Wine
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A 4-Step Checklist to Assess the Quality of Wine
When tasting any wine, whether formally or just for your own pleasure, there are three main components you should examine: appearance, nose and palate. You might even use terms like ‘legs’ (an indication of alcohol content), or recite a laundry list of fruit, spice or savory aromas that can be detected on the nose…
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In Sparkling Memory: A Toast to the Queen’s Bubbly
The special edition English Sparkling Wine released earlier this year in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee sold out rapidly, weeks before the nation’s four-day fête in June honoring Her Majesty’s seven-decade reign, which sadly came to an end September 8, 2022. Retailed through the Royal Collection Trust (the charitable arm of the…
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8 International Grenaches Perfect for Fall
Whether you call it Grenache, Grenache Noir, Garnacha, or one of the many other names this grape variety goes by, Grenache is a wine grape worth knowing. Traditionally grown in northern Spain where it is still known as Garnacha, the variety spread to southern France centuries ago and is now grown throughout the world.…
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What Does ‘Veraison’ Mean in Wine?
Whether it’s Pinot Grigio or Cabernet Sauvignon, all wine grapes start out green and hard. Veraison is a stage in the growing process when the grape begins to soften and change color on the vine, indicating the onset of ripening. Pronounced ver-Ray-zon, it’s both a physical and chemical transformation. It’s also a pretty conspicuous…
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6 Wine Companies That Got Their Start on Shark Tank
The wine world is constantly evolving. As trends change, new leaders emerge with innovations that keep the industry fresh, a little funky and wildly interesting. A few fortunate entrepreneurs get their start on Shark Tank, a TV show where people pitch ideas to a panel of investors. If all goes well, the start-up receives the…
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The World’s Oldest Grape-Bearing Vine Has Seen Centuries of Empires and Invasions
In the northeastern corner of Slovenia, you’ll find the oldest grape-bearing vine in the world, which has grown for over 400 years on the side of a house in Maribor, some 15 miles from the Austrian border. The vine was planted sometime in the late 16th century during the turmoil of recurring invasions from the…
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Change in Napa Valley Restores Hope for Small Family Farms
When people think of the Napa Valley, they often think of the big, the grand, the luxurious, and the over-the-top. But there remain small family farms in the famous region, and they finally got a lifeline this past March. After four years of effort, the Micro-Winery Ordinance was unanimously passed, paving the way for very…
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These 7 Resorts Pair Horseback Riding and Wine Tasting Perfectly!
From the medieval monks who used draft horses to clear vineyards in Burgundy to the horse culture of Spain’s Jerez de la Frontera, celebrated annually during Feria del Caballo, horses and wine have long held a deep connection. Today, serious wine programs and riding opportunities abound at resorts across North America. Guests can spend the day…
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4 Easy, No-Cook Summer Meals with Classic Wine Pairings
There comes the point in summer when it’s so hot we barely want to cook. But our desire to spend time with friends outweighs that instinct, so we invite them over anyway. These easy-to-prepare, no-cook recipes can be served as an appetizer or as a main course paired with chilled summer-ready wines. Illustration by Natalia…
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Pain and Pleasure: The 2021 Bordeaux en Primeur
Bordeaux’s 2021 vintage is not likely to feature among the greats of all time. It breaks the spell of the trilogy of 2018, 2019, and 2020. It is lighter and fresher than those three vintages and will probably mature more quickly. The 2021s are now being sold en primeur as futures. The 2021 vintage was…