29 posts
Colombard (or Colombar) Photo from Pancrat on Wikimedia Commons The name Colombard likely comes from the French word for dove, “colombe”. Legend has it that the grape was so named because its white, dusty berries match the color of a dove’s pluma...
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...
The Virginia Wine Governor’s Cup® Winning White Wines Earlier this year, a qualified team of judges sampled over 620 of the best Virginia wines, ciders and meads from across the Virginia Commonwealth. The Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition is one...
As we’ve learned, Chile’s coastal wine country is heavily influenced by the Humboldt Current. Here are three excellent examples of the Chardonnay being produced along Chile’s coast. 2023 Miguel Torres Cordillera de los Andes Chardonnay ($20) Miguel...
When Europeans settled along the coast of Uruguay, many brought their local varieties with them—from Galicia, Liguria, Southern France. Among the reds, Tannat consistently delivered exceptional fruit and became Uruguay’s flagship. As for whites, the ...
Bianca Giovese Vino Bianco ($34) The Giovese Family of wines proudly announced the recent arrival of sister brand Bianca Giovese Vino Bianco, now available in retail stores, wine shops, bars, and restaurants across 20 US states and Western Canada. E...
Standard convention says that during the colder days of winter, a hearty red wine is the one to pick. And, while that’s not wrong, there are also white wines that are well-suited for winter drinking. Winter white wines are not the bright, fruity and...
Standard convention says that during the colder days of winter, a hearty red wine is the one to pick. And, while that’s not wrong, there are also white wines that are well-suited for winter drinking. Winter white wines are not the bright, fruity and...
Alentejo (ah-len-TAY-zhoo) is one of seven wine regions in Portugal and a real up-and-comer in today’s global wine world. With its distinct and diverse growing areas, hundreds of unusual grape varieties and ancient wine traditions, Portugal’s Alente...
Alentejo (ah-len-TAY-zhoo) is one of seven wine regions in Portugal and a real up-and-comer in today’s global wine world. With its distinct and diverse growing areas, hundreds of unusual grape varieties and ancient wine traditions, Portugal’s Alente...
When one thinks about decanting a wine, usually it’s a red wine. Decanting a red wine is generally done for several reasons including allowing any trapped off-smelling odors to quickly dissipate, allowing the wine to “open up” to reveal greater chara...
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...
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...
2019 CVNE Rioja Monopole Monopole is the oldest white wine brand in Spain and CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) has been producing it since 1915. Monopole is produced from 100% Viura grapes (as known as Macabeo grapes). The grapes are g...
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...
2017 Pagos de Galier Godello ($17) This Pagos de Galier Godello is a product of the Valdeorras region of Spain which is located on the eastern-most fringes of Galicia, in North-Western Spain. This 100% Godello is cold pressed and kept below 65 degr...
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...
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...
A few months back a friend of mine told me that, in the past, he really didn’t like white wine. He said white wines just didn’t have as much flavor as red wines. He preferred the flavors of a red wine. But, on a wine tasting trip he went ahead and...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...