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...
white wine
White Savage of the Loire!
Sauvignon Blanc, loosely translated from French, means white savage, as in wild and untamed. This reflects on the vigorous plant itself, which, left unchecked in the vineyard, will grow ferociously. Sauvignon Blanc is native to France, and the most notable producers are in the...
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....
Viognier was almost gone forever!
The Viognier grape has existed since Christ’s time; however, its popularity dwindled over the years to almost extinction. In 1965, less than twenty acres of Viognier remained on the planet! At some point in the mid-1960s, its value as a blending grape emerged, using it...
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...