Ask the Somm: Why Is There Sediment in My Wine?
Sediment in Wine: What It Is, Why It Happens, and Why It’s Actually a Good Thing Ever poured a bottle of wine and noticed something unexpected on the cork or at the bottom of your glass? Maybe a few tiny crystals or a bit of gritty residue? You’re not alone, and the good news is, […]
How to Properly Open and Enjoy Aged Wines: Expert Tips
Older wines can offer complex aromas, nuanced flavors, and a unique drinking experience. But they also require a bit more care and technique to ensure they’re enjoyed at their best. Here’s your expert guide to handling, opening, and serving aged wines with confidence. What to Expect from Older Vintages Aged wines develop unique characteristics that […]
Wine Preservation Methods: The Best Ways to Keep A Bottle of Wine Fresh After Opening
So, you’ve uncorked a favorite bottle of wine and enjoyed a glass or two, but now you’re left wondering how to keep the rest fresh. Preserving an opened bottle of wine can be a bit of a challenge, but with the right wine preservation techniques, you can enjoy your wine for days, even weeks, to […]
Debunking Common Wine Myths
Let’s talk about common wine myths. Wine often carries an air of mystery that adds to its allure. There’s something enchanting about the complex aromas and attributes that we can find in wine. These qualities can captivate our senses, even when they’re difficult to describe! But not all mysteries in the world of wine are […]
A Guide to Storing & Enjoying Ageable Red Wines
As wine enthusiasts, we understand that there are wines meant to be enjoyed young and fresh, and then there are those special bottles, like Cabernet Sauvignon, that deserve the patience of aging. While many of us appreciate the instant gratification of uncorking a bottle and savoring its flavors, there’s a unique charm in the transformation […]
Farming for the Future
Your Guide to Understanding Conventional, Sustainable, Organic, & Biodynamic Viticulture “Great wines are grown, not made.” Statements like the above are a common refrain among environmentally-conscious producers, but what do they actually mean? As with other types of farming, grape growing, or viticulture, can take many different forms. In this post, we’ll break down the […]
How to Taste Wine, Part 3: Sip
Part 3 – Sip: Evaluating the Flavors and Structure of Wine Finally, we’re on to the fun part and the final “S”- Sip! As wine lovers, we can all agree that wine is delicious, and I’ll be the first to admit that wine can be quite enjoyable without analyzing its aromas, flavors, and structure. Sometimes […]
How to Taste Wine, Part 2: Swirl & Smell
Now that we’ve learned about the first “S”, Sight, and what a wine’s appearance can tell you, it’s time to move on to the next two steps, Swirl and Smell. This post is all about the aromas in wine – where they come from, how to describe them, and what they indicate about the wine […]
How to Taste Wine: The Step-by-Step Guide to Understand Your Palate and Taste Like a Pro
“I know what I like, I just don’t know how to describe it.” Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. You know your own wine preferences, but it seems like every time you step into a tasting room, you’re bombarded with wine descriptions and tasting notes that seem completely foreign. Tobacco? Leather? […]
Champagne Lifestyle
Champagne…the word is familiar to all, but often generates confusion. Many different types of bubbly wine are produced throughout the world: Prosecco, Cava, Sparkling Wine, Sekt, Espumante, etc. But are these the same as Champagne? And then there are the different styles which lead to wine descriptions that seem almost comical. For example, this […]