12 WSET Diploma Test Taking Strategies: Unit 3

If you’re a WSET Diploma student, you know that the Unit 3 Exam, Wines of the World, is a beast of a test. As soon as I walked out of the exam room, I wrote down EXACTLY what I would have done differently to better prepare myself. While there’s no substitute for actually knowing the […]

What Does Old Wine Smell Like?

Old wine will smell like dried fruit instead of fresh fruit and have an intoxicating mix of savory qualities, like tobacco, jerky, and balsamic vinegar. Here’s what you need to know!

Why Do Wine Bottles Use Wax?

I love getting wax-dipped wine bottles! They symbolize a rich tradition of bottling and shipping. Historically, wax protected corks from rodents in the wine cellar. Today, wine has wax caps for four reasons: 1) wax protects corks from mold that can taint wine, 2) wax adds a barrier to prevent air entering, 3) wax shields […]

Exploring Priorat Red Wines

Tucked away in the northeast corner of Spain, Priorat boasts an ancient wine-growing culture rooted in Catalunya’s history.  Priorat red wine blends use Garnacha Tinta and Samsó (Cariñena), producing high alcohol, deep, rich red wines with red fruit, black fruit, and spice. Priorat employs the “Els Noms de la Terra” classification system, featuring five wine […]

Rioja Wine History: Riscal and Murrieta

If ever there were a silver lining to war, good wine would be a contender. The year it all started: 1833. King Ferdinand the VII of Spain was very dead. He left behind a liberal legacy with a nascent Constitutional Monarchy, along with a widow, Queen Maria Cristina, and an infant daughter, Queen Isabella II.  Unfortunately, no male heirs.