Sometimes wine is described as complex due to eye, nose, and palate experiences, but calling Amarone complex is like calling Einstein smart! Producing Amarone – from the terroir through the long finish is a multifaceted process and adventure that embraces tradition, science, culture, economics, and market demand. OOPS Folklore suggests that Amarone was produced by chance and […]
Slow Wine: What Is It? Should I Care?
The germ of an idea about slow wine started in 1982 when Carlo Petrina, an Italian political activist, author, and founder of the international Slow Food Movement, met with a few friends. Born in Bra, his skillset was proper when he and his colleagues formed the Friends of Barolo Association. The group produced a catalog […]
Wines of South Africa Struggle to Be Globally Relevant
Approximately 7 years ago (2016), South African wines were removed from the wine shops in Nordic countries. The reason? South African workers in the wine sector were fighting against poor working conditions for farm workers at several vineyards in the country and the wine retailers were supporting their actions. According to the Human Rights Watch (HRW), […]
3000+ Years of Winemaking: Learning Takes Time
Republic of Georgia: History Creates a Unique Wine Profile
Do you happen to know what Marco Polo, Alexander Dumas, Anton Chekhov, and John Steinbeck all have in common? They all visited the Republic of Georgia and were so impressed with the distinctive wines (among other unique attributes) that when they returned home, they wrote about them. Georgia Oozes History If you live in Georgia, you are most likely […]
Spirits Fuel the Economy
Are you really interested in knowing about wines and spirits? Do you care who is drinking what, where, and when? Wine and Spirits: Economic Engine If you do – then you must have been spending a few days at Vinexpo/Drinks America (Javits, NYC). If you missed this event, immediately put it on your to-do list […]
Port: A Delicious Path to Good Health
Port is a fortified dessert wine with a sweet and pleasant flavor produced almost exclusively in the Douhro Valley of Portugal. What is Port Wine The soil and grapes combined with the skillset of the Oporto vintners in blending, produce wines of unique character with distinctive flavors. The region is strictly controlled by Portuguese law. Red Port […]
A Genuine Winemaker Discovered in Istria, Croatia
I was getting discouraged by the sameness of new wine releases… the rush to score a high Parker score removed the winemaker from the wine. Then, I had the good fortune to attend a Croatia wine event in Manhattan. I had no expectations and purposefully did not read wine reviews before attending the program. I […]
Importance of Wine? Win/Win
Are you really interested in knowing about wines and spirits? Do you care who is drinking what, where, and when? America (Javits, NYC). If you missed this event, immediately put it on your to-do list for 2024. I am not alone in applauding this impressive program. I was able to sip my way through wines/spirits presented by […]
Wine: Intrinsic & Extrinsic Experiences Create the Memory
The wine purchase decision is more complex than the choice for many other products, with taste being a dominating factor. Because almost all purchase situations do not include the opportunity to taste wines before buying, this is a risk that concerns consumer the most, so they use information from the bottle and label as clues […]