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Sep
2020

It’s the Biz: German Wine Business

categories: Wine, Wine 101, Wine Biz (D2), Wine World (D3)

True confession time: I’m starting my D3 studies ‘early’ because as I’m working through my D2, I’m finding that I need real life references as to how the D2—Wine Business—material works in today’s wine industry. It’s like fate that the below question came at the bottom of a newsletter from the Napa Valley Wine Academy. So, I’ve decided that, in an effort to connect the dots between D2 and D3, I’m going to ask this question of every region I study.

Explain how wine law and regulation influence the style, quality, and price of wines from Germany.

http://germanwinecanada.com/
http://germanwinecanada.com/

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Sep
2020

DipWSET Theory: Tasting Alsatian Riesling

categories: Wine, Wine 101, Wine World (D3)

I think one of the reasons I like starting my Wine World studies with Germany is because it’s my backwards way of gearing up for one of my favorite French wine regions, Alsace. The two regions have much in common—one of them being Riesling. That’s why I thought, if I’m going to deep-dive into the stylistic difference’s of Germany’s most recognized wine grape, I’m absolutely going to compare how the expression(s) differ from it’s neighboring French region, where the variety wear’s the “noble grape” crown.

Alsace, France; Fernando Beteta

To explore those differences between the wines, we must (of course) explore what makes Alsace a unique wine region.

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Aug
2020

This Week’s Latest Wine Headlines: August 16—August 21

categories: News, Wine

Breathe. Everyone just take a deep breath in. (I know the air quality is bad.) Hold. Slowly release. We will get through this. We will get through this and 2020 will just be that year that happened that one time. We’re in the thick of it now, so it seems overwhelming and horrible and unforgivable. And it’s ok to feel that way. Let yourself feel that way. Then breathe. Then move forward. Move forward and let’s help each other through this.

Listen, much of the news this week centers around the fires that are strewn across California, many of which are concentrated in and around our state’s various (not just Napa/Sonoma) wine countries—North, Central and South. As a Sonoma resident, I’d like to let you all know that I am safe and healthy. Please send your thoughts, prayers, and charitable donations to those who are immediately affected. (Direct Relief, Napa Valley Community Foundation, California Fire Foundation, Red Cross, UndocuFund, Sonoma Family Meal)

A few helpful resources: County of Sonoma: Sonoma County Fire Incident Map; Press Democrat: What to pack in your evacuation bag

But let’s not forget, there’s still an election going on. And the US is not the only going going through issues at the moment—read about what’s happening in Australia cellar doors and international trade market and South Africa’s battle with prohibition.

I urge you, though, scroll through. It’s not all bad news. I love this profile piece by Dorothy Gaiter on Garry Farrell’s Theresa Heredia (cheers to this proud Latina, LGBTQ Sonoma winemaker); this first-person account by Jeanne Vito, an Afropean wine entrepreneur brought up in Chablis, working in the wine industry and living between South Africa, Togo, and Germany; and it looks like the Finnish are onto some kind of hangover cure. 

That’s all from me for now.

Breathe. Stay safe. Stay health. Stay positive. Breathe

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Aug
2020

Emeritus Vineyards 2018 Hallberg Blanc

categories: Booze, Wine

I came into contact with Emeritus Vineyards when they started offering their monthly educational webinar series. I highly recommend them, and you can read more about the series here. It’s interesting to learn about their specific piece of Russian River Valley terroir. Indeed, the AVA is so huge, it really makes a difference which pocket you’re planting in. And what these different sections of the AVA offer are unique aroma, flavor, and textural profiles of the region’s most planted (and most well-known) red wine grape: Pinot Noir.

I previously reviewed the Emeritus Vineyards 2017 Pinot Hill Vineyards Pinot Noir. But this wine here is a point of difference. To make a Pinot Noir Blanc (note: not Pinot Blanc) Pinot Noir’s juices are immediately separated from the skins in order to prevent any color or tannin extraction. What this creates is a pure expression of how the extremely cool climate of Russian River’s Sebastopol neighborhood nurtures the delicate grape and allows it to maintain a pointed acidity and fresh fruit flavors. And with the Emeritus winemaking team’s minimalist techniques in the cellar, these innate characteristics shine through from first sip to lingering finish.

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Aug
2020

DipWSET Theory: Winemaking Scenarios

categories: Viticulture and Winemaking (D1), Wine, Wine 101

This will be the last post in my WSET Exam-Type Questions series. At least as far as my D1 is concerned. By the time you read this, I’ll have already sat the D1 exam—hope I did ok. Stay tuned, though. D2, 3, 4, and 5 are still ahead of me.

For this last piece, I created two separate winemaking scenarios. To be fair, I pulled certain situations—climactic and soil conditions, wine style type, and even North or South Hemisphere—out of a hat in order to formulate these scenarios. (You know, so I wouldn’t cheat and just ask a question about Sonoma’s Los Carneros AVA and look out my window for the answer.) My goal with these scenarios is to walk through as many steps of the viticultural and winemaking process to prove (to myself) I can talk about all the applicable factors.

Here we go.

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