It used to be simple. Good wine had a natural cork. Cheap wine had a screw top. Not any more. Continue reading “Wine bottle closures 3-12-2025”
Category: Recent Columns
AI evaluation 3-5-2025
I find Perplexity a useful AI tool researching wine and other topics. In an act of hubris, I challenged it to evaluate Gus Clemens on Wine. Continue reading “AI evaluation 3-5-2025”
Grapes by the numbers 2-26-2025
By best estimate, there are some 10,000 different grape varieties in the world. If you tasted a different one every day, it would take you more than 27 years to complete the task. Thankfully, the world of wine is confined to a smaller number. Continue reading “Grapes by the numbers 2-26-2025”
Wine bottle sizes 2-19-2025
It is a new year and there are sweeping changes in wine bottle sizes in America. Yep, wine makers and glass blowers have a whole new tool kit to entice you into experiencing whatever elixir they have conjured from grape juice and yeast and wood and whatever else the white-coated wine wizards have procured. Continue reading “Wine bottle sizes 2-19-2025”
Wine for Valentine 2-12-2025
Valentine’s Day cometh, time for expressing love and affection, although one can argue that should be on your to-do list every day. Continue reading “Wine for Valentine 2-12-2025”
Gripes and opinions 2-5-2025
Wine columnists are expected to have opinions, and I have many. Here are four to rile up readers. Continue reading “Gripes and opinions 2-5-2025”
Blending terms 1-29-2025
Wine labels and wine reviews may include various references to wine blending. Some are specific and informative. Others are distinctions without a difference. Let’s explore the most common blending terms. Continue reading “Blending terms 1-29-2025”
Types of blends 1-22-2025
Blending is essential to making some of the world’s most iconic wines. We explored the several ways to blend last week. This week, specific wines created by blending. Continue reading “Types of blends 1-22-2025”
Varietals and blends 1-15-2025
In general, wines can be divided into varietals and blends. This being wine, it is not so black-and-white simple. Let’s explore. Continue reading “Varietals and blends 1-15-2025”
Wine scores 1-8-2025
Wine scores. Oh, my. On one level, ridiculous. On another level, essential to wine’s success over the past half century. Some observations. Continue reading “Wine scores 1-8-2025”