As veteran readers know, I am an advocate of decanting. But this is wine, so when it comes to how to decant and when to decant, things can get problematic. Some guidelines. Continue reading “Decanting do’s and don’ts”
Category: Recent Columns
Science vs. tasting notes
Wine tasting descriptions, whether by wine pros or the supercilious jerk next to you in the wine bar, are a fertile field for bloviating blather. Truth is, there is hard evidence we all taste things differently. God made us that way. Continue reading “Science vs. tasting notes”
Bulk wine
Bulk wine gets a bad rap. It is associated with plonk in a box purchased by impoverished college students and parsimonious parents of the bride. Continue reading “Bulk wine”
Organic-biodynamic
Organic and biodynamic are two big buzzwords in wine. What exactly do they mean? While many practices overlap, they do not mean the same thing. Continue reading “Organic-biodynamic”
Meaning of dry red wine
While some people prefer their wine sweet, dry wines are the most popular. Trouble is, how do you define “dry?” Continue reading “Meaning of dry red wine”
Wine after COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic is a psychological, cultural, and—regrettably—political event as well as an epidemiological cataclysm. It also changed the wine world. Examples: Continue reading “Wine after COVID”
Meaning of cru
French wine labels can flummox even experienced, sophisticated enjoyers of wine. Continue reading “Meaning of cru”
Wine shortages
The past year certainly showed us the world can turn upside down in a hurry. The wine world is no exception. Continue reading “Wine shortages”
Direct to consumer boom
The U.S. wine industry enjoyed its largest year-over-year increase in direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales in 2020. Much can be attributed to COVID-19, but even if you bought online because of pandemic fears, many will stay with DTC because of convenience and expanded choice. Continue reading “Direct to consumer boom”
Making wine Part 9–Finished product
Grapes are grown, harvested, fermented, aged. Time to make the final product. Continue reading “Making wine Part 9–Finished product”