Chances are pretty good that since you are reading this blog, you like Chardonnay. I’m guessing the same would hold true for Merlot. They may not be your favorite white or red wine, but you likely wouldn’t turn them down…
Blog Archives
Hooray! International Malbec Day Is Today!
Twenty years ago, you rarely saw Malbec on a restaurant wine list, let alone on a supermarket wine shelf. Your best bet for encountering it would have been to visit a wine shop, but even then, it likely would have…
Tagged with: International Malbec Day, Malbec, Malbec history, Malbec with food
Posted in Wine in the Glass
Posted in Wine in the Glass
To Decant or Not To Decant? That Is the Question
When I was living in Chicago during the first 14 years of the new millennium, I had a chance to visit Charlie Trotter’s just once before the famous restaurant was shut down by its infamous namesake owner. One reason I…
Posted in Wine in the Glass
The Science of Wine Tasting
There is a great deal of science that goes into the making of wine. Of course, it begins in the vineyard with the choice of rootstocks, grafting, training and trellising, canopy management, pruning methods, growth regulators, frost protection and so…
Tagged with: science of wine tasting, sight/smell/taste of wine
Posted in Wine Buzz, Wine in the Glass
Posted in Wine Buzz, Wine in the Glass
Wine Perception: The Differences Between Flavor and Taste
As a writer, one thing you learn, above all else, is that words matter. Early in my career, I turned in a story that included the sentence, “Over 1,500 people were in attendance.” The editor circled the word “over” and…
Help! Which Wines Do I Serve at What Temperatures?
Have you ever been standing in line at Starbucks (or your preferred coffee house) and heard someone order their latte at 180 degrees? They’re not showing off. There’s actually a good reason for it. Most hot coffee drinks are prepared…
Your Guide to the King: Cabernet Sauvignon
Ever since Prince William got together with Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry popped the question to Meghan Markle, there has been renewed affection for British royalty. It’s part of a cycle that has seen the British throne both revered and…
Are You a Beer Drinker? You’ll Love These Wines
Let’s be clear about one thing: Beer lovers can be every bit as “snobby” as wine lovers. And I mean “snobby” in a good way. It’s really a perception of others. Perhaps a better word would be: aficionados. Simply put,…
6 Toasts — 3 Heartfelt and 3 Hilarious — for New Year’s Eve
More sparkling wine is sold during the month of December than in any other month. The reason makes perfect sense: Millions of people welcome in the New Year with a toast, and more often than not, that toast is made…
Tagged with: champagne, New Year’s Eve toasts, Prosecco, sparkling wine
Posted in Wine Buzz, Wine in the Glass
Posted in Wine Buzz, Wine in the Glass
Aroma or Flavor: Which Is More Important?
One of the questions I’m often asked when presenting wine education courses has to do with the ritual of swirling wine in the glass. The question asked is: Why? The answer to that question is fairly simple, but it leads…
