Out of your comfort zone Did you know there are other good white wines - other than Chardonnay & Sauvignon? I like to challenge my wine class members taking them out of their white wine comfort zone, and down the rabbit hole of geeky white wines. Chardonnay and...
Serve only the best for Mom. Mother’s Day is Sunday and the time for mimosas and Bloody Marys has arrived. While there are many store-bought mixes, give Mom the best! Make it from scratch. There are many options to purchase for the perfect cocktail that hits all five...
A five-minute rant about Merlot in the 2004 film “Sideways” changed the trajectory of wine in the United States. While Cabernet Sauvignon was king, Merlot was the most widely planted grape on the West Coast. Many wineries decided to chase the trend of planting Merlot,...
The most effective way to appreciate wine is to learn how to taste like the professionals. The more knowledge you have about wine styles, climate, varietals and winemaking techniques, the more you will be able to detect during the tasting. Benefits of “tasting” wine...
It is finally that time of year to grab a few bottles of rosé, sit on the patio and watch the world go by. Crisp and refreshing, rosé is great to drink by itself after cutting the grass and also pairs well with food. It can be made from any red grape in a variety of...
Do first impressions matter? Absolutely! Like with everything, first impressions matter. If you were served a hazy, tawny, shaded glass of wine when you ordered a Sauvignon Blanc, you would be completely turned off! And rightfully so. Appearance The first thing we...
I hear many people say they like sweet wine. Instead of assuming what they are drinking, it prompts me to ask more questions to figure out what they like about the so-called “sweet wine” they are drinking – fruitiness or sweetness. What is sweetness? Sweetness...
What Can Tasting Wine Teach Us about Life? The quick answer: More than you think! Let me ask you a question: have you ever thought about the difference between drinking wine and tasting wine? They are not the same. Drinking Wine Image Courtesy: Canva When drinking...
Sugar is at the heart of what makes winemaking possible but is often misunderstood. What is residual sugar? Alcoholic fermentation is the critical process that turns grape juice into wine. During this process, the yeast feed on the sugar which converts to alcohol. The...
What is “orange wine”? First of all, it’s not made from oranges. Skin-contact wine Sometimes referred to as “skin-contact wine”, it is a rare white wine made using an ancient winemaking method that just might blow your mind. Your typical white wine … is made from...