Are Wine Grapes Edible?
Not only are wine grapes edible, but tasting wine grapes is actually one way that winemakers decide when to harvest. Wine grapes are much smaller, much softer, and much sweeter than table grapes – and you’d be surprised by the size of their large seeds. If you ever get the chance to try fresh wine grapes, go ahead and give them a munch.
What Is Barossa Wine?
Australia’s Barossa zone is known for rich, powerful Shiraz wines that account for 50% of the region’s plantings, as well as elegant Rieslings grown higher up in the Eden Valley. Check out Barossa’s classic offerings.
How to Tell If Wine Is Sweet (Before You Buy)
New wine drinkers are often inducted into the world of vino via sweet wine. This begs the question: How do you know if a wine is sweet? Read the label for terms like ‘off-dry’ or a sweetness scale. Alcohol levels below 11% ABV indicate some sugar. Sweetness is measured in g/l (grams of sugar per […]
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.
How to Pair Champagne and Chocolate
Chocolate and bubbly may seem like a brilliant combo, but more often than not your pairing will end up like an ill-fated blind date in your mouth, leaving you thinking: THAT didn’t work out! But if you’re looking to splurge on a little luxury, take a quick moment to learn about how to painlessly pair […]
5 Fun Chardonnay Facts
Chardonnay holds a prized place in Burgundy. But what other secrets does it hold? Here are five fun Chardonnay facts for your next trivia night.
What Is So Special about Gamay and Beaujolais Nouveau?
The 3rd Thursday in November marks a time of drunken revelry in honor of the season’s first wines released to market – Beaujolais Nouveau! Check out this quirky backstory of the Gamay grape.
Why Does My Wine Taste Like Butter?
If you’ve ever taken a sip of wine and thought that it tasted like butter, you’re not imagining things! It does! The buttery flavors and aromas in wine come from a winemaking process called malolactic conversion. The official name for the buttery flavor is diacetyl. Bacteria are responsible for malolactic conversion. Winemakers will choose whether […]
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. […]
When Grapevines Get Sick: Vineyard Fungal Diseases
Even grapevines get sick, and fungal diseases are a common issue. Check out these vineyard maladies.