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Wine Blends: The Treasures of the Wine World
Why they are necessary and important There is a common misconception among wine consumers that if their wine is a blend of different grape varieties, then it is of inferior quality, a hybrid, a mere “muggle” wine! This cannot be further from the truth. In fact, the...
Everything You Need to Know About Aligoté: A Quick Guide
Aligoté is a neutral, high acid, white grape variety hailing from Burgundy, France. If you thought Burgundy whites were only made with Chardonnay, that is almost true ...Aligoté is the exception (only accounting for 6% of plantings). It is considered "the other white...
Grape vs Winemaker: Where Does One Start and the Other Begin?
Picture this: You’ve just poured yourself two glasses of Cabernet (what a treat!), one from the Margaret River in Australia and the other from Napa Valley in California. You swirl both glasses and really get your nose in there. You sip each and note their differences....
Assessing the Champagne Glass: All you need to know about the coupe the flute and the tulip
Champagne has always been synonymous with festivities, celebrations, and toasts. Recently, however, it is being regarded as so much more than that: a well-crafted sparkling wine to be enjoyed, analyzed and assessed, because sparkling wine, above all else,...
All You Need to Know About Garganega: A Quick Guide
Garganega (pronounced gar- GAN- egg-uh) is a vigorous, thick-skinned, late-ripening white wine grape almost exclusively found in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Garganega wines are best enjoyed when consumed while young and fresh. Garganega is the primary grape...
All You Need to Know About Aglianico: A Quick Guide
Aglianico is a black grape native to Southern Italy. The variety is most famous for the wines it produces in the region of Campania and Basilicata. Wines made from the Aglianico grape were virtually unknown to much of the world just 25 years ago. They have made great...
All You Need to Know About Pinotage: A Quick Guide
Pinotage is South Africa’s flagship red varietal, specifically in Stellenbosch along the Western Cape. A cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir, Pinotage is favored for its balance of dark fruit, spicy, and meaty flavors. The intentions for breeding Pinotage were pure....
The Rise of Mindful Drinking and What It Means for the Wine Industry
Anyone paying attention to the alcohol industry is aware of the growing rise in non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages. First, there was Dry January, then Sober October, and many are making the change to a permanent fixture in their routine. So, what does that mean...
I failed my WSET Diploma unit. Now what?
How it felt, what I considered, and what I did the second time around.
All You Need to Know About Picpoul: A Quick Guide
Picpoul, also known as Picquepol Blanc, is a thin-skinned white wine varietal found mainly in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France, where it's name is used in the name of the region Picpoul de Pinet! Translated from “stings the lip,” Picpoul is prized...
The Many Styles of Tokaji
I’m a big fan of sweet wines made from noble rot or botrytis mold. Complex and unique (they can’t be made every year), a recent trip to Budapest sparked my desire to dive into Hungary's Tokaji wines. Curious about tasting the range of the region beyond the Tokaji...
All You Need to Know About Vermentino: A Quick Guide
Vermentino is a thin-skinned, early-budding, late-ripening grape that thrives in a warm Mediterranean climate. This variety grows primarily in Sardinia, Italy, producing a unique, refreshing dry white wine with citrus aromas of lemon and lime, along with green apple...
