Albariño Wine Guide
Honest confession time. Albariño is the one wine that I always have challenges with on blind tasting exams. Albariño (al-bah-reen-yo) is a refreshing, light-bodied white Spanish wine from the northwestern corner of Spain in the region of Rias Baixas, Galicia. Albariño wines showcase lemon zest, apricot, melon, grapefruit, white peach, nectarine, and honeysuckle. You may […]
What’s Vermentino? Everything You Wanted to Know About Vermentino Wine
Vermentino (pronounced vur-men-tee-no) I recently enjoyed a Vermentino as an afternoon aperitif ahead of a large family meal. Our little bottle of Vermentino hailed from Napa, of all places, which was unexpected. Vermentino, a thin-skinned Italian white grape, is grown in Sardinia, Liguria, Corsica, and Provence (known as Rolle). It shares a high-acid style with […]
Is Malbec the Same as Cabernet Franc? Malbec vs Cabernet Franc
Characteristics Malbec Cabernet Franc Hue Deep purple to black Ruby red to deep purple Color Red to black Red Aromas Blue fruits, plum, cocoa Red berries, violets, peppery Tannins Medium to Medium +, smooth Firm, grippy Acid Moderate Moderate to high Alcohol (%) 13-15% 12-15% Body Medium to full Medium to full Intensity Pronounced Moderate […]
Malbec Wine: A Comprehensive Guide
Everyone loves the story of an underdog. An endurance trial to come back against all odds, winning favor and acclaim. Malbec (pronounced Mal-beck) is the underdog of wine. Once a widely-planted grape throughout France, this grape suffered catastrophic losses in the mid-20th century due to frost damage and was left by the wayside. But across […]
What Does Vintage Mean on Wine?
If you hang around wine people long enough, you’re bound to hear a wide range of strange new vocabulary bandied about: sur lee, grippy tannins, and legs. One noteworthy word is vintage, which technically refers to a number. While numerically expressed as a year, the vintage actually refers to the growing conditions over an entire […]
Sediment in White Wine and What to Do About It
White wine can throw sediment that looks like glass or crystals. Tartrate crystals come from grapes, are 100% natural, and are completely harmless. Here’s how to deal with them.
Traditional Red Winemaking: What Happens to Red Wine Grapes on Harvest Day?
What – exactly – happens to red grapes on the day of harvest? Here’s a rundown of the quick journey from vine to wine for red wine grapes.
What Is Phylloxera And Why Is It Important?
At some point in everyone’s wine journey, they run into cryptic references of phylloxera. What is it and why is it such a big deal? Phylloxera is an aphid-like insect (a louse) that feeds on grapevine roots, killing the grapevine. The insect traveled from Eastern North America to Europe, devastating vineyards in the late 1800s. […]
How Do they Decide What Wine Grapes to Plant?
Have you ever wondered how a winegrower decides to plant one grape variety over another? Some choices Mother Nature drives, but there’s actually a lot more behind deciding what grapes to plant in a new vineyard. Deciding what type of grape to plant where involves a complicated heuristic that takes into account environmental and non-environmental […]
When Grapevines Get Sick: Vineyard Fungal Diseases
Even grapevines get sick, and fungal diseases are a common issue. Check out these vineyard maladies.