Course 63 – Test Your French Wine Knowledge
Here are twenty questions concerning wines produced in France. Information about French wines can be found on our web site under the education tab and the 60 second wine courses. Bring your completed questionaire to Wine Down Wednesday at ASSAGGI this Wednesday and receive a prize! Hope to see you [...]
Course 62 – What is Rutherford Dust?
Rutherford Dust is the legendary reason why Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in the soil of the Rutherford area produce such excellent wines. And indeed, Rutherford wines consistently win high praise from wine critics around the world. Since the late 19th century, the growers and vintners of Rutherford have played a [...]
Course 61 – Beaujolais Nouveau Primer
At one past midnight on the third Thursday of each November, from little villages and towns like Romanèche-Thorins, over a million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau begin their journey through a sleeping France to Paris for immediate shipment to all parts of the world. Banners proclaim the good news: Le Beaujolais [...]
Course 60 – Alsace, France versus Germany-Reading Between the Wines
The wines of Alsace have a distinctive character and style that sets them apart from the other wine growing regions of France. Its wines are also totally different from those produced in neighboring Germany. Located in North Eastern France, on the German border, Alsace is proud of its unique regional [...]
Course 59 – Pacific Northwest Wines
America’s Pacific Northwest Wine Appellations Washington and Oregon are premier wine growing regions, each with diverse geography, climates and soils. Combined, the states have 20 American Viticulture Areas, where high quality grapes are grown and made into unique wines with character. A Unique Place The Pacific Northwest climate is ideal [...]
Course 58 – Italian Wine Demystified- Part 2
We looked at the various regions of Italy in part one of this course, so now lets get to the heart of the matter: the Italian wines for your tasting pleasure! Some well known Italian wines Barolo (bah-roh-loh) One of the top Italian wines. Made from the Nebbiolo grape in [...]
Course 57 – Italian Wine Demysified- Part 1
From fertile valleys to rocky mountain tops, it seems as if every inch of Italy is planted with grape vines. Some of the wines are considered along with the world’s best, others are less distinguished. Since there is no way to explain Italian wine in 60 seconds this is a [...]
Course 56 – French Wine Demystified
No other winemaking country in the world has such a wide range of cool climates, and this has enabled France to produce the entire spectrum of classic wine styles. They range from the crisp sparkling wines of Champagne to the smooth reds of Burgundy to the rich sweet wines of Sauternes. The [...]
Course 55 – Blending: Why and How
Blending is one of the most important steps in making fine wine with a distinct and unique character. Complexity is probably the number one reason that most winemakers blend their wines. Blending often will give wine a better balance or make it more attractive than its individual ingredients. It can make a standard [...]
Course 54 – Wines of Washington State
Think fast: which state leads the U.S.’s wine production? California probably quickly comes to mind, but do you know the runner up? Maybe that’s not so easy. The State of Washington is the less-obvious answer to that question. Washington just licensed its 500th winery last month, and has 20 AVAs [...]
