I was recently asked about the color of wine. Specifically, why does the color of a red wine vary, especially within the same variety. So, let’s take a look at the factors that affect a red wine’s color. As the grapes are harvested, they are piled ...
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...
2016 Thomas Allen Generations Red Blend ($7) This was a new one to me. I’d previously tried the Thomas Allen Cabernet Sauvignon, but wasn’t aware of their red blend. Thomas Allen is owned and operated by third generation wine grape growers, Thoma...
2016 Pagos de Galir Mencía ($17) This 100% Mencía (men-thee-uh) is from the Valdeorras region which is located on the eastern-most fringes of Galicia, in North-Western Spain. It was cold macerated, went through malolactic conversion and aged in ...
Have you ever taken that last sip of wine only to find a nasty surprise either at the bottom of your glass or in your mouth? Sediment! It can be a very unpleasant discovery. But, luckily, it’s nothing to be worried about. Sediment is a natural bi-pr...
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...
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 associated with red wine. Some red wines. The dry sensation is due to the wine being astringent...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...