Let’s face it: learning about the wine world can be an exercise in frustration if you don’t know where to start. There’s so much information floating around -- much of which is contradictory -- that many people get overwhelmed to the point of dropping any intentions of learning more about wine, which has ruined what can be a beautiful hobby and interest for countless individuals. While there’s no “one size fits all” approach to understanding wine, regionality can be an excellent starting point. … [Read more...]
Wine culture is something that is constantly in flux and changes with each passing year. While touring vineyards has long been a part of getting the most out of what wine has to offer, the popularity of “tasting rooms” has grown significantly over the course of the past decade or so. Tasting rooms offer a venue for interested consumers to try various wines and get a better sense of what the winery is all about, not to mention the fact that they provide a communal space ripe for interaction with … [Read more...]
Those who are familiar with Spain often find Galicia to be one of the country’s most misunderstood regions. Located at Spain’s northwest tip, Galicia is referred to as an “autonomous community of Spain” and is rich in history, bordering Portugal to the south. Known for a handful of the world’s best exports (Galician sardines are something to behold), the region is known today by many for its exquisite wines -- particularly its whites. A Rich Area of Production It’s easy to think of … [Read more...]
There are countless ways you can get some idea of the character of a wine, before you’ve actually tasted it. In some ways, this is all part of the fun of wine drinking -- observing it, considering the liquid, eyeballing it in the glass as you gently swirl it around...and it also enhances your enjoyment of the wine when it does finally hit your palate. Looking at your wine in the glass should always be the first thing you do, before you inhale the aromas or take a sip. For me personally, one … [Read more...]
The popularity of certain grapes speaks for itself. Take Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, which has grown to be one of the major plantings around the world. Why? It’s rich, seductive and impossibly complex. The same can be said for Malbec, with its smoky undertones and rich, fruity palate. Malbec has understandably become a “go-to” wine for many people, most of whom love the fact that it not only drinks exceptionally well on its own, but also when paired with food. One of the problems with … [Read more...]
There are few wines out there which garner as much miseducation and confusion as German Riesling. Some immediately associate Riesling with cloying sweetness, which is not an across the board characteristic in the slightest. Riesling can be one of the most beautiful wines imaginable, and examples throughout the style can range more dramatically than perhaps any other wine. If you’re unfamiliar with German Riesling, you’re missing out on one of the world’s most enjoyable and varied styles of … [Read more...]
Washington State is known around the world for many different reasons. From the illustrious city of Seattle and all of its cultural contributions to the state’s rugged coastline, there are reasons upon reasons to both visit and move to Washington. One thing that Washington is becoming more and more known for with time is the state’s excellent wines. Many people think of California when American wine comes to mind, but Washington is quickly becoming a solid contender. Wine in Washington State … [Read more...]
There are so many different factors that can play into the taste, smell and appearance of a wine once it has been bottled. The grape variety certainly plays the biggest role, but that’s not to say that soil quality, barrel-aging and fermentation techniques can’t all completely transform a wine -- they can, and often do. Among these major players sits a factor that often goes overlooked when talking about wine: the yeast. To put it simply, wine would not exist if it were not for the presence … [Read more...]
For most people on their quest to learn more about wine, there comes a point of realization when a single grape begins to stand out as a favorite. Cabernet Sauvignon is a common example, especially considering how easy it is to find a great bottle without having to spend a fortune. For others, the grape is Syrah. Known in Australia as Shiraz, Syrah is grown throughout the world, with origins in Southeastern France. One of the most easily influenced grapes, Syrah is special in that it is … [Read more...]
Spend enough time learning about wine, and there’s a good chance you’ll end up stumbling across certain terms that keep coming up time and time again. One of the more interesting and unique is “QPR,” which is short for “Quality-to-Price-Ratio.” It’s something that high-end wine drinkers and budget deal seekers alike talk about, simply because it refers to wines that are exceptionally delicious considering their price-point. It could be an $8 Tempranillo that drinks like it should cost $50, … [Read more...]
Spain is considered by both novice and expert wine enthusiasts to be one of the world’s best and most prolific producers. Garnacha, Tempranillo, Romanico and more tantalize the senses, and some of the best values in the world of wine can be found in Spanish Rioja. There are also a number of Spanish grapes that aren’t quite as well known as these, however, which only occasionally find themselves in the spotlight. This is especially true for Spanish whites, and there are few grapes that are as … [Read more...]
If you want to get some idea about how far grapevines have spread around the world, then take your globe, put one finger on the center of France, and try and find the spot on that sphere which is about as far away from France as you can possibly get. You’ll probably end up somewhere around the newest of the New Worlds -- down under, around Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand has had a good 20 years. While vines were first planted on the islands around 150 years ago -- surprisingly later … [Read more...]
There are certain regions of the world that are well known for their wine production. Spain is one of the best examples, as many people are extremely familiar with Spanish wines and actively seek them out. Oddly enough, however, most people aren’t familiar with the wines made in one of Spain’s furthest-flung territories, the Canary Islands. These wines may be overlooked, but they’re also some of the best you’ll find from this part of the world and deserve to be talked about. Located off of … [Read more...]
When it comes to white wines, people tend to stick with what they know and like. Ardent fans of Pinot Grigio will rarely stray outside of their comfort zones, while Chardonnay lovers will preach their passion to the mountaintops and never order a glass of something else. The same can be said for those who love Sauvignon Blanc, which happens to be one of the more expressive white grapes available to winemakers. Those who go down the Sauvignon Blanc rabbit hole in search of finding the next best … [Read more...]
There are some grapes in the wine world that are simply too easy to love. Chardonnay falls into this category, which is why so many people get hooked on the grape and have a hard time drinking any other whites at all. Eventually, those who stick with Chardonnay long enough will encounter the world of Chablis, considered by many connoisseurs to be one of the best values in Burgundy and the most elegant representation of the Chardonnay grape. Once only produced in small amounts in the north of … [Read more...]
Chinese food tends to get a bad rap for a number of reasons, chief among them being the fact that most people are only familiar with Americanized versions of the many cuisines of China. The fact is, Chinese food is not only inherently healthy and nutritious, but also extremely complex, layered with incredible flavors that are difficult to pin down. Because of this, real, traditional Chinese food happens to be notoriously difficult to pair with wine. Even the best sommeliers often find themselves … [Read more...]
Say the word “Botrytis” out loud, and chances are you’ll agree that it sounds unsavory. Once you find out that it’s a mold, the word becomes even less appetizing. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll find that this strange organism is responsible for some of the world’s best wines, many of which sell for extremely high prices. Just as one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, Botrytis contains a silver lining, and modern wine wouldn’t be the same without it. You may have never heard of … [Read more...]
There are so many different wine regions scattered throughout the United States that keeping up with the next “up and coming” producers can be positively head-spinning. States such as California and Oregon have paved the way for others to enter into the industry, and today, there are wineries in every state in America. When it comes to New England, Maine is currently at the center of the wine industry’s attention -- and for good reason. Mainers are an ingenuitive bunch, and winemakers in the … [Read more...]
There are a handful of wines that are simply given a bad name, many of them fortified. Marsala, for example, has been demonized to the point where many people believe it only has a place in the kitchen and not in a glass. Another wine that sometimes gets met with a turned up nose is Sauternes. A French sweet wine from the Graves area of Bordeaux, Sauternes is often viewed by those who “don’t like sweet wines” as a complete and utter waste of time -- it seems like no one is drinking it anymore. … [Read more...]
Most wine lovers can remember back to the first time they really “got it.” Perhaps it was their first bottle of carefully produced Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, or their entry level experience with dry Riesling. Regardless of the wine, the “aha!” moment most likely had much to do with the flavors and aromas jumping out of the glass. Clearly, these can change dramatically depending upon grape variety, style, barrel usage and a handful of other factors. In most cases, however, the same … [Read more...]
Sipping on margaritas while digging your toes into the sandy beaches of Puerto Vallarta, enjoying the vibrant nightlife of Acapulco, snorkeling in the clear waters of lagoons, or even exploring the ruins of the Aztecs; all activities that one may envision when thinking about traveling to Mexico. However, there’s a buzz from many a writer in Southern California calling Baja California the next Napa Valley. Did you know that Mexico has been making wine for just as long as the United States? … [Read more...]
