A Rose (the wine, not the flower) By Any Other Name
The day of wine and roses, lest we forget cards and candy, better known as St. Valentine’s Day, is just around the corner. It is the one (Hallmark) holiday celebrated each February 14th reserved for lovers and romance. Though historians debate to this day the true legend of St...
Did You Know……………… Fact #11
Mexico has the oldest wine producing industry in the America’s. Vine cuttings from Spain were sent to conquistador Cortez in the early 1500’s and by 1524, vineyards were a major crop planting for Spanish settlers. The Village of Valle de Gaudalupe in Baja California has over 100 wineries that...
Hosting Your Own Wine Tasting – Part 2
Glasses: Another vital necessity are the shape and style of glasses to use for your tasting. They come in all shapes, sizes, styles and price points. You should have at least one per guest with a few extra on hand in case of breakage, chips, cracks or unexpected arrivals....
2015 Jeff Cohn “The Impostor”
Like a maestro conducting a symphony orchestra, who takes every note in the musical scale (A,G,B,D,F) and blends them into a work of art, the same can be said for wine blend master Jeff Cohn. Yet, his notes are of the grape varietal expression (Z,S,PS,G,M,V), which he has been...
Hosting Your Own Wine Tasting – Part 1
With the Holidays now behind us and with the Winter season settled in, what more is there to do than to count the days until Punxsutawney Phil sees his own shadow? With plenty of time until the Spring thaw, how about hosting your very own wine tasting event. What...
Wine in Transition
After the harvest has been picked and gone through its primary and secondary fermentation, it is now time to transfer the juice into oak barrels, stainless steel tanks or whatever vessel the winemaker chooses to complete the process of creating a wine. These oak barrels contain precious Pinot Noir...
2018 Couly – Dutheil “Les Chanteaux” Chinon White
When most people see a wine labeled Chenin Blanc, they think first and foremost sweet, box wine and cheap. True lovers of the grape know that the best versions are dry, elegant, racy and seductive. This Chinon white from the Loire Valley of France, made from 100% Chenin Blanc,...
Did You Know………. Fact #10
In jolly ole England, pub drinks are served in pints and quarts. English bartenders would respectfully ask unruly customers to mind their manners but also their pints and quarts. This is said to be where the origin of the phrase “mind your P’s and Q’s came from....
New Year Wine Resolutions
With the New Year comes new found resolutions. Maybe a change in diet to keep yourself healthy, a new exercise regime to work off those extra Holiday pounds, even a change in the style and manner we approach our work habits. It’s a time to try new things. It...
The Final Blend
One of the final steps for a winemaker before bottling his product is the final blending process. Wine from different barrels, vineyard rows, vineyard sites and different varietals are brought together, blended numerous times, with varying amounts in each sample. Seemingly endless tasting and testing sessions occur until just...