The Rhône is a region in South East France, along the Rhône river. The majority of the wines are red blends, based on Grenache and Syrah, though there are also great white wines made of Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne. The Rhône region is split into the Southern and Northern Rhône — with distinct differences between…
Author: couch2rose
Week 3: Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most divisive white wines: are you team butter or team crisp apple? When I was first starting to drink wine, I heard about the “buttery” taste of Chardonnay and I could taste nothing else for years. Through all my wine classes, I would dread the Chardonnay tastings, not wanting to…
Blanc de Blanc and Blanc de Noir
Grapes are a clear example that color is only skin deep and yet creates lasting preconceptions. All grape juice is light (white) in color and it is only from pressing the skins of the grapes with the juice do you change the color of the juice to be red, pink, or orange. So, while red…
Amarone
What’s the one wine I always reference when someone asks for an interesting wine pick from my studies? Amarone. Amarone is one of the kings of Italian wine – showcasing the best of winemaking and producing a bold, age-worthy, wine that is unforgettable. Fitting for this deep and romantic wine, Amarone comes from Verona –…
Week 3: Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is my go-to white wine when at a bar or restaurant. It’s incredibly variable but always reliable – read on to learn more. HistorySauvignon Blanc, meaning “Wild White,” is a white grape and a parent to Cabernet Sauvignon. It likely originated in the South of France and is now one of the most planted…
Week 3: Riesling
When I first drank Riesling, I thought of it as a sweet wine, but did you know that Riesling can also be dry? Riesling is known as a highly acidic, fruity, and aromatic white wine. Let’s dive into some of the basics: History/BackgroundLikely originating from Germany and now Germany’s most planted white grape, Riesling has…
Natural Wine
Isn’t all wine “Natural”? Yes and no. Wine is a natural product made from grapes and fermented with yeast, but not all wine is considered a “Natural” wine. The Natural Wine movement is similar (and connected to) the Biodynamic Wine movement in that both are relatively recent trends in terms of branding, but are ancient …
Week 3: Pinot Grigio
Week 3 of Wine Tasting is devoted to learning about white wine. There are hundreds of grape varietals, but let’s dig in to Pinot Grigio, also known as Pinot Gris, a very light, white wine: HistoryPinot Gris grapes were originally grown in Burgundy, France. Around the 1300, they were brought to Switzerland and then into…
Tasting Week 2: Tasting Notes
Isn’t it impressive (or annoying) when someone buys a wine because 2015 was a great vintage of Bordeaux ? Likely, that person knows that 2015 was a good vintage, and even what Bordeaux is, because they’ve been taking notes on wine for years and following the industry. However, for even the more basic questions –…
Tasting Week 2: Spitting
I didn’t spit when tasting wine until I entered a formal Wine Studies program. Spitting wine just seemed to be the opposite of my goal. The point of wine is to drink it, right? When I’m drinking wine in general, my intension is to drink it. I may spend the first few moments tasting the…
Couch2Rosé 