by The Juice
The United States is home to some of the world's most renowned wineries and wine regions. From Napa Valley in California to the Finger Lakes in New York, there are countless options for a memorable winery tour. However, for the ultimate winery tour experience in the United States, one would have to consider visiting Napa Valley, California. Napa Valley is widely regarded as one of the world's premier wine regions. It is home to over 400 wineries and is particularly known for its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines. The valley is also surrounded by picturesque mountains, providing a stunning backdrop for a winery tour. One of the best ways to experience Napa Valley's wineries is by taking a tour with a local company. These tours typically include transportation, a know...
by The Juice
Wine tasting events are a great way to sample a variety of wines and learn more about them from experts. However, it's important to follow proper etiquette so that everyone can have an enjoyable experience. Here are some tips to keep in mind when attending a wine tasting event: 1- Dress appropriately. Wine tasting events are usually more formal occasions, so it's best to dress in semi-formal or business attire. Avoid wearing strong fragrances as they can interfere with the taste of the wine. 2- Arrive on time. Wine tastings are usually scheduled for a specific time, so be sure to arrive at the designated time. 3- Listen to the host or wine expert. The host or wine expert will usually provide information about the wines being tasted, the winery, and the winemaking process. It's imp...
by The Juice
Here are some suggestions for hosting a successful wine tasting event: 1- Plan ahead: Decide on the date, time, location, and guest list well in advance. 2- Choose a theme: Having a theme for your event can add an element of interest and engagement for your guests. It could be based on the region, winery, grape varietals, or type of wine. 3- Select a variety of wines: Offer a range of wines for your guests to sample, including different varieties, regions, and styles. This will give your guests an opportunity to try new wines and expand their palate. 4- Provide food: Food can enhance the wine tasting experience. Offer small plates of food that complement the wines being served. 5- Set the mood: The atmosphere of your event is crucial. Create a relaxed and comfortable setting...
by The Juice
The wine growing season, also known as the "vineyard cycle," begins in the late winter or early spring with the bud break. This is when the grapevine starts to grow new shoots and leaves, signaling the start of the growing season. During the spring and early summer, the vine focuses on vegetative growth, as the shoots and leaves mature and the grape clusters start to form. This period is known as the "growing season," and it's when the vine needs the most attention from the grower. Summer is the time when the grapes start to ripen and change color, a process known as "veraison." The grower will monitor the grapes closely during this time to ensure that they are ripening evenly and to determine the optimal time for harvest. The exact timing of harvest depends on the grape variety a...
by Claire L. Torbeck, Dipwset And Certified Sommelier
When we moved to the Bay Area, I took a few cooking classes and Chef indulged our group, bringing in a Riedel representative to do a comparative wine glass tasting. I was very skeptical that a glass could make any difference; however, the bonus of attending the seminar was it included 4 Riedel Vinum glasses. I was hooked! The basic premise is that you take 4 glasses (a Bordeaux, Pinot Noir, an Oaked Chardonnay, and a Sauvignon Blanc) and you ‘sniff and taste test’ each of the varietal wines one at a time. Beginning with the wine in the correct varietal glass, subsequently pouring it into the other glasses and re-tasting, the aromatics and flavors on the palate were clearly ‘best’ in the varietal glasses. I officially rose to the rank of ‘snob.’ Lucky for me, I was able...
by Antony Bruno
Raise your hand if you’re one of the many wine drinkers who say they don’t like Chardonnay. Or maybe you’re like Paul Giamatti in Sideways and you’re “not drinking any @#$% Merlot!” Well then Uncorked Kitchen & Wine Bar’s “Old World vs New World” wine tasting class has a message for you — “Never write off a varietal.” The class focuses on sampling two versions of the same grape varietal—one from an Old World country (essentially Europe and the Middle East), and another from the New World (everywhere else)—through side-by-side tastings. The result calls into question everything you thought you liked (or don’t like) about a given varietal. And that’s the point. Let’s take for instance the first pair of wines, both made from the highly polarizin...
by Claire L. Torbeck, Dipwset And Certified Sommelier
I am certainly looking forward to enjoying Thanksgiving Dinner with family and friends. However, I am going to change up the wine offerings this year. As the dishes served are standard Thanksgiving fare offered and anticipated as well as those family favorites, I do not want to mess with the menu or the family ‘food traditions.’ To keep it simple, I will be serving the following: For the happy hour (before the serious eating commences): Veuve Cliquot Demi Sec NV – this Champagne is lush on the palate and has enough sweetness to soften the acidity with just a touch of yeasty character. The mousse is lively and gives the champagne a delightful crispness not expected in a demi sec. The aromas and flavors evoke peach, caramel, pear, and Meyer lemon, which linger beautifully, and...
by Susanna Gaertner
Normally not a fan of rosé, I was pleasantly surprised by the power of this grenache blusher, whose terracotta tint hints at its deeper flavor. Winemaker Jeff Emery feels that “Rhone varieties pushed into cooler California growing regions tend to produce wines that are more like their Old World counterparts than the average California style expression. When you plant grenache in this cooler climate you get bright fruit and zippy spice elements.” The grapes are from Hook Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation. After crushing the fruit, Jeff and his team “bleed” off (saigné method) c. 20% of the juice after only one night on the skins; the free run juice slowly ferments in stainless steel tanks for several weeks before being racked into fresh tanks, where it remains...
by Marla Durben Hirsch
QR Codes are cropping up everywhere: on menus, posters, even business cards. The wine industry is beginning to venture into QR Code territory, as well. So should you scan that QR Code on your wine bottle? Yes! Here’s why. Benefits of a QR Code on a Wine Bottle A QR Code, short for “Quick Response” Code, enables a user to instantly obtain information simply by scanning the QR Code with a mobile device. The QR Code can take the consumer to the winery’s website, share recipes, offer discounts or promotions, and introduce the winemaker/owner via video. “[It’s] a quick and easy way for consumers to learn about the specific product they are holding in their hand and creating direct communication with the winery,” says Robert Sherwood, CCP/President of Holoshape Pro...
by Virginia Winecountry
Virginia’s most awarded American Viticultural Area (AVA), the Monticello AVA, is named in honor of Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello where he worked to establish vinifera vineyards with Filippo Mazzei in the 1770’s in the hopes that Virginia could become a wine making area, creating wine on par with those he enjoyed in the Old World while traveling as Minister to France. Though they were interrupted in their viticultural pursuits by the American Revolution and stymied by environmental factors, they’d clearly be delighted to see today how the Monticello AVA is carrying out their dreams of producing world class wines. "We could, in the United States, make as great a variety of wines as are made in Europe," wrote Jefferson in 1808, "not exactly of the same kinds, but doubtless...
