The Wine Center https://www.thewinecenter.com/ Professional Wine Education Thu, 02 Jul 2020 09:41:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 American-made wines to toast the Fourth of July https://www.thewinecenter.com/blog/uncorked/american-made-wines-to-toast-the-fourth-of-july/ Wed, 01 Jul 2020 09:28:00 +0000 https://www.thewinecenter.com/?p=3981 I always like to imagine what wine our Founding Fathers were toasting with just after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A bubbly sparkling wine from California’s Carneros region? A light aromatic Oregon pinot gris or a robust full-bodied Napa Cabernet Sauvignon? Well, it was none of those. They were toasting with Madeira. I […]

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]]> Italian wine labels explained https://www.thewinecenter.com/blog/uncorked/italian-wine-labels-explained/ Wed, 24 Jun 2020 10:02:31 +0000 https://www.thewinecenter.com/?p=3974 You most likely have read one of my “wine label lessons” when reading this column. Wine labels, especially those in other languages, can be quite confusing until you know what they mean. Many consumers shy away from bottles with appellation information simply because these labels can be difficult to understand. Easy to understand equals safe […]

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]]> No special occasion needed to enjoy some rose https://www.thewinecenter.com/blog/uncorked/no-special-occasion-needed-to-enjoy-some-rose/ Wed, 10 Jun 2020 10:53:26 +0000 https://www.thewinecenter.com/?p=3962 Let’s be honest, every day is a rose day. Those lazy pool-side afternoons, the exceptional food pairings or those lawn chair sunsets, it’s easy to celebrate this pink-hued refreshing wonder. We already know we don’t need a special occasion to open a bottle of rose but as with all things needing to be commemorated, it […]

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]]> Unexpected grapes flank familiar favorites in top 5 https://www.thewinecenter.com/blog/uncorked/unexpected-grapes-flank-familiar-favorites-in-top-5/ Wed, 07 Aug 2019 21:42:47 +0000 http://www.thewinecenter.com/?p=3941 When most of us think of the most planted grapes (in terms of acreage) we tend to think chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. It makes sense considering our local retail shelves are lined with these well-known grape varietals. So it may surprise you to learn some of the top grapes grown in the world are some […]

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]]> It’s time to reconsider chardonnay https://www.thewinecenter.com/blog/uncorked/its-time-to-reconsider-chardonnay/ Thu, 25 Jul 2019 01:21:27 +0000 http://www.thewinecenter.com/?p=3938 I am among the first to stand up for a grape for not getting the attention it deserves as well as for those grapes assigned an undeserved reputation. It seems it is time for me to speak up for chardonnay. Chardonnay continues to receive mixed reviews from those loving this enduring grape and from those […]

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]]> ‘Noble rot’ is a good thing for complex flavor https://www.thewinecenter.com/blog/uncorked/noble-rot-is-a-good-thing-for-complex-flavor/ Wed, 17 Jul 2019 18:00:21 +0000 http://www.thewinecenter.com/?p=3887 Rot is not something most of us associate with sought-after wine. But some of the world’s most desired wines are the result of rot. This rot is botrytis or “noble rot.” It’s a fungus that causes grapes to decay and shrivel. Noble rot is a type of Ascomycota in the Fungi kingdom. As odd as […]

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]]> ‘Keto-friendly’ wines exist, but finding them may be a challenge https://www.thewinecenter.com/blog/uncorked/keto-friendly-wines-exist-but-finding-them-may-be-a-challenge/ Wed, 10 Jul 2019 20:08:00 +0000 http://www.thewinecenter.com/?p=3869 An interesting topic many readers have asked me about is whether one can follow the “keto” diet and still enjoy drinking wine. For those not familiar with the term “keto” is short for ketogenic. The ketogenic diet is a high fat, moderate protein, very low carbohydrate diet. The diet forces the body to burn fat […]

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]]> A wine to toast the 4th as our Founding Fathers did https://www.thewinecenter.com/blog/uncorked/a-wine-to-toast-the-4th-as-our-founding-fathers-did/ Wed, 03 Jul 2019 21:03:15 +0000 http://www.thewinecenter.com/?p=3867 I have always imagined the wine choice for the celebratory toast of the signing the Declaration of Independence to be a robust, complex Napa Valley Cabernet sauvignon. Of course, this was not the case, considering Napa Valley’s first commercial vineyards weren’t established until the mid-1800s. What was the celebratory drink? A fortified Portuguese wine, Madeira, […]

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]]> A few suggestions make life rosé-ier https://www.thewinecenter.com/blog/uncorked/a-few-suggestions-make-life-rose-ier/ Wed, 26 Jun 2019 15:18:44 +0000 http://www.thewinecenter.com/?p=3789 It’s that time of year again — when I exult the praises of rosé. I have fearlessly taken on this topic for over a decade in hopes that one day the American palate would catch up with the rest of the world. It seems my campaign is working, and I have convinced many readers to […]

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]]> Wine-beer hybrids push fermentation boundaries and expand consumer choices https://www.thewinecenter.com/blog/uncorked/wine-beer-hybrids-push-fermentation-boundaries-and-expand-consumer-choices/ Wed, 19 Jun 2019 22:27:39 +0000 http://www.thewinecenter.com/?p=3786 I have always held a strong opinion on wine “faux pas.” Many involve summer heat and optimizing refreshment. Dropping an ice cube into your wine glass, for example, is never OK. Ever. Cocktails made with wine that include ice are a gray area. Mixing beer and wine? I must say I was intrigued. The producers […]

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