Hooray for Merlot! Frankly, I never understood why Paul Giamatti maligned Merlot in the film “Sideways.” Even before I was seriously into wine, I loved the plummy, chocolate aromas and smooth, round mouthfeel of this classic French grape. Now that I live in the Pacific time zone, I’m hoping to visit wineries and vineyards up […]
Kicking off #MerlotMe in the Pacific time zone (#WinePW) Read More »
Remember festivals? I haven’t been to a festival or outdoor celebration since the pandemic started. Frankly, there’s been little to celebrate lately. All the more reason to embrace Eu deVIN sărbătoare – Moldovan for “My Wine Day,” the 2020 version of Moldova’s National Wine Day. What? Moldova? Yes, in 2016, this small East European country
Celebrating ‘My Wine Day’ and the little country that could (#WorldWineTravel) Read More »
Are volcanic soils better than others for growing wine grapes? Maybe you’ve heard or read they are. Not necessarily, but some volcanic soils are definitely good for vines and wines. Here’s why: Volcanic soils are porous. High draining capacity allows vines to dig deep for nutrients while naturally controlling vigor and reducing yields. Volcanic soils
Benanti – Capturing the soul of Mount Etna wine (#Italian FWT) Read More »
“This one is savory,” says Carol as she pulls down a 2016 Alain Jaume Côtes du Rhône from the shelf. I’m in her wine shop looking for a 2016, a particularly good year in the Rhône region of France. Carol has a half dozen or more Côtes du Rhône wines from this same vintage. “I
Leaning Savory with a 2016 Alain Jaume Côtes du Rhône (#Winophiles) Read More »
In an ideal world, wine would be made from perfectly ripe grapes picked under optimum conditions –– warm, sunny days and cool nights. It would never rain during harvest or get too hot or too cold. Ha! If only that rosy scenario were true 100% of the time. In reality, grapes may lack the sweetness
Clark Smith crafts ‘postmodern’ wines for the discerning consumer Read More »
