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 –…

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 …

Biodynamic Wine

What does it mean to drink on an Fruit Day or Root Day ? Biodynamic wines combine a mix of sustainable agriculture practices – similar to organic growing – with a bit of mysticism. Biodynamic farming was first coined in the 1920’s by Austrian philosopher Rudolph Steiner, but has roots (pun intended) that harken back…

Wine History: Widow Clicquot

The Widow Clicquot, Veuve Clicquot (Veuve is “Widow” in French), built a Champagne empire and transformed the industry. Barbe-Nicole Clicquot (née Ponsardin) was born on December 16, 1777. She married François Clicquot and together they started a Champagne house. François soon died, but instead of transferring the business to others, Barbe-Nicole started running it and…