Taking the world one wine at a time.
According to The Guardian online, a celebrated Spanish chef claims to have invented a wine bottle that captures sediment. Martín Berasategui, (three Michelin star chef), has added a chamber to the bottle to the bottom of the bottle ensuring that no sediment reaches your glass when poured. Berasategui also claims the shape of the bottle could do away with decanting. "The bottle itself acts as a decanter thanks to its special shape," Berasategui wrote…
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Malolactic Fermentation is a secondary fermentation in the winemaking process which converts harsh malic acid (think bitter green apples) into softer lactic acid (think cream). To use Chardonnay as an example; putting the wine through Malolactic Fermentation will convert a wine with tart Granny Smith apple acidity into a wine with softer, creamy and buttery flavors. The vast majority of red wines and a large number of whites go through Malolactic Fermentation to enhance their…
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Alsace Grand Cru is a selected site in the Alsace AOC region of North-Eastern France.For wines to qualify for Grand Cru status, the yield of the vineyards have to be much lower than regular Alsace vineyards with wines only coming from a single named plot of land, of which must then be listed on the label. Regulations also govern the density of vine plantings, distance between rows, height of vegetation and the final alcohol content…
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Syrah / Shiraz is a dark black grape with a very thick skin, and depending on the soil and climate the flavors and tones will change greatly, creating distinct wines between their regions of origin. It’s worth noting that the vast majority of the world’s plantings of Syrah are located in France, primarily in the Rhone region which extensive DNA testing concluded is where the grape originated. Syrah and Shiraz are used interchangeably around the…
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Wine is already a complicated enough topic, and there is a good amount of lingo thrown around. One of the key terms that can confuse people is old world and new world. The difference between old world and new world wines, on the surface is fairly straightforward (with a lot of generalizations), but as you get a little deeper into the topic it can get more complex. Old World Wines Places like France, Austria, Germany,…
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There are a couple of things you should know about me before I start this article: firstly I actually don’t mind a little DIY, I can’t say I’m always that good at it, but I do like a challenge! Secondly if there a shortcut to be found, I’ll normally find it! Knowing all of that we can now continue…
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Along the same lines as sulfites, tartrates are another substance found in wine that have been given a bad rap by wine drinkers! As the pictures above show, tartrates are small crystal-like substances and are often mistakenly assumed by consumers as a fault with the wine, thought to be sediment, sugar or even shards of glass. Ask any Sommelier in a restaurant; they should be able to give you at least a few accounts of…
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At the bottom of most wine bottles, you’ll find an indentation which if you want to get technical is called a "punt". There are many theories on the origin / purpose of the punt. The most common (and most likely) explanation, is that back in the day when wine bottles were hand blown, the bottom of the bottle would be left with a sharp point, or "pontil mark". Therefore many a homeowner would be…
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The holiday season and colder weather always reminds me of Mulled Wine. Its history can be traced back to Medieval Europe where when wine went bad, it was often sweetened with honey or sugar, and flavored with spices to make it consumable again. With Europe being so cold in the winter, it also served the purpose of getting you drunk whilst keeping you warm! In Sweden it’s known by Gløg, in Finland it’s Glögi…
Read MoreA good little video showcasing the Incognito wines from Michael David Winery.
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Jason Sadler wears t-shirts for a living, no seriously he does! Today is my featured day and he’ll be posting photos, videos and even playing Pictionary for prizes, so make sure you check out his website at iwearyourshirt.com
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With today being #Zinfandel Day on Twitter, I thought it only appropriate that I brush up on my Zinfandel synonyms! Here we go: Crljenak Kaštelanski, Gioia Del Colle, Morellone, Plavac Veliki, Primaticcio, Primativo, Primitivo, Primitivo Di Gioia, Primitivo Nero, Uva Della Pergola, Uva Di Corato, Black St. Peters, Zenfendal, Zinfardel, Zinfindal, Taranto, Zeinfandall, Zinfardell, Zinfindel, Zinfandal. Try saying all those after drinking a bottle of Earthquake!
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