between a “Dry” wine and a “Tannic” wine. In the wine world, “Dry” refers to the sweetness, or amount of residual sugar, in the wine while “Tannic” refers to the astringent effect on your palate of the wine that ...
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Wine terms can be confusing. Especially the terms “dry” and “tannic.” Have you ever taken a sip of red wine and noticed that your mouth feels dry or dusty? Almost that ‘cotton-mouth’ feel? Well, that is a sensation that is generally associated with...
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Decanting a wine, especially in the summer, can present a problem. Typical decanting times are 30 minutes to an hour our more. So, if you’ve been keeping your wine at a cellar temperature of 52-57°F for a red, or slightly chilled to 45℉ and 55℉ for a...
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I recently opened a bottle of rosé on a warm evening, looking forward to a cool, crisp and refreshing glass of wine. When I poured myself a glass, I quickly noted that instead of the beautiful pink color that I was expecting, I got an brownish-oran...
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In years past in the U.S., red wine blends were sold by the jug as “Red Wine” or “Table Wine.” These were inexpensive wines that were blends of grapes, vineyards or even vintages. So, blends are often discounted or disregarded as being of poorer qua...
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I was recently faced with a dish that was unexpectedly very hot and spicy. I then had to make a quick decision on a wine that would work with the dish without being over-powered by the food. When pairing wines with food, the general goal is to make ...
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” Black Rooster Label Chianti ” by bobu is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 . Chianti is a great wine to enjoy with an Italian meal. Whether it is spaghetti and meatballs, sausages or pizza, a Chianti is a great pairing. And i...
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Rioja - Rioja (re-OH-hah), in northern Spain, is their top wine producing region. It produces red wines made from Tempranillo (>80%), but Carignan, Garciano, Cabernet Sauvignon and Maturana Tinta are also used in red Rioja wines. Very few white g...
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Oak is used extensively in winemaking during fermentation and aging. It can add flavor compounds – including aromas of vanilla, clove, smoke and coconut. Oak barrels also allow the slow ingress of oxygen – a process which makes wine taste smoother a...
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The following suggestions are general guidelines for food and wine pairings. The first rule is drink what you like! The second rule is choose a wine that won’t get overpowered by the flavors of the food. But, if you’re looking for some help, here ar...
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Last time we looked at acidity levels in wine that are measured on the pH scale and in terms of grams of acid per liter (Total Acidity). While Total Acidity is a measure of the concentration of acids in a wine, the pH level tells you how intense tho...
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Acidity in wine is one of the four fundamental traits of a good wine (Acidity, Tannin, Alcohol and Sweetness). For a wine to be considered “good,” each of these traits must be in proper proportion or ‘balance’ to each another. If there’s too much of ...
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Some people really like don’t care for white wine. They say it just doesn’t have as much flavor as red wines. But, maybe, your experience with white wines has all been with very cold white wines. If you are drinking white wine right out of a standa...
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While our tongue is only able to detect five basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savory), our nose is capable of detecting millions of different aromas. And that’s how we enjoy all the wonderful “flavors” that food and drinks have to offer. ...
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Continuing with the theme of wines in Uruguay, here’s some excellent material provided by in a recent “Uruguay Wine 101 Webinar” facilitated Creative Palate Communications and hosted by the following individuals: Buenos Aires-based Joaquin Hidalg...
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In Uruguay, the combination of three soil types (clay mixed with different original materials) and its relative proximity to the sea have created six distinct wine making regions: Northern Shore (Light Tan): This terroir spans the departments of Art...
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Uruguay is home to a proud winemaking tradition in an unusual location, and a far cry from the desert-and Andes-dominated landscapes associated with most vineyard regions in the South America continent. Uruguay means “river of the painted birds” i...
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Last time we looked at American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) and how their distinguishing features are set up to define unique wine-growing regions. But AVAs are different, and more specific, then a wine appellation. An appellation is a geographical w...
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Everybody loves Champagne. It’s a treat that is generally poured in small fluted glasses and raised during toasts at special occasions. But what a lot of people don’t realize is that they are not drinking Champagne. Read more Champagne Champagne i...
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French wine can be so confusing since most French wines identify the region in which they are produced on the label and usually don’t show the grape varietal used to make the wine. So, here are several of the major wine regions in France and the gra...
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Sauvignon Blanc is a well-known grape that is grown around the world. It produces a light colored, aromatic dry white wine with citrus and tropical notes and bright acidity. There are current theories that Sauvignon Blanc was derived from a cross bet...
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Wines get described in many ways. And some of the terms even have definitions that include other common wine terms. So, let’s take a look at a few of them that may also necessitate a trip to the glossary… Acidic - A crisp or sharp-tasting wine that ...
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In previous blogs we got an overview of the Pinot grape and the tremendous number of Pinot synonyms (258!) and looked at the least known of the Pinots, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris. Now let’s look at the most notable of the Pinots - Pinot Noir. Pino...
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In previous blogs we got an overview of the Pinot grape and the tremendous number of Pinot synonyms (258!) and looked at the least known of the Pinots, Pinot Meunier. Now, let’s take a look at Pinot Gris. A member of the extended Pinot family of gr...
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In previous blogs we got an overview of the Pinot grape and the tremendous number of Pinot synonyms (258!). But, there are just four Pinot wine grapes that we’ll now focus on - Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunier. But, let’s save ...
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Last time, in an overview of wine’s called Pinot , it was noted that if you were to do a search on “Pinot” wine grapes you could come up with a list that includes at least 26 different ones. In fact, according to the New Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia, ...
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Grapes are grown worldwide typically for eating or for winemaking. There are 17 genera (the plural of genus) that belong to the Vitaceae family of flowering plants. But just the one genus, Vitis, is important in the world of winemaking. And, of th...
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There are many different types of grapes grown in Bordeaux and used in their famous wines. In the past, there were just six varietals allowed for making red wine in Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carm...
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It’s true that Champagne is a sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. Only sparkling wine produced in the small French region of Champagne may legally be labeled ‘Champagne.’ And because of this region’s northern location and cool...
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In the past, I had always used a traditional corkscrew to open a bottle of wine. Now, I use nothing but a wine key or waiter’s corkscrew. A traditional corkscrew has two arms that lift and a top pull that twists. A wine key, sometimes called a wait...
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I had a recent conversation with another wine lover who complained that whenever their mother came over for a glass of wine she would down it like ice water. And, they noted, they had been serving their mother “really good bottles of wine.” So, they...
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The Lacrima (lak-kree-mah) grape variety is one that I recently came across in a rosé blend. It is a native grape from the Marche region of Italy. It is also known by the name of the wine that is used produce - Lacrima di Morro d’Alba. The name o...
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Much like France, Italy has a long tradition of wine. In the 1960s, Italy formalized their wine appellation system modeled after the French system. Under this system, each wine region in Italy was required to operate under strict rules for the types...
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The Ciliegiolo (cheeli-oh-JOL-oh) grape gets its name from an Italian word for cherry, a fruit that the Ciliegiolo grape resembles in its wine’s aroma and flavor. Although traditionally used as a blending grape in Chianti, since around 2000 it has b...
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Tuscany is a world famous wine region of Italy that is best known for its Sangiovese-based red wines that include Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. And, within Tuscany, there are more than 40 sub-regions. Maremma Tosca...
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As with many areas of Southern Europe, wine has been made in the Alentejo (ah-len-TAY-zhoo) region of Portugal for centuries. In terms of size, the Alentejo region in southern Portugal is about the same size as the state of Massachusetts. At 56,500 a...
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In the making of red wines, bits of grape seeds and grape solids are often intentionally left in the wine during fermentation and aging. Sediment will also naturally develop in undisturbed bottles of red wine that have been aged in a cellar or wine r...
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I’ve heard it over and over - “I don’t drink rosé…it’s too sweet.” But, that’s not always the case. Unfortunately, rosé wine’s reputations got ruined in the 1970s with wines such as Mateus, Lancers and especially White Zinfandel. Those are the ster...
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I was recently asked by a reader to address wine scores. The reader asked “…where do you buy a wine that is rated 50-74? I have never seen a wine rated at that level. Do they exist?” Great question! There are several major wine scoring systems in u...
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Over the years, I’ve had my share of wines go bad even with proper storage in a wine refrigerator that’s in a dark location. These were medium-bodied California red wines that were 7-10 years old and I had expected them to hold up well. But, upon pul...
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There are a lot of fancy terms used when describing wine and many of them get thrown around like everyone should know what they mean. The other day I was reading through some material and came across the term “élevage” and had to stop. What does th...
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The temperature at which a wine is served matters. And, here’s why. The ‘proper’ serving temperature will ensure that you get the best experience from your wine. Serve it too cold or too warm and you can loose a lot of the wine’s character. This ...
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In the past, rosé wines got a bad rap, and some of it was deserved. The White Zinfandel that became so popular in years’ past has had a lot to do with rosé wines being greatly overlooked. But rosés should not be rejected outright. There are many exa...
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Last time we explored Chile’s Colchagua Valley that is located in the southern part of the Central Valley. Now, let’s explore one of Chile’s most important wine-producing regions, the Maipo Valley that is located just south of the capital, Santiago...
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Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted red variety in Chile and it is the grape credited with putting Chile on the world stage. It accounts for around 100,000 acres planted which is just over 20% of all vineyard plantings in Chile. These viney...
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The South American country of Chile has been producing wine since the 1500s. Bordeaux varietals began arriving in Chile in the 1850s and in the early 20th century, Chile saw a period of mass production and mass consumption of wines. Then, in the mid-...
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You may be familiar with Cream of Tartar. It’s commonly added to egg whites for meringue, it adds loft to baked goods and helps to make fluffier whipped cream. But, did you that Cream of Tartar is a natural by-product of the wine making process? It ...
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The traditional turkey dinner for Thanksgiving is often served with a white wine. While most white wines do go well with turkey, there are plenty of other excellent options. Traditional white wine choices include: Gewürztraminer - A Thanksgiving ...
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Beaujolais Nouveau. Its name literally means ‘new Beaujolais.’ This wine is named for the village of Beaujeu in France, which is a small region just south of Burgundy. On the third Thursday of each November, which is November 18th this year, France ...
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Finally, Fall is just around the corner and harvest time is beginning. This is the point where grape growers and wine makers become very focused on the grapes as they ripen. Then, once the grapes reach just the right level of ripeness, they are quick...
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In a recent blog, I listed some of the many factors that can affect a wine’s flavors. One of the factors is the type of vessel chosen by the winemaker to ferment the wine. So, let’s take a closer look. The three most common fermentation vessels are ...
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Last time we explored how terroir (the soil, terrain and climate) can affect how a single varietal of wine tastes. But, there are a host of other things that can also affect a single varietal’s taste, aroma and overall flavor. Harvest Ripeness of ...
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I just had the opportunity blind taste three bottles of California red wine. To start the blind tasting, I did not know the varietal type but was told it was a single varietal wine. And, I was informed that one bottle was from the California Central ...
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Many wine drinkers may confuse the taste sensations of sweet and fruity. While our brain naturally associates fruit aromas and flavors with sweetness, they are often not directly associated with each other when it comes to wine. “Fruity” is a term ...
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Last time we learned that wine makers use clarifying agents in the ‘fining’ process to remove small natural particles that exist in wines. These particles includes microscopic protein particles from grape skins, seeds and dead yeast. And, the most co...
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There are four fundamental traits that comprise a good wine. They are Acidity, Tannin, Alcohol and Sweetness. For a wine to be considered “good,” each of these traits must be in proper proportion to each another. This is because each of these four...
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There are four fundamental traits that comprise a good wine and they all have to work together in balanced harmony. Previously we’ve explored Acidity, Tannin, and Alcohol . Let’s now take a look at Sweetness. Sweetness in wine comes from natural gra...
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As we continue through the four fundamental traits of a good wine, let’s now move on to alcohol. Wine is simply fermented grape juice. Alcohol is a byproduct of the fermentation process where yeast converts the sugar in the grape juice (the must) to...
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Have you ever sipped a wine and immediately experienced a drying sensation in your mouth? That astringent sensation, generally associated with red wines, is associated with tannins. Tannin is a chemical compound (polyphenol) that occurs naturally in...
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There are four fundamental traits that comprise a good wine and they all have to work together in balanced harmony. They are Acidity, Tannin, Alcohol and Sweetness. Let’s start by looking at Acidity. A wine’s acidity starts in the vineyard. Grapes...
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Lambrusco is both a brightly colored grape variety and a sparkling red wine produced in Italy. In the past, Lambrusco has been known as a cheap, bright and fizzy wine often served with ice cubes (remember the old ‘Riunite on ice’ commercials?) But,...
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Italian wines, like French and Spanish wines, have certain restrictions and laws regarding their production. These Italian regulations result in their wines being classified into four official tiers. While you’ll find the producer’s name, appellatio...
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As we’ve explored the wines of Italy, we’ve learned about the regions of Tuscany, Piedmont’s red wines and white wines, Sicily, Veneto, Valpolicella, Soave, and Montepulciano, Italian grapes such as Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, and the non-traditional re...
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Valpolicella (val-polla-chellah) is an Italian wine region that covers 95 square miles across the western part of the Veneto region. There are four primary styles of Valpolicella. In the order from least to most intensity they are: Valpolicella, Va...
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The Veneto wine region is located in the north-eastern part of Italy between Milan and Venice. Its geography includes the foothills of the Alps to the north, Lake Garda to the immediate west and the Adriatic Sea to the east. While it is smaller than ...
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Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and has been making wine since 4000 BC. Its dry, warm climate, regular sunshine and moderate rainfall is well suited for winemaking. Marsala is Sicily’s most famous wine - a fortified wine. But, ...
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Piedmont may be best known for its red wines but this famous wine region in Italy also produces several white wines of note. The Moscato Bianco (moe-ska-toe bee-an-ko) grape is most notably from the Asti region of Piedmont. This grape is used in the...
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We’ve recently been exploring Italian wines (Borolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Montepulciano, Soave and Super Tuscans), grapes (Sangiovese and Nebbiolo) and regions (Tuscany and Chianti). So, now let’s take a closer look at another of Italy’s great wine...
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Tuscan is located in west-central Italy and includes the cities of Florence, Siena and Pisa. It is also the birthplace of the Italian renaissance. Wine production in Tuscan started before the rise of the Roman Empire and is believed to have begun in ...
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Having just wrapped up the holiday season when a lot of Champagne and sparkling wines are enjoyed, I came across a Blanc de Blanc Champagne. At first it seems that ‘Blanc de Blanc” is just a fancy name for a French Champagne. But, this is just anothe...
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Recently, I posted a piece discussing how fermentation and aging affect a wine’s aroma. But, it was brought to my attention that the terms aroma and bouquet are different when it comes to wines. So, here’s a quick summary of each: Aroma - Each grap...
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Last time we looked at Baco Noir, a hybrid grape that produces a medium-bodied red wine. But, there’s also a Baco Blanc, a white wine grape. Both of these hybrid grapes were developed by François Baco. Baco Blanc was developed in 1898 by crossing of...
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It’s always exciting to me to ‘discover’ and new wine grape. And, while doing some recent reading, I came across Baco Noir (BAH-koh NWAHR), a grape I’d not previous heard about. Baco Noir got its start in the early 1900. It’s a hybrid grape meaning...
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Last time we looked specifically at how oak affects the flavor of wine. There we learned that oak can be used in the fermentation process and/or the aging process to add various flavors to the wine. But before you take a first sip of wine, swirl your...
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Traditionally, white wine is made from ‘green’ grapes and red wine is made from ‘red’ grapes. But, did you know that white wines can be made from red wine grapes? First, let’s take a quick look at how white and red wines are made. In the productio...
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It’s always one of the questions regarding the Thanksgiving meal - “What wine should I serve?” It’s a great question that doesn’t have just one good answer. It has lots of good answers! Conventional wisdom says that with the traditional turkey you m...
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Beaujolais Nouveau. Its name literally means ‘new Beaujolais.’ This wine is named for the village of Beaujeu in France, which is a small region just south of Burgundy. On the third Thursday of each November, France releases Beaujolais Nouveau wine t...
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Last time we looked at how to get started in learning about wine. And, the best way to learn is by trying. Sure, you could pick up a book or a wine magazine, but those will tell you about wines that others like. The first thing you need to do is to s...
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I’ve got a bunch of wine books. They are all reference-type books that I keep on-hand when I need to look up something. But, Professional Drinking by Jim Schleckser is different. The book states that it is “A spirited Guide to Wine, Cocktails, and ...
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Opening a bottle of wine and drinking a glass will give you the opportunity to taste that one varietal produced by that one winery. For those with some wine tasting experience, drinking that one wine will give them an opportunity to assess the pros a...
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Last time we looked at how a wine can turn brown and take on a nutty sherry-like flavor. That’s oxidation which is just one of several ways in which a wine can go bad. There are several other common wine flaws. So, let’s take a quick look at each. ...
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One of the most confusing subjects for American consumers is trying to understand wines from France. The wine labeling system in France is mostly based on region or appellation, not by the type of grape used to produce the wine. So, here are some b...
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While Barbera is originally from Italy, it was brought to California by Italian immigrants in the 19th century. Much of it was originally grown in California’s Central Valley where it has been widely used as a blend component in mass-produced jug w...
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Last time we began looking at Barbera, a wine that in Italy has traditionally been produced as an inexpensive table wine to be enjoyed regularly with meals. It’s not been hailed as a great wine - there are other Italian wines that get that spotlight....
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My “Ah ha” moment with wine involved a Berbera. “A what?” I asked. I’d never heard of it and really, really liked it. Barbera (Bar-BEAR-ah) is a grape that is grown throughout Italy, especially in the Piedmont region. It is Italy’s third most grown ...
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Have you heard of blind wine tastings? No, it doesn’t involve blindfolds. That could get messy. What a blind wine tasting means is that the taster is ‘blind’ to things such as where the wine is from, the winery that produced the wine and the price ...
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Did you know that there is such a thing as apple wine? Well, indeed it exists! While the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) states that fermented apple juice that is under 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) is cider or ‘Hard Cider’, it consid...
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Noble Rot doesn’t sound like a good thing when associated with wine. But, it actually is! Noble Rot is officially known as Botrytis Cinerea and is a mold that devours the skin of the grape making it turn purple-grey and fuzzy. It eventually kills th...
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Last time we explored the various shapes of wine bottles and learned that they are based on traditions that continue to today. Here are few more tidbits about wine bottles: The color of wine bottles originally had their origins in helping to protec...
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Last time we started exploring the word “Cru” as it relates to wine. The simple translation of Cru is growth. This is really referring to a special or unique wine growing area. While this area can be a single growing site, it can also be a larger reg...
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I occasionally shop at smaller wine retailers such as delis and drug stores. Something I’ve noticed is that these smaller retailers don’t have the same turnover that larger wine stores and grocery store have. So, I’m often pleasantly surprised to fin...
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I see this question come up periodically. Someone has an old bottle of wine or discovers that their parents stashed away a bottle that is now quite old. And the first question a lot of people have is “What is this old bottle of wine worth?” Well, th...
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It was recently brought to my attention that each bottle of champagne includes a code on its label indicating the type of producer who made the wine in the bottle. The codes will start with two letters followed by a series of numbers. The numbers a...
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Here are some fun facts about Champagne as we head towards New Year’s Eve: Champagne is not made from Champagne grapes Champagne is typically produced from three grapes — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (Yes! A red wine grape!) and Pinot Meunier (another re...
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We are just days away now from the big Thanksgiving feast. And one of the most common questions is “What wine pairs best with the Thanksgiving meal?” As previous stated, the trick is to pair your wine with the type of sides you are serving, not th...
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I recently ordered a glass of wine at a local restaurant. Admittedly it wasn’t a fine dining restaurant. It was a place where you order at the counter and then you are served at your table. When I got my glass of red wine, it was filled nearly to t...
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While perusing the wine list at a casual restaurant, a friend of mine recently asked “Have you heard of Zibibbo?” I had to reply that I didn’t but promised to look into it. It turns out that Zibibbo is a white wine grape varietal used to produce bot...
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In a recent blog, I asked “What do you smell when you smell wine?” In wines, especially the red wines, there are a multitude of aromas that can be detected, with a little practice. And, these aromas play an important part in how the wine tastes. I w...
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Wine is often described as having aromas of fruits, flowers and spices. But, what do you smell when you smell wine? The most common response from those just starting to like wine is “It smells like wine.” Well, that’s a good start. But, there’s so...
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While catching up on some recent reading, I came across an article looking at wine decanting versus aerating. The bottom line presented in the article was that older wines should be decanted and young wines should be aerated. This caused me to pause...
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The grape growing cycle is currently at the point where berries (the actual term for individual grapes) begin to turn color. This marks the point at which the grape vines move from berry growth to berry ripening. The term for this stage is called Ve...
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A friend was recently talking about wines that he received from a winery’s wine club. He had visited this winery a few years back and really enjoyed their wines. So, he joined their wine club. Every six months he gets a shipment of wine and puts them...
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Viognier (Vee-own-Yay) is a wine that has taken an extreme backseat in the past to Chardonnay, yet shares a lot of similarities. This grape is originally from the Northern Rhône region of France. And, while France still grows approximately one-third...
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A lot of people are concerned with ensuring that they store their wine properly. And, that’s important. But to ensure you are getting a wine that’s at its best, you also need to take into consideration the store where you’re buying your wine. Sure, ...
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I was catching up on some reading recently when I came upon an article from James Laube in Wine Spectator. He’s been a wine writer for Wine Spectator since 1980, is very well respected and one of my favorites. But his piece titled “Ice Age” had me sc...
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In some of my recent reading, I came across the fact that E. & J. Gallo, The Wine Group and Constellation Brands produce more than half of the wine consumed in the U.S. Wow! But then early this month I learned that Gallo had entered into an agr...
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Chicken Marsala is a well known Italian dish. But, did you know that Marsala is also a fine drinking wine? Marsala is a fortified wine that originated in the town of Marsala on the west coast of Sicily. True Marsala still only comes from Sicily and...
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Last time we looked at wine scores and how well they can be relied upon as an indicator when selecting wines. Some wine scores are from reputable sources (e.g., Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate)while others are less ...
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Last time we learned that some red wines can make your mouth feel dry due to the natural tannin in the wine that comes from the grape’s skin, seeds and stems. But, if you don’t care for highly tannic wines, there are some things you can do. The tann...
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You may have experienced it when shopping for a bottle of wine. You lift the bottle to look more closely at the label and you notice how heavy it is relative to other bottles of wine. And immediately you equate this substantial bottle with high quali...
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Pinot Noir is a wonderful varietal of wine. In the Old World (Europe), Pinot Noir is most famous from the Burgundy region of France. There, it is simply known as ‘Burgundy.’ In the U.S., Pinot Noir is grown in multiple regions. Two notable regions a...
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As we continue through the holiday season, the question of ‘which wine to buy?’ is constantly on our minds. And, the answer in any situation can always be ‘Sparkling wine!” Yes, sparking wines are maybe the most versatile wines out there. For brunch...
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A few years ago, I told a friend that I was going to visit some wineries. He asked “Do you buy wines there?” My quick answer was “Yes!” He then asked “Why buy wines at a winery? They are more expensive than at the supermarket!” Well, yes, wines a...
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California’s Gold Rush of the 1850s included the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. As fortune seekers flocked to the Sierras to prospect for gold, small wineries also began to appear. But the decline of gold mining in the late 18...
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Zinfandel is a very popular California wine. One that can take on two very different flavor personalities. Zinfandel that is grown in warm places usually results in grapes that get very ripe and produce big jammy “fruit bomb” flavors. High alcohol...
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Rioja is maybe the best known Spanish wine, but did you know there are various styles of Rioja? First, let’s review a bit about Rioja. It is a region in North-Central Spain that’s known for its wine. And, like most Old-World wines, the wine label i...
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Champagne is probably the best known wine in the world. And, there’s a lot to know it about this wine. Here are some fun-facts about Champagne: Champagne is not made from Champagne grapes Champagne is typically produced from three grapes — Pinot ...
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The wine world is confusing enough. Then, you find yourself standing on the wine aisle trying to figure out what the different styles of Champagne and sparkling wine mean. And, it’s not straight forward. Champagne and most sparkling wines will have...
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Last time we examined what can be learned from looking at a wine’s color. Different colors can indicate the wine’s body and its age. White wines can vary from straw white to deep brown. And, these visual clues can immediately tell you something abou...
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You may have seen it. Someone with a glass of wine looking very closely at it. Or even slightly tipping the glass of wine over a bit to take an even closer look. Well, there are several things that can be learned by just looking at your wine. And, ...
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The grape growing cycle is currently at the point where berries (the actual term for individual grapes) begin to turn color. This marks the point at which the grape vines move from berry growth to berry ripening. The term for this stage is called Ve...
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Wine and cheese pairs so well. As we learned last time, the proteins and fats in cheese help to tame the tannin in red wines and creamy soft white cheeses tend to balance the bold acidity that can be found in white wines. But, not all cheeses work w...
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Wine and cheese. They just go together. But, there’s actually a pretty good reason that this pairing typically works together so well. Let’s start with red wines. They can be rather tannic due to the stems, seeds and stems of the grapes. Tannin is ...
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When perusing wine labels on the shelf of your favorite wine shop, you’ll often find that the label indicates “California” as the region where the wine is from. But, you may have asked yourself, what does that really mean? With all the California win...
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A co-worker who is into nice wines recently told me that she used to pour her mother nicer wines when she visited. The problem was her mother would down her glasses of wine like water. She tried to have her mother slow down and enjoy the wine, but to...
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I recently had a friend return from doing some wine tasting in Napa. While he said he enjoyed the wine, he did complain that it was windy and cold. And, he said he was told that the wind helped the wine. So, he asked me “How does wind affect a wine?”...
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On a trip to wine country earlier this year, I picked up several bottles of wine. Included in my wines was a Reserve Chardonnay that I had gotten in Alexander Valley. In the tasting room it was excellent. After purchasing the wines, I was very care...
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During one of our trips to Paso Robles a few years ago, we visited the Kenneth Volk tasting room and really enjoyed their wines. The Paso Robles tasting room is no longer open, but on a subsequent trip to Paso, we stopped in at the Albertsons market...
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I always enjoy it when someone asks me a wine question that I don’t know the answer to. It gives me another opportunity to learn. So, when I was recently asked if I was familiar with Limnio (LIM-nee-oh) I said no and started to do some research. Lim...
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I recently read a piece in Wine Spectator (March 31, 2018) by Matt Kramer. It was titled “It’s Really Very Simple.” He started off by stating “The temptation for all wine evangelists…is to somehow make wine simple.” He then goes on to say “Although t...
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A friend of mine recently recommended a wine that he really liked. When he showed me the wine’s label I saw that it was an Italian Appassimento. That’s a wine that I was not previously familiar with, so I took a look on-line and found a brief descrip...
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I just took a week-long trip to the east coast. Not a wine-focused trip. But, nonetheless, I did pick up a couple bottles to enjoy in the evenings. Being a Californian, it’s really easy to immediately look on the shelves for a nice California wine. ...
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During a recent special occasion, I decided to pull out some older wines to share. Not really old, but from 2010, 2009 and 2007. All were reds - a couple Barberas (a favorite of mine) and a Zinfandel. These weren’t amazing bottles to begin with or t...
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Wine Enthusiast Magazine, February 2018 Last time we looked at the factors that make a wine more capable of bottle aging. And, somewhat surprisingly, there are very few wines that actually hold up well in the bottle, even with proper storage. So t...
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We’ve now worked our way through how a wine gets its flavor - from the grape, the skins, seeds and stems, fermentation, barrel aging and last time we touched on bottle aging. There we learned that most wines are not meant for long-term bottle aging. ...
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As we continue exploring wine flavors and where they come from, let’s take a step back to last time. As was noted, barrel aging can impart many wonderful flavors to wine. Additionally, barrel aging imparts tannin. And, tannin is very important to a ...
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Last time we learned that aging wine in barrels can impart flavors ranging from none, in older ‘neutral’ barrels, to subtle hints of vanilla, or bolder flavors of chocolate and smokiness, depending on the barrels age and the degree to which its insid...
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We’ve been exploring where wine gets it flavor from starting with the star of show, the juice of the grapes, then learning how the grape skins, seeds and stems can affect the finished flavor and we also looked at how the fermentation process can affe...
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The flavors in wine come from three things - the grapes, fermentation and aging. We’ve explored the flavors from the juice of the grape, the flavors from the grape skins, seeds and stems and we’ve seen that the yeast can affect flavors during ferment...
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So far, we’ve learned that wine gets it flavor from three things - the grapes, fermentation and aging. Last time we looked at the fermentation process and how the yeast can affect flavor. But before we move on to flavors associated with aging, let’s ...
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Wine’s flavors come from the grapes, the fermentation process, and through aging. Last time we looked at the grapes that are the primary player in a wine’s flavor. So, let’s now explore how the fermentation process adds flavors to wine. The only oth...
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Last time, we started the exploration of wine flavors. And, basically, a wine’s flavor comes from the grapes, the fermentation process and its aging. So, let’s jump right in and start with the star of the show, the grapes. You might think “Well, of ...
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There are only two ingredients in wine: grapes and yeast. Yet, white wines can be described as having flavors that include lemon, lime, grapefruit, apple, peach, pear and orange. And red wines can be described as having flavors of cherry, raspberry...
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Have you ever noticed that wines can taste really good at a restaurant, wine bar or especially at a winery? It’s the whole experience, not just the aromas and flavors, that affect our sense of taste. As I’ve discovered, a $15 bottle of wine, when se...
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Last time we took a look at Barbera, a wine that hasn’t gotten the respect it deserves. And, I mentioned that my first exposure to Barbera was a real eye-opening experience. Unfortunately, in California, the Barbera grape has predominately been used...
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Several years ago, while visiting northern California, I was served a glass of red wine from Amador County that made me do a double-take. When I asked what is was, I was told but the varietal didn’t mean anything to me. I ended up having another gla...
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Last time we explored the life cycle of a grape vine and learned that they are perennials; they re-grow year-after-year. But, one of the more fascinating facts about grape vines has to do with how the flowers get pollinated. Most flowering plants de...
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Last time we asked “Why do people look so closely at their glass of wine?” and learned that flaws, such as sediment and dis-colorization can be seen in a wine glass. But, the color of a wine can also tell you about how it will taste and its age. Wi...
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It’s that time of the year! Lots of gift giving. A common dilemma is associated with choosing a bottle of wine to give as a gift. I’ll admit, it’s a tough one. You don’t want to get it wrong. And, most wines don’t come with a gift receipt. The first...
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Years ago, I was visiting a friend who knew I enjoyed wines and wanted to share a bottle with me. They opened the bottle and took a sip. With a look of disappointment on their face, they proclaimed that the wine need some time “to breathe.” So, wit...
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Maybe you’ve noticed a wine server at a nicer restaurant or in a movie wearing what looks like a large medallion around their neck. You typically can’t miss it. It’s large, shiny, and normally worn with a silver chain or a ribbon. What might seem to...
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I recently heard a radio ad that included the statement “…you will be served fine wine…” It got me thinking - what is “fine” wine? It sounds really great but begs the question “What is fine wine? Let’s start off with the easiest answer which is tha...
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We are just days away now from the big Thanksgiving feast. And one of the most common questions is “What wine pairs best with the Thanksgiving meal?” As we learned last time, the trick is to pair your wine with the type of sides you are serving, no...
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The common belief is that a white wine should be served with the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. And, with a white meat, a white wine would be the appropriate pairing. But, there is probably more on your plate than a piece of white-meat turkey. Al...
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Get ready because it’s almost ready for you! Every year on the third Thursday in November France celebrates Beaujolais Nouveau Day. And this year that will be November 16, 2017. The celebration starts at 12:01 a.m. in France. The 2017 vintage of Bea...
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During a recent wine tasting, one opinion given of the wine was that it was sweet. My reaction was that it wasn’t sweet at all. So, how can a wine seem sweet and not sweet at the same time? Well, as you’d expect, everyone’s perception of taste is di...
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Think berries…strawberries, raspberries, and blue berries. Then think wine. Yes, some of these delicate berry flavors can be present in fine wines. But, your favorite varietal wines aren’t made from berries. Boone’s Farm, maybe, but not your wine. R...
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It may seem like a funny or pointless question, but there’s a real answer! So, here’s a wine fun-fact. The “butt” is a measure of liquid volume equaling two hogsheads. That may not be of much help. So, in terms that we all understand, a butt of wi...
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I recently received a gift that came in at small flat box. Knowing that good things come in small packages, I lifted the box only to find it to be very heavy. Odd. But, what was even more odd was once I opened the box and removed its contents, I st...
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There are a bunch of corkscrews available to purchase and they all do the same thing. Mostly. The task of every corkscrew is to remove a cork from a bottle of wine. But not all corks are equal. And, when it comes to older corks, they can be a bit fr...
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If you’ve never had the opportunity to taste wine directly from a barrel, you are probably not familiar with a wine thief. No, it’s not someone out to steal wine. But it is a device that could be used for such a purpose. A wine thief is typically a ...
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With more than 300 wineries in Paso Robles it’s hard to highlight just a few. In recent posts, we’ve taken a look at the east and west sides of Highway 101 along Highway 46. And, we’ve explored some of the wineries on the west side along Vineyard Dr...
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The Paso Robles wine region offers many options. There are nice wineries on the east side of Highway 101 along 46E and a bunch more on the west side of Highway 101 on 46W. But, you’ll also find a lot of nice wineries off the beaten path. If you trav...
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Last time, I described the biggest and best known wineries on Paso Robles’ East side. Venturing across Highway 101 you enter the western side of Paso. Full of rolling hills, canyons and big slopes, along with having greater coastal influence, this si...
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Paso Robles is located along the central coast of California, essentially mid-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Conveniently, Highway 101 splits Paso Robles wine country into the East Side and the West Side. So, let’s focus on visiting winer...
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Having made several trips to wine regions throughout California, the one that keeps me coming back is Paso Robles. Located along the central coast of California, essentially mid-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco along Route 101, Paso Robles h...
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For some, going to a winery for a wine tasting is a bit intimidating. There are so many questions and concerns that keep people away, especially those who are new to wine and just learning. But going to a winery for a wine tasting is actually a perfe...
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Last time we looked at red wine blends from Bordeaux. Their blends are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. But, there is another wine region in France that produces great red wine blends, and that’s the Rhône River Valley in Southern France....
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Image - Decanter.com Red wine blends have become very popular. There are several very popular and inexpensive red blends with catchy names on the grocery store shelves and on menus at restaurants. If you enjoy these red blends, let me introduce you...
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While our tongue is only able to detect five basic tastes, our nose is capable of detecting millions of different aromas. When wine tasting, one of the Five S’s is smell. You stick your nose into the wine glass and take a sniff. You can get a very ...
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Have you ever gotten to that last sip of a glass of wine only to get a mouth-full of sediment? Instead of savoring that last sip, you end up spitting it out. An unpleasant way to finish. And that’s what recently happened to me as shown in the photo....
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A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. The tech sheet that came with it described how the wine was made including the terms ‘maceration,’ ‘lees,’ and ‘battonage.’ We took a brief look at ‘maceration’ last time where, simply ...
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The words ‘maceration,’ ‘lees,’ and ‘battonage’ are somewhat technical wine words. My recent review of a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile included these terms that were included on the spec sheet. While the words themselves may be unfamiliar, their meaning...
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If you like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, you really should check out the highly-acclaimed wines coming from Chile. And, they’re great values too. Spanish missionaries began planting grapes in Chile in the 1500’s to mak...
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Last time we looked at the differences between new oak versus neutral oak wine barrels. New oak imparts lots of flavors to wine. But after about three vintages, the oak no longer imparts flavor so it is called neutral oak. Much of the flavor imparte...
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Wine may be fermented and aged in a variety of materials including stainless steel, oak and ceramic vessels, including concrete. The use of oak barrels is very common and its use dates back to the early days of Roman wine making. While stainless ste...
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It may sound like an odd question; an egg in wine? Winemakers use many different products to fix flaws and flavors. But it usually difficult to know which ones have gone into your glass. There’s no law requiring bottles to be labeled with these ing...
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Ever wonder how terms like ‘Jammy,’ ‘Buttery,’ and ‘Earthy’ can be associated with wine? A product that made with grapes? Previously we looked at “How do all those flavors get into wine?” There we learned that taste and smell come from the combinati...
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Like an old coin, an old painting, an old stamp, an old car or any other antique, old items hold certain appeal and intrigue. Maybe it’s the notion of what was happening at the time when the item was made. Or, it could just be the look and feel of an...
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It’s commonly believed that older wine is better. And that can be true. But often, it’s not. If you’ve read some of my past blogs, you know that one of my favorite lines is that a wine cellar is not a wine hospital — it doesn’t make a bad wine bette...
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There are a lot of confusing wine terms. And there seems to be constant confusion over the difference between a variety and a varietal. Yet, it’s quite simple. Old World wines, most notably from western European countries such as France, Italy, Spai...
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Last time we looked at the term “Vinted by” that may appear on a wine label indicating that somebody else grew the grapes and/or produced the wine. The sellers simply put their name on it. A step up is the situation where the winery and the winery’s...
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Reading a wine label can be confusing. There’s a lot of marketing being done to try to get you to buy a wine. Everything from fancy artwork to cute names. And then there’s the back label that describes all about the aromas, flavors and quality of the...
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Often, you’ll see the words “Old Vine” on the label of a Zinfandel. But what does it really mean and does it equate with a better wine? First, you need to realize that “Old Vine” is not a regulated term. It can appear on any bottle of wine. Most in...
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Germany is the home of Riesling, and still produces nearly half the world’s Riesling. But there’s another region that is well-known for its Riesling and that’s Alsace [Ahl-zahs] in France. Alsace is located east of Paris, along the border with Germa...
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German Rieslings can be a bit confusing. Last time we took a look at the basic styles of German wines. Most notable was the German term “Trocken” that means dry (no residual sugar). So, if you are looking for a German Riesling that is not sweet, “T...
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Germany, where Riesling originated, today produces nearly half of the world’s Rieslings and ones that are considered the best the world has to offer. German Rieslings have bright acidity and equally big sweet fruit flavors of green apple, citrus and ...
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Riesling is a wine that is most famously produced in Germany where nearly half the world’s Riesling grapes are grown. Other great producers of Riesling include the Alsace region of France, Australia, Austria, Canada and the United States. Riesling th...
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When choosing a wine, one of the characteristics of interest to you might be its sweetness. But how can you really tell if a wine has sweet tendencies? The label may have some sentences on the back label to tell you just a little bit about the wine...
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Last time, the topic of residual sugar was discussed. Simply put, residual sugar (RS) is a measure of the sugar (typically in grams per liter) that remains in wine after fermentation. During an uninterrupted fermentation, the yeast will continue to...
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One of the terms that gets thrown around in the wine world is ‘Residual Sugar.’ But it’s not something you are going to read about on a wine’s label. So, what is it and why should you care? Let’s take a quick step back and review the basics of the w...
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Ice wine (eiswein in Austria and Germany, or the single-word icewine in Canada) is produced from the pressings of frozen grapes. Germany and Canada are the leading producers of traditional ice wines, but Austria, Switzerland and the United States a...
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Wishing you a very happy and prosperous 2017! Cheers! ...
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Wishing you the happiest of holidays! May your days be filled with holiday cheer while enjoying time with family and friends. Cheers! ...
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Looking for a good, affordable bottle of bubbly for the holidays? Consider Cava. Cava is a sparkling wine from Spain with a lot of similarity to French Champagne. In fact, the Spanish bubbly was called Champaña in Spain until the 1970s when French r...
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During the winter months and the holidays, mulled wine is a very popular drink, especially in European countries. Partly by tradition and partly because it’s a warm drink that is enjoyed on cold evenings. There are many names for mulled wine includi...
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Have you heard of “Pét-Nat?” Well, it’s actuallypétillant-naturel but it seems to be more affectionately known as “pét-nat.” Pét-Nat is a natural sparkling wine made using the ancestral method. Whereas the Champagne method involves a secondary fer...
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Everybody loves sparkling wine. It’s festive. And this is the time of the year that a lot of sparking wine is served. Sparkling wine consumption in the U.S. surges during the holiday season. It is estimated that more than 40% of sparkling wine purch...
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Beaujolais Nouveau. Its name literally means ‘new Beaujolais.’ This wine is named for the village of Beaujeu in France, which is a small region just south of Burgundy. On the third Thursday of each November, France releases Beaujolais Nouveau wine t...
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If you are serving the traditional turkey dinner this Thanksgiving, you might think that serving a white wine is the right thing to do. While most white wines do go well with turkey, there are plenty of other options. Traditional white wine choices...
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In years past in the U.S., red wine blends were sold by the jug as “Red Wine” or “Table Wine.” These were inexpensive wines that were blends of grapes, vineyards or even vintages. So, today, blends are often disregarded as being of poor quality. Bu...
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The Pinot Noir grape is a red grape most famously known for the production of red Burgundy. And today’s new world Pinot Noir wines, especially from California and Oregon, are wonderfully delicate light bodied red wines with flavors of cherry, raspber...
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Wine should be fun and enjoyable. And, my motto on EverWonderWine.com is ‘Drink what you like.’ So, I try to keep things simple and make your wine experience more enjoyable. And while the temperature of the wine you drink may seem unimportant, or ev...
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Champagne is a great drink. It’s most often consumed in times of celebration. Champagne and joy naturally go together. But “Champagne” is often misunderstood. And splurging on a $100 bottle may result in disappointment. First, let’s take a step back...
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Have you ever just ordered glasses of wine at a restaurant to avoid having to deal with the whole process involved in buying a bottle? It can seem a bit intimidating at first. Dealing with your server for a glass of wine seems to be a lot more expedi...
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Have you ever come across a wine labeled as Meritage and wondered what it is? It’s made in the U.S. where you can dependably know what a wine is because the label will tell you the grape varietal used to make the wine. But this U.S. made wine seems ...
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Often in the past, ordering a glass of wine was as easy as saying “I’ll have a glass of the house red” or “I’ll have a glass of the house white.” House wines were very common at restaurants and met the needs and expectations of many diners. Today, ...
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When pairing wines with food, the general goal is to make sure that the flavors of the food don’t overwhelm the wine and cover up all of the wine’s wonderful flavors. And the basic rule of wine pairing says that you should have a red wine with beef a...
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Chianti is a great wine to enjoy with an Italian meal. Whether it is spaghetti and meatballs, sausages or pizza, a Chianti is a great pairing. And it’s not hard to find a good one. Chianti is a region within Tuscany in central Italy, between Florenc...
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We’ve just completed a series on wines and body. We’ve addressed light, medium and full bodied white wines and red wines. And within this series, factors such as mouth feel, alcohol, tannin and residual sugar have been discussed. Fruit flavors also v...
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We’ve explored the various styles of white wines and made it through the light and medium bodied reds. Now it’s time to take the final step and look at the big, full bodied red wines. These full bodied reds are going to be very dark in color, have r...
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Recent posts have addressed light bodied red wines including two of the most common, Gamay and Pinot Noir. Light bodied red wines have bright red fruit flavor and little to no tannin. But looking across all red wines you’ll find very few that are li...
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Last time we explored the Gamay grape that produces a very nice light bodied red wine. Like most light bodied red wines, Gamay has delicate aromas, light tannin, plenty of acidity, lower alcohol and subtle fruit flavors that are sometimes described a...
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Having just completed a series on light, medium and full bodied white wines, it’s now time to transition to exploring red wines. But first, just a quick review of the term ‘body’ as it relates to wine. The four major components of a wine’s body are...
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Having just examined light bodied white wines and spent a bit of time on Chardonnay, it’s time to look into some other white wines that are in the medium body and full body category. These are going to have bigger, fuller flavors than those of the li...
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Light bodied white wines are a great place to start when learning about and tasting wines. They are fresh and crisp with bright fruit flavors and high acidity. So the next step up is into medium bodied and full bodied whites. As I have been resear...
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Last time we took a quick look at one of the characteristics of wine, its body. A wine’s body is simply based on how it feels in your mouth. And a wine’s body is affected by its alcohol level, tannin, acidity and sweetness. And each plays a role. So...
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It’s a question that constantly comes up. “What’s a good wine to buy?” Or there are the related questions of “What wine should I drink?” or “What wine do you recommend?” These are all great questions that are well intended whether from someone who ...
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If you know of Mateus, Lancers and White Zinfandel, you probably know that these rosé wines are sweet. That’s how I stereotyped all rosé until a few years ago. I was in the Russian River Valley in search of great Pinot Noir (and it’s not hard to find...
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Cork is the traditional closure for a wine bottle. Yet one of its drawbacks is that it can actually cause a wine fault. And, have you ever had a bottle of wine that “had turned to vinegar?” Well both of these wine faults can ruin a bottle of wine. ...
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Now that we’ve explored the natural cork, the technical cork and the synthetic cork, it’s time to address the twist-off cap. And don’t you think ‘twist-off’ sounds so much better than ‘screw cap?’ The twist-off wine seal has been around for at least...
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In recent posts we learned that cork comes from the bark of the Cork Oak and that the foil capsule covering the cork was originally put into place to protect the cork from insects and rodents. So you might wonder is all this necessary today? Aren’t...
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Last time we looked at where cork comes from and learned that it’s actually the bark of the Cork Oak tree. It is bark that can take 25 to 50 years to get to the point where it is usable for wine bottles and each tree can only be harvested every nine ...
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During a visit to the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma California, I stopped at the beautiful Ferrari-Carano winery. After tasting their wonderful wines, my server stated that walking their gardens was not to be missed. And while in the gardens, he said to...
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It is said that most American’s drink their white wines too cold and their red wines too warm. And I’ve certainly observed this myself. Wine flavors can be amazing, but serving a wine too cold or too warm can significantly affect a wine’s flavors. W...
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It’s always fun to find and try new and different wines. And, when it comes to exploring “Old World Wines” it can be even more of an adventure. That’s what happened to me when studying the shelves of Italian wines. I came across a completely unknown ...
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A few years back as I started to become interested in wines, I was searching for a really great wine that I could dependably go back to time after time. While the search for a great wine was a fun adventure, it never seemed to converge on a wine that...
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Last time we explored the Right Bank of Bordeaux with its Merlot-based red blends, primarily from the appellations of Saint Émilion, Pomerol and Fronsac. Next, its over to the Left Bank. Located west of the Gironde and Garonne Rivers, the Left Bank ...
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Bordeaux is one of the greatest wine producing regions in the world. It is divided into two distinct regions referred to as the “Right Bank” and “Left Bank” depending on which side of the Dordogne River it is located. Different dominant grapes used ...
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Nothing about French wine seems to be straightforward or simple. But once you get to know the various wine regions of France it becomes a bit clearer. In the past couple of postings I’ve touched on the French wine region of Burgundy. I discussed th...
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Previously I covered the most widely known white Burgundy (Bourgogne Blanc) from Chablis. We learned that wines from Chablis are produced from the Chardonnay grape. The other most notable wines from Burgundy are red wines (Bourgogne Rouge). And, the...
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There was a time when ordering a glass of Chablis meant that you wanted a glass of white wine. No specific wine, just a white wine. But there is so much more to Chablis than just a white wine. Chablis is a region located in the northwest corner of t...
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The Sauvignon Blanc grape is one of the most widely planted wine grapes in the world. While the Sauvignon Blanc grape is most famously associated with the France’s Loire Valley regions of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, it most likely originated in Borde...
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I was recently asked about Fumé Blanc. And, as you might guess, it’s made from the Fumé Blanc grape. Except, you’d be wrong. Just like I was. Fumé Blanc wine is produced from the Sauvignon Blanc grape. It was back in 1966 that wine maker Robert Mo...
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When it comes to a wine’s ability to be aged, both tannin and acidity play a role. Tannins were described last time as having compounds that act as natural preservatives in wine. The natural acids in the juice of the grape also help to preserve a wi...
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Last time we addressed some general guidelines on how long wines can age, noting that rosé should be consumed immediately after bottling while still bright, fruity and fresh, most white wines are typically best within a couple of years of bottling, a...
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Last time I mentioned buying a rosé that turned out to be more than three years old, that may not have been properly stored, had turned a brown-orange color and had nutty flavors that a fresh, fruity rosé should not have. And, several years ago I di...
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Have you ever opened a bottle of wine, poured a glass, taken a sip, and then asked yourself “Has this wine gone bad?” Sometimes a defective wine is hard to establish, but other times there is no question that the bottle has gone bad. Last week I we...
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There seems to be a lot of information and some misinformation out there about the production of rosé wine. I’m not sure why this topic is so complicated or confusing. Rosé is quite simple and such a simple pleasure. So, let’s take a look at how rosé...
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Yes, it’s still winter. And rich, savory red wines are great with a hardy, warm meal. But with Valentine’s Day near and spring being just around the corner, I thought I might touch on rosé wines. Rosé wines have gotten a bad rap, and some of it is d...
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There are a lot of wines available on store shelves. A grocery store, liquor store, or big-box wine seller will have plenty of wine offerings. But most of the wines are large production wines from big wineries. And, as previously discussed, the terms...
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I constantly get asked “What’s a good bottle of wine to buy?” And my response is always the same “What kind of wine do you like?” It’s a tough question because the wines that I like may not be to your liking. So I’ve struggled with the question and ...
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Drinking wine is a pleasurable experience that is quite simple. And, as winemaker Charles Smith puts it “It’s just wine. Drink it.” But for many people, wine tasting can be a very intimidating experience. But it shouldn’t be. In the past, I’ve writt...
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EverWonderWine was started just a year ago. I had no experience with blogging or managing and maintain a website. But, I had an overflowing passion for the world of wine along with a burning curiosity of wine-related information. I had thoughts of s...
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In past entries we’ve explored fortified wines that are just one major category of dessert wines. While the list of dessert wines is too expansive to cover in one posting, we’ll touch briefly on the categories of sparkling wines and the various types...
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In recent posting we’ve addressed fortified wines including Port, Madeira and Marsala. All these wines are produced by adding either Brandy or neutral grape spirit to wines during the fermentation process or after fermentation is complete. Without g...
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Previously we’ve established that fortified wine is wine that has grape spirit added. While typical wines have between 10 to 15% alcohol by volume (ABV), fortified wines end up with 15 to 20% ABV. Early on, this proved to be quite beneficial, as the...
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Madeira is another of the fortified wines. But it is the way that it is produced that is quite unique. Madeira first became popular in the mid-seventeenth century when the Madeira Islands, part of Portugal, were heavily used as key supply stations f...
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Last time we discussed fortified wines - wines with added alcohol. And Port is one of the classic fortified wines. From Portugal, this is a sweet fortified wine that was originally created so that it could be put on-board ships in Oporto Portugal a...
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You may have heard of “Fortified” wine and wondered what it is. Or, wondered if it really is wine? Simply put, fortified wine is wine to which additional alcohol has been added. And its origin comes from the days when wine spent considerable time be...
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Ever heard of Beaujolais Nouveau? Well, its name literally mean ‘new Beaujolais’ and it really is ‘new.’ On the third Thursday of each November, France releases Beaujolais Nouveau wine to the world. The ‘new’ part of this wine is due to the fact ...
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As American’s approach Thanksgiving, we have our traditions. And, tradition often dictates what wines will be served with our Thanksgiving meal. Conventional wisdom says that with the traditional turkey you must serve a white wine. And white wine...
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Last time we discussed how all the fruit flavors get into wine. We discussed that wines don’t actually contain fruit other than grapes, but the grapes, the soil they are grown in, the fermentation process, and the aging process can impart other fruit...
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Last time we took a quick run through how wine is made. And you may have noticed that there are only two ingredients in wine: grapes and yeast. Yet, white wines can be described as having flavors that include lemon, lime, grapefruit, apple, peach, p...
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Vineyards have been busy the last couple of months with harvest. Once the grapes have been determined to be at just the right ripeness, it’s a big rush to get them off the vines and out of the vineyard. And then the magic begins. Turning bunches of ...
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In recent postings we’ve explored some of the most common red and white wines and then taken a more in-depth look at other similar wines. As we walked through the white wines, Pinot Grigio was discussed. It was described as a light-bodied wine with ...
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Last time we took a quick look across the spectrum of four red wines, looking at Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. These are common red wines and broadly known. So now let’s take it one-step further into our exploration of reds. I...
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When it comes to getting acquainted with wines, it’s common to start with white wines. They can be fruity, zesty, refreshing and easy to drink. And, because they are chilled, they are often more approachable when starting to explore wines. But then ...
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Last time we took a quick look across the spectrum of white wines, looking at Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. These are commonly found white wines and broadly known. So now let’s take it one-step further. If you find that you...
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When it comes to getting acquainted with wines, it’s common to start with white wines. They can be fruity, zesty, refreshing and easy to drink. And, because they are chilled, they are often more approachable when starting to explore wines. White win...
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It was recently brought to my attention that there is another type of wine out there. It’s called orange wine. But what exactly is this orange wine? We are all familiar with red wine, white wine and rosé. These are commonly produced throughout wor...
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Last time we addressed all the things you should do when visiting a winery and tasting their wines. Along with all the things that you should do, there are also some things that you really shouldn’t do while wine tasting. Avoiding these will ensure...
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Visiting a winery and tasting their wines is a wonderful experience. But, it’s not like going out to a bar. Wineries are most often small businesses. When you go into a winery’s tasting room, you are a guest at a place of business. And, therefore, ...
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Once you are in the winery’s tasting room and have chosen the wine tasting option for you, then the fun really begins. There is so much to experience. And the wine is just part of it. As stated previously, you can simply work your way down the tast...
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You’ve got your winery maps, eaten some food, packed a lunch, snacks and water, got your special offers, and have an extra cooler for any wine purchases you might make, and now it’s time to hit the road and visit a winery. When you arrive at the win...
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Maybe you are asking yourself “You need to prepare to go wine tasting? Really?” And, the answer is absolutely, positively, yes! That is, if you want to have an enjoyable experience. As mentioned last time, do your homework and pick a small region...
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A trip to the wine country to visit wineries and do wine tasting is a great adventure. But to get the most from your trip, planning is imperative. Before you head out, do some research. The wine country is full of wineries that all have websites an...
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Having had the recent opportunity to re-visit wine country brought to mind that although wine tasting is a simple and enjoyable experience, there are many factors that should be considered when making visits to wineries. The first issue is where to ...
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You may have seen that some wine glass manufacturers make different glasses for different varietals of wine made. So, it would seem, you could end up with a couple dozen sets of wine glasses just to make sure you have the ‘right’ glass for each wine...
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The type of glass that you use affects the wine drinking experience. Its look and feel play a part, as does the size and shape of the glass. What then about a stemmed glass versus a stemless glass? Stemless glasses can be fun, and with the right siz...
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Last time, our senses of sight, touch, taste and smell were discussed. The look and feel of a wine glass plays an important role in our wine drinking experience, as does smell and taste. But, the shape of the wine glass also plays an important role...
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You may have read articles, seen ads or simply seen in stores that there is a large variety of wine glass shapes and sizes. Some wine glass manufactures will make different wine glasses for each of the different wine varietals. And you ask yourself, ...
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It should be no surprise that the great wine producing states in the U.S. also produce great sparkling wines. And while French Sparkling wine from the Champagne region still sets the standard, many U.S. sparkling wines are on-par with their French co...
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France has its Champagne. Spain has Cava. In Italy, Prosecco and Asti are its two most popular sparkling wines. Prosecco is primarily from the Veneto region of Italy and made from the Glera grape. Like Champagne, Prosecco must be produced in design...
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In the 1800s, Spain began producing sparkling wines to mimic their French neighbor’s Champagne and they called it Champaña. But in the 1970s, French regulations were put into place such that only sparkling wine produce in the Champagne region of Fra...
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Last time, the topic of sparkling wine was introduced. And Champagne is the first thing that comes to most people’s mind when ordering or purchasing a sparkling wine. It is synonymous with celebrations and splurges. As mentioned last time, only s...
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Everybody loves Champagne. It’s a treat that is generally poured in small fluted glasses and raised during toasts at special occasions. But what a lot of people don’t realize is that they are not drinking Champagne. Champagne is a sparkling wine th...
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Last time, the topic of dry wines was addressed. It was discussed that ‘dry’ wines are technically those with no residual sugar. But, more often than not, wine can cause a drying sensation in the mouth that people associate with ‘dry’ wine. This sens...
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You may have heard or even used the phrase regarding the preference for a dry wine. But what does that really mean? The problem is that the term gets used in a couple different ways. When referring to a dry wine, a lot of people are referring to t...
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In recent postings we’ve explored the information on U.S. wine labels. We’ve seen that the labels are required to tell us about the type of wine, the AVA or location where it was produced, the vintage or year the grapes were harvested, the alcohol c...
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As noted in a recent posting, U.S. wine label regulations require wines that have a level of 10 parts per million (PPM) or greater of sulfur dioxide to be labeled with the declaration “Contains Sulfites.” And if you pay close attention to wine label...
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Last time we looked at all the useful information on a wine label, specifically U.S. wine labels. Along with the type of wine, the vintage date and alcohol content, a wine label will usually tell you where the wine is from, geographically. There ar...
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When looking for a bottle of wine it’s easy to be persuaded by the label. But, too often, the persuasion comes from a fancy graphic on the label or a cute name. There is actually a lot of good written information on the label of a wine bottle. For...
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Oh boy! You’ve been invited to a party and asked to take a bottle of wine. Now what? You don’t think you know a thing about wine but are expected to show up and not embarrass yourself. Well, fear not! There are several things to consider. Firs...
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As discussed last time, decanting a wine can make a real difference. Decanting allows for some quick evaporation and exposes the wine to oxygen. Both improve the flavor of the wine, usually in just a few minutes or up to a couple of hours. But I rec...
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Seeing a wine steward decanting a bottle of wine in a restaurant can look ‘showy’ or a bit pretentious. And a wine decanter can be a beautiful thing to display, with or without wine in it. So why decant a wine? The simple answer is that decanting a...
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Ever wonder why people swirl their glass of wine? Is this just something that wine snobs do? Or is it a kind of nervous habit? Are they doing it so they can examine the ‘legs’ of the wine? Or, are they doing it just to look cool? What’s the point?...
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While doing some wine tasting, I had the opportunity to chat with the Winemaker. As I was complimenting him on making some outstanding wine, I commented “Making wine must be really hard.” He laughed and shook his head. “No,” he replied “Making wine ...
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You may have read about a wine, or checked the back label, or heard people speak of wines with flavors of apple, grapefruit, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Or, leather, tobacco, chocolate, and coffee. Or my all-time favorite, from the b...
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Ah, pink wine. Yes, it has gotten a bad reputation from the past. You may remember Mateus, Lancers, Cold Duck and White Zinfandel. Unfortunately rosé wines have been considered second class wines. But, that’s all changed! Rosé is made from red win...
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So, we’ve examined the wine aisle from the higher quality, higher priced wines on the top shelf to the lower quality, lower priced wines down around your feet, and then looked down the aisle at the white wines. Now lets look at the red wines. These...
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Last time we took a look at the typical wine arrangements in a large retail store, with the high-end wines on the top shelf, the mid-grade wines in the middle shelves and the low-end wine down at foot level. Now, if you’ve zeroed in on the middle sh...
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So, there you are in the wine aisle, stretching from one end of the store to the other. Or, worse yet, you are in a wine warehouse with multiple aisles of wines. And you ask yourself “Where do I start?” Well, in case you haven’t yet noticed, the ‘...
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So many times the question is “What wine should I drink?” A few years ago, I was out to dinner at a very nice restaurant with three business associates, including my manager who was quite knowledgeable about wines. The restaurant had a very good m...
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Welcome to “Ever Wonder Wine?” After spending the past few years learning about and enjoying the wonderful world of wine, I wanted a way to share the basic wine knowledge that I’ve learned. My journey started with a trip to Northern California. Not...
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