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...
by Mark Aselstine
Over the years, there have been a number of changes to how wine clubs are sold as well as how they function. Some of those changes have occurred because of law changes, others have been brought on by forces completely outside of the wine industry itself. Change #1: Shipping Time Frames A decade ago, it wasn't unusual to sign up for a wine club, only to not see a shipment for at least a month. For a winery direct wine club, it could be multiple months before their next quarterly shipment. Amazon started pressuring all businesses by offering 2 day Prime shipping and now Amazon offers same day delivery for some parts of the country. The concept of waiting to ship until the end of the month is long gone. It's hard to think of shipping happening more quickly as a negative for anyone. ...
by Diana Zahuranec
If you like white wine, there is a Chardonnay made for you. Chardonnay is the most-planted white wine grape in the world, and it is an international favorite for a reason: above all, for its ability to please almost anyone. Much of the Chardonnay you’ll find on a typical retail shelf will have a common style: rich and buttery with vanilla notes (from oak). It’s a popular profile, and if that’s what you prefer, great – you’re already on your way to knowing what you like. However, it’s only one of the many faces of Chardonnay. You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that there are many other styles to explore. In fact, Chardonnay can be oaky and buttery just as easily as it is fruit-forward and full-bodied, lean and mineral, and anywhere in between. What Makes One Chardonn...
by Vesselina Stoyanova
Do you read your daily horoscope on the sly? Have you pondered how your zodiac personality traits affect your life and, most importantly, your wine choices? The team at Wine365 decided to have some fun for spring and answer the existential zodiac and wine pairing questions for you. Aries kicks off the new zodiac cycle on March 21, and while you will not find any crystal ball predictions here, we hope to provide some amusement and encourage you to try some beautiful wines, even if they are outside of your zodiac sign. Read on to discover what’s in your crystal wine glass. Aries, ram Aries (Ram): Cabernet Sauvignon or Sangiovese Aries are natural-born leaders, honest and generous. People born under this sign are not afraid to express their opinion and take risks. The perfect win...
