Thinking About Drinking
You’ve probably heard the phrase “aging like a fine wine,” or heard someone observe that a wine will be better in five years? But what does that actually mean? Do all wines benefit from age? And how do you know…
You’re swirling your glass and pick up notes of vanilla, baking spice, maybe a little toasted coconut (yum!). Or maybe you’re sipping something lean and bright—no toast, no cream, just crisp fruit and minerals. What gives? The difference is oak.…
Part 3 of our 4-part Champagne series Here’s something that might surprise: when you say “champagne,” you’re not talking about a type of wine—you’re talking about a place. But unlike Napa Valley or Bordeaux, where we geek out over specific…
When someone says a wine’s tannins are softening, they’re talking about a transformation in texture. Young tannins can feel astringent—grippy, drying, or even bitter. As a wine ages, those same tannins mellow out. They start to feel smoother, rounder, silkier. Less like a sandpaper handshake and more like a velvet hug.
In the U.S., a wine can be labeled with a single grape varietal (like “Chenin Blanc” or “Grenache”) as long as it’s made from at least 75% of that grape. That means up to 25% of the wine can come from other grape varieties and still wear the varietal label like a name tag.
From saline breeze to sunbeams, climatic factors are among of the biggest influences on how wine tastes—and how grapes grow. It affects everything from sugar and acid levels to when grapes are harvested and how long a wine can age.…
And a grapevine thrives on a perfectly calibrated cocktail of elements: warmth, sunlight, water, nutrients, and carbon dioxide.
Discover why your favorite Chardonnay tastes creamy while that crisp Sauvignon Blanc sparkles - it's all about the vessel! Your complete guide to wine fermentation and aging containers.
From bud break to bottle: Learn the 6 stages of grape growing that determine your wine's flavor. A beginner-friendly guide to understanding what happens in the vineyard before wine hits your glass.