Somme Things I Think About: Why do we swirl wine?
Why do we swirl wine? Everyone does it – people at restaurants, wine bars, tasting rooms -even the Sommelier at that fancy restaurant does it.We all know it makes you look like you know what you are...
View ArticleQ&A: What are Tartrates
Q: What are tartrates in wine? A. The definition of a tartrate (according to dictionary.com) is, “a salt or ester of tartaric acid.” But in the wine world, we know tartrates as “those little pieces at...
View ArticleHow Madeira fueled the American Revolution
Jefferson toasted, Hancock smuggled, and Washington greeted voters with a healthy glass of Madeira. But how did this tiny island beverage come to be colonial America’s top wine? Why, the perfect...
View ArticleSomme Things I Think About: Which Sherry is right for you?
Sherry is making a huge comeback in the wine world, both as a base in cocktails and as an amazing pairing for savory foods. Although typically considered a wine best enjoyed with desserts and dogged as...
View ArticleQ&A: What is Carbonic Maceration
Q: What is Carbonic Maceration? A: Well, it’s a chemical process, so stay with me. Carbonic Maceration is the process of fermenting grapes in an anaerobic environment rather than an aerobic one,...
View ArticleA Balanced Bookshelf: Recommended Reading for Every Wine Lover
Every wine lover, from the novice drinker to the seasoned professional, knows that the world of wine can be an intimidating one. Between regions, grape varieties, science, history, and more, there is a...
View ArticleWhen Does Vintage Matter Most?
What is Vintage Anyway? A wine’s vintage is simply the calendar year that the grapes were grown and harvested. Neatly tagged on bottle labels, the vintage year represents one clue, among many, as to...
View ArticleAre Organic Wines really Organic?
As wine consumers, we have learned to ask a lot of questions about what we are drinking. What exactly is in this bottle? Are pesticides or herbicides sprayed on the grapes used to make this wine? Is...
View ArticleWashington Wine
Brimming with a pioneer spirit, Washington state is not just host to some of our country’s biggest success stories like Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, and Costco, it has actually become America’s second...
View ArticleThe Albariño of Rías Baixas
As summer approaches, our minds dream up our next vacations; they take us to the café-lined streets of Paris, the sunny beaches of Bali, the snowy mountains of Mendoza… For those of us who can’t...
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