In his book, ‘Making Sense of Wine,” writer Matt Kramer demolished many of the myths which surround wine, ideas that have a long tradition and which most of us still observe. If you can find a copy of this valuable …
Read MoreUmani Ronchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi CaSal di Serra 1997
From the Marche along the eastern coast of Italy, bordering the Adriadic sea, lies the city of Osimo and the Umani Ronchi Winery. The best way to picture it is the “upper calf” of the Italian boot. This winery, year …
Read MorePierre Sparr Pinot Gris Carte d’ Or, Alcsace, France 1998
Man I love this kind of wine. Forward, intense, mouth filling, playful and affordable. Perfect for the fare of the Holiday season to come. Aromas of very sweet fruit, almost candied leaning toward apricot, tropical fruit, violets and candied pear. …
Read MoreThe Super Tuscan phenomenon
It may seem paradoxical that Tuscany, a region once stifled by viticultural traditions dating back three millennia to the Etruscans, is today acclaimed by wine aficionados around the world for the revolutionary reds known as “Super Tuscans.” That term came …
Read MoreWine types and varietals
Aperitifs – Aperitifs, or appetizer wines, are generally served before meals. Champagne and sherries are traditional aperitifs, and light white wine is also appropriate. Barbera – Barbera is a red wine grape found primarily in Italy’s Piedmont region. It produces …
Read MoreAcacia’s Path to Compelling Pinot Noir
The reputation Pinot Noir suffers for its fickle behavior has supported the prevailing wisdom among winemakers that deprivation in the vineyard followed by gentleness in the cellar results in a delicate, well-balanced wine. Acacia respects these Burgundian traditions but diverges …
Read MoreSpirit vs Politics of the AVA
In the March/April 2001 issue of the Chalone Wine Journal, Winemaker Dan Karlsen presented a comprehensive explanation of the abstract concept of terroir, using Chalone Vineyard as an intimate and concrete example to elucidate the complexity of the concept. If …
Read MoreThe Cork’s Taint and Other Tales of the Evolution of Wine Areas
Neolithic man gave the world winemaking. Not only the domestication of the grapevine, but also the development of ceramics permitted him to take this propitious step. Wine, the result of ripe grapes spontaneously fermenting, is a natural product that occurs …
Read MoreSexy Wine Labels
Once, not too long ago, young Americans enjoyed gazing on the ample and very visible bosom of the White Rock lady, a curvaceous nymph on a soda bottle. Alas, they’ve painted her over. But for sheer sexiness today, it would …
Read MoreProtected: Meet the man behind the top winery in the Marche
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read More