Land acquired. Grape variety/varieties selected. Vineyard laid out. Training system, other infrastructure in place. Time to put vines in the ground. Continue reading “Making wine Part 4–Planting”
Category: Recent Columns
Making wine Part 3–The vineyard
Selection of grape variety, topography of the vineyard, and inclinations of vineyard owner and viticulturist influence the next big decision—vine training system. Continue reading “Making wine Part 3–The vineyard”
Making wine Part 2–Grapes
After securing land, the next decision is deciding on the grape. That decision influences decisions on trellising/vine training, irrigation, and overall success of your enterprise. Continue reading “Making wine Part 2–Grapes”
Making wine Part 1–Land
Many steps and decisions went into making the wine you will enjoy tonight. This week and the following eight weeks, we visit the magical journey from soil and sunshine to the sublime liquid you enjoy. Continue reading “Making wine Part 1–Land”
Alcohol by volume
There is a lot of information on a wine label. Some of it germane: producer, grape variety or type of wine, vintage. Continue reading “Alcohol by volume”
Bordeaux responds to climate change
Wine makers recognized climate change years ago. Many vine growers have meticulous records dating back a hundred years. For them, global warming is not speculation, it is real and their livelihoods depend on responding to it. Continue reading “Bordeaux responds to climate change”
Vineyard in winter
We are in the last weeks of winter and soon vineyards will begin their warm weather cycle. They have not been idle the past cold months. Continue reading “Vineyard in winter”
Elements of wine judging
On one level “judging wine” is distasteful. A lodestone of my approach to wine is drink what you enjoy and ignore supercilious pronunciamentos from wine snobs. Continue reading “Elements of wine judging”
Vintage variables
“Plant a radish. Get a radish. Never any doubt. That’s why I love vegetables; you know what you’re about,” goes the opening in a song from The Fantasticks. Continue reading “Vintage variables”
Valentine’s
Survival alert to male readers: Sunday is Valentine’s Day. Continue reading “Valentine’s”