From the early plantings of the Romans in pre-Christian times through the evolution into a favored sparkling wine in the 17th century, Champagne was subjected to political and winemaking upheaval. Last week we left the region in the heady experimental
Read MoreAh, Champagne. . . Historically referred to as the wine of kings and the king of wines, Champagne has a storied and checkered past, often as much by happenstance as by astute winemaking. It has become a fabled, preferred beverage
Read MoreChampagne, Prosecco, Cava, Cremant, Asti Spumante, Sekt, Brachetto, Lambrusco and Franciacorta. All are highly regarded sparkling wines, some familiar, some flying well under the American wine consumer’s radar. But not all sparkling wines are equal. The majority are made from
Read MoreWhen you walk into your wine shop do you receive ad hoc information from the owner concerning a wine you’ve come to purchase? Do you receive insightful comments laced with a touch of humor? Are you regaled with the history
Read MoreScientific health studies are in the news constantly these days, attempting to validate or refute claims made by manufacturers, scientists, the health industry or any number of respected medical and health journals. Much has been written concerning the validity of
Read MoreLast week marked the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy. Listening to the media coverage, including the spoken words of the tales of the few remaining survivors of the invasion, brought the memory of the invasion and the war
Read MoreWhatever happened to the artisanal goods of years past? Where have the locally grown and produced products gone? With all the talk these days about farm-to-table and farmers markets, the vast majority of products we purchase and consume are controlled
Read More“It’s time.” The call from Uncle Charlie that I had been anticipating came last Thursday. The grapes that we had crushed 13 days ago have reached the ideal level of fermentation. The grapes are now ready to be “pressed.” As
Read MoreIn a recent column, I expounded on a time-honored and well-worn axiom in the wine industry: 90 percent of a wine is made in the vineyard. This implies that the characteristics of a wine are primarily under the influence of
Read MoreFor the past two weeks we’ve been exploring the various means by which entrepreneurs have been pursuing their love of wine and winemaking. Some have purchased vineyards, harvested their crops and then created their unique brand and profile of wines.
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