Clones are the winegrowers’ secret that we seldom hear about. What is a clone? The official definition of a wine grape vine clone from the Wine Enthusiast is, “A grape clone is a genetically identical copy of a specific grapevine cultivar, created through vegetative propagation...
red wine
Does anyone know how to speak wine?
Have you ever been to a wine tasking where the speaker starts tossing wine terminology around like a truck stop fry-cook slinging corn-beef-hash?
Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental
Rioja’s Tempranillo is the prominent grape of Rioja and produces wine with moderate acidity, notes of spice, strawberry, tobacco and earthy-chalky aromas. Most are barrel aged using American oak which adds the spice and vanilla that Tempranillos are know for.
There is a mind behind the glass.
Time travel. If an ancient winemaker were to visit a present-day winery, they would understand what was taking place since winemaking’s basic steps have not changed through the centuries. Those steps follow, and an exciting video from the GuildSomm wine organization is included. The mind....
What do you think of Virginia Wine?
People often ask, “What do you think of Virginia wine?” Usually, that’s a loaded question given away by body language and facial expressions. I cautiously answer, starting first with context. One must realize where Virginia is now, remembering that it wasn’t until 1976 that Virginia...




