Course 86 – The Big Six of Grapes: Part Six: Cabernet Sauvignon
There are six grapes that you really need to know about. Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are the white grapes. The reds are Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. These grape varietals are known
Course 85 – The Big Six of Grapes: Part Five: Merlot
There are six grapes that you really need to know about. Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are the white grapes. The reds are Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. These grape varietals are known
Course 84 – The Big Six of Grapes: Part Four: Pinot Noir
The Big Six of Grapes: A crash course on the most popular varietals in six installments Part Four: Pinot Noir There are six grapes that you really need to know about. Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Course 83 – The Big Six of Grapes: Part Three: Chardonnay
The Big Six of Grapes: A crash course on the most popular varietals in six installments Part Three: Chardonnay There are six grapes that you really need to know about. Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and
Course 82 – The Big Six of Grapes: Part Two: Sauvignon Blanc
The Big Six of Grapes: A crash course on the most popular varietals in six installments Part Two: Sauvignon Blanc There are six grapes that you really need to know about. Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Course 81 – The Big Six of Grapes: Part One: Introduction & Riesling
The Big Six of Grapes: A crash course on the most popular varietals in six installments Part One: Introduction & Riesling There are six grapes that you really need to know about. Riesling, Sauvignon
Course 80 – “Wine Speak” – the Language of Wine
This is John Jonna from the Detroit Wine Organization with some tips on “Wine Speak” - the language of wine. Wine sommeliers, the stewards of wine, have their own language when it comes to
Course 79 – Glossary of Wine Terms
There are thousands of words associated with wine, but this is a good overview. For a more in-depth source, check out the Wine Lover’s Companion. Acid A vital part of wine, necessary to help
Course 78 – How to Taste Wine
Following a few simple steps will lead to a greater understanding of what you’re drinking, and hopefully help you put some words to what you experience when you drink wine. 1. Look at the
Course 77 – Pairing Wine with Food
With the great variety of both cuisine styles and wines available today, the old rule of “red wine with meat and white wine with fish” doesn’t cut it any more. Is the “fish” sushi or
Course 76 – Vermouth is undergoing a revival
Vermouth is no longer seen as an unfashionable tipple and is undergoing a revival It wasn't so very long ago that vermouth seemed irredeemably unfashionable, the butt of tongue-in-cheek jokes on TV ads and
Course 75 – Terroir – What is it & why should you care?
Terroir (tear-whar) is one of the most important variables in wine. Understanding what it is and why it matters in winemaking will help you enjoy your culinary creations with the wine best suited to complement
Course 74 – Five Essential Wines for Thanksgiving
While hosting Thanksgiving can be great fun, it can also create a ton of stress and anxiety. Having to manage friends, family, the menu and when to serve everything is enough to worry about without
Course 73-Wines of Argentina
Great things are happening in Argentina’s wine industry. A growing number of wineries have changed their philosophy and now concentrate on producing higher quality wines rather than manufacturing large quantities. Until recently, Argentina was more interested
Course 72-How and Why Wine Ages
Aging is most noticeably the process of the tannins in the wine reacting with other components until they are unable to stay in solution, where upon they become sediment (precipitation). While this is happening,
Course 71 – Food Network’s Wine IQ Quiz
Source: Food Network Magazine
Course 70 – Wine Blends: From Bordeaux to Meritage OR It’s better blended
Why blend different types of wines? If the grapes were great and the quality of their juice is good enough to bottle on its own, why blend? In essence, sometimes the sum is greater than
Course 69 – Decisions, Decisions…What wine shall I serve for Thanksgiving Dinner?
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, there is no better time to start planning your Thanksgiving dinner menu and selecting wines to complement the feast. Historically, the week before Thanksgiving is a great time to buy wine
Course 68 – South African Wine Facts
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Course 67 – Ultimate Summer Wine Guide
Ultimate Summer Wine Guide New and classic wine pairings for grilled foods of all kinds. By Ray Isle, reprinted with permission from Food and Wine. Generally, grilled dishes mean bold flavors, and the top wine
Course 66 – How to read a German Wine label
1. Appellation of origin - Wine Growing region To identify the region compare with the following list of the 13 German wine growing regions: Ahr, Mittelrhein, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Rheingau, Nahe, Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Franken, Hessische Bergstrasse, Württemberg,
Course 65 – Test Your Italian Wine Knowledge
1. What is the most famous red wine grape varietal used in Tuscany? A. Asti Spumante B. Vin Santo C. Sangiovese D. Marsala 2. Chianti is which of the following: A. A wine producing region
Course 64 – Test Your Knowledge of Sparkling WIne
1. What grape is normally NOT used in Champagne? a. Chardonnay b. Cabernet Sauvignon c. Pinot Noir d. Pinot Gris 2. What country is true Champagne made in? a. France b. Spain c. United States
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
Course 53 – South African Wines
South Africans have been making wine for centuries, but it's only been since the mid-1990s with the fall of apartheid and the lifting of U.S. sanctions against exports that its wine has been widely available
Course 52 – Expand your wine knowledge
The enthusiasm for wine-drinking in America has reached a fever pitch and with that increased popularity comes a host of magazines, web sites, books, DVDs and television programs that can expand your knowledge and your
Course 51 – Comfort Wine
The bad news is we've been enduring some really harsh winter weather lately. The good news is that this is some of the best weather for drinking wine, especially with the rich, slow-cooked foods that
Course 50 – It takes a Village
France is the world's second largest producer of wines (barely edged out most years by Italy), most of which comes from big-name regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone. But tucked within bigger appellations are small
Course 49 – Beaujolais Nouveau 2006
Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! ("the new Beaujolais has arrived!"). Well, it hasn't arrived yet but it soon will, kicking off one of France's most celebrated unofficial holidays which has spread throughout the world. Beaujolais
Course 48 – Exotic Grapes: Tannat
Almost everyone has heard of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, so in an ongoing series we will periodically explore a grape that is a little outside the mainstream. This time we take a look at
Course 47 – Ahhh…Rosé
Long, hot summers like the one we've been "enjoying" are tough on wine lovers. A lot of the wines we savor all winter are just not that appealing when the temperature spikes and humidity becomes
Course 46 – Zinfandel: The Super Summer Wine
Red wine lovers have it tough in the summer months when it seems like all but the die-hard are forced by the mounting heat and humidity to eschew their favorites in favor of crisp white
Course 45 – The Art of Wine
With the thousands of bottles competing for consumer attention on wine shop shelves these days, it's no surprise that many winemakers have turned to clever labels to set their wines apart from the masses. Who
Course 44 – Spain Gets Hot
Until recently, most wine drinkers outside of Spain associated the country primarily with Rioja, which was saddled with the reputation of being simply cheap and easy drinking. The country's winemakers have worked hard to ratchet
Course 43 – Aussie Wines
Since the early 90s, Australia has been known simply for making decent quality, easy drinking wine that could be had for way below $10 a bottle. But with demand for Australian wines at an all
Course 42 – Celebrity Winemakers
Have you heard the one about how to make a small fortune in the wine business? Start with a large fortune. Corny jokes aside, some of the world's richest business moguls, athletes and entertainers have
Course 41 – Carmenere: Chile’s Heirloom Varietal
Everyone loves a comeback, and who couldn't love a grape that was deemed extinct more than 100 years ago only to be discovered alive and kicking thousands of miles from its birthplace? This is the
Course 40 – Meritages: The Best of the Blends
Meritage wines are some of the best on the market today, but many wine drinkers shy away from them because they don't even know what a Meritage is! The term "Meritage" was born in much
Course 39 – Wine FAQ 2006
The new year brings 365 fresh opportunities to learn about wine. Whether you're a connoisseur or you've recently discovered the world of vino, the Detroit Wine Organization hopes to spend this year expanding your knowledge
Course 38 – Tis the Season to Enjoy Wine
The holiday season is rife with opportunities to experiment with food and wine pairing, give wine as a gift, and all-round make wine a sharing experience. Sparkling wine, including Champagne, is practically the default holiday
Course 37 – The Mediterranean Heats Up
The Mediterranean diet is hot. Who wouldn't love a diet that calls for an abundance of fresh fish, tomatoes, olive oil, lemon, garlic, and most importantly, moderate yet regular consumption of wine?! At least 16
Course 36 – The Fine Wines of Michigan
After years of relative obscurity, the wines and winemakers of Michigan are finally beginning to see some national recognition perhaps in response to the immense jump in quality these wines have recently made. With 13,500
Course 35 – Red Wine Headaches
Red wine headaches, fact or fiction? Even in small portions red wine can leave some people with a throbbing headache. Not to be confused with the headache you may get the morning after a night
Course 34 – The Rhône Valley
The Rhône Valley in southern France is one of the world's most famous wine regions, home to appellations like Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-du-Rhône, Côte Rotie, Hermitage and Tavel. The Rhône region is actually split into two areas
Course 33 – Kosher Wine
Those who want to enjoy wine with their seder may be pleasantly surprised by the range of high-quality kosher wines now available to them. It wasn't long ago that Manischewitz and similar sickly-sweet wines made
Course 32 – Petite Sirah
Despite its rather delicate sounding name, Petite Sirah is a gutsy bulldog of a wine, deep and dark with an appropriately mysterious past. Petite Sirah's ancestry and name origin confounded the wine world for decades.
Course 31 – Exploring Terroir
In wine, like real estate, it very often comes down to location, location, location. Or, maybe we should say terroir, terroir, terroir. Terroir, the French word for "soil," is a wine-world term used to describe
Course 30 – White Wine – Moving Beyond Chardonnay
When you hear "white wine," what immediately springs to mind? Undoubtedly 90% of you thought, "Chardonnay." Maybe a couple thought of Sauvignon Blanc. But what about Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc or Riesling? As
Course 29 – Ordering Wine in a Restaurant 101
When making any purchase decision, from a car to a cell phone, a little research goes a long way toward making a good choice. Ordering wine in a restaurant is no exception. First, you should
Course 28 – The Santa Ynez Valley
For years, the Santa Ynez Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) in California's Santa Barbara County quietly produced excellent wine while being dwarfed by the imposing shadow of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys to the north.
Course 27 – Super Tuscans
If you've been a reader of the 60 Second Wine Course for awhile, you know that wine naming is a pretty standardized process, usually enforced by federal law. So how is it that a label
Course 26 – Dessert Wine
The holiday season is the perfect time to explore the wine world’s most decadent product: dessert wine. This luscious treat usually has both a higher residual sugar level and alcohol percentage compared to table wine,
Course 25 – Zinfandel — The All-American Grape
Thoughts turn to Zinfandel at this time of year not only because its spicy, jammy flavors seem so perfectly suited for winter, but because it is an all-American wine — the most widely planted grape
Course 24 – Beaujolais Nouveau
There are lots of important dates in November: Election Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving. But November 16 is the date circled in bright red on most wine-lovers calendars. Beaujolais winemakers begin shipping about 70 million bottles
Course 23 – Wine Becomes Uncorked
The wine industry is abuzz, and it’s not about the new harvest. Winemakers across the globe have been popping their corks — literally — in favor of metal screw caps. Yep, the same ones that for
Course 22 – Building Your Cellar
Whether you're thinking of investing your retirement funds in wine or just have more wine around the house then you plan to drink in the next month, how to store your wine is going to
Course 21 – Barbecue-Friendly Wines
A frosty brew may be the common beverage of choice at a Labor Day barbecue, but wine lovers shouldn't despair. There are a lot of wines that marry beautifully with burgers, brats and baked beans.
Course 20 – Grapes of the Great Northwest
Next to California, Oregon and Washington are probably the best known states for wine in the U.S. Washington is the country's second largest producer and Oregon is not far behind. Known for some of the
Course 18 – New Zealand
I am a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc freak. I admit it. In fact, I'm proud of it. I've been a freak for about a year now (longer if you ask my husband, but that's another
Course 17 – Australian Overview Practical Knowledge
Think of Australia and images of the rugged outback, Ayers Rock, the Sydney Opera house and, of course, the latest installment of "The Bachelor" immediately pop to mind. It is a continent with a reputation
Course 16 – Best Local wine Lists – Part I
Each month, the venerable wine publications like Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast publish articles and information about restaurants around the nation with premium wine lists. There are actually quite a few Detroit area establishments that
Course 15 – Riesling – The Misunderstood, Undervalued Grape
With warm weather comes the inevitable search for summer whites that pair well with light summer foods. As you begin that search, don't overlook Riesling (reece-ling not rye-sling). If you're anything like me, your first
Course 14 – Wine Competitions and Ratings
I must begin this edition of our 60-second Wine Course with an apology... I neglected to send an issue out at my regularly scheduled time 2 weeks ago. The reason for that oversight is that
Course 13 – French Wine Primer
Pick up any book about wine and one of the first things the author will tell you is how important France is to the study of wine. The French not only make what are commonly
Course 12 – Sake, The Basics
Wine, as we all know, is made from grapes. Wine can also be made from other fruits and berries - strawberries, pears, apricots - pretty much anything that can be fermented to create alcohol from
Course 11 – Aroma and Bouquet Practical Knowledge
It's finally Spring (at least until that last blast of winter hits around the first week in April)! You can see it. You can feel it. But most of all, you can smell it. It
Course 10 – Spain: More than Sherry and Tempranillo
Spain - it brings to mind images of flamenco dancers in brightly color costumes moving to hypnotic music under a bright sun and sipping bright red wines in an open air cafe. It also brings
Course 9 – WineMaking 101 – The Basics
Our first course when we began these 60-second Wine Courses back in November was Wine Tasting 101 - The Basics. We've come a long way since then - explored many different wine-growing regions and learned
Course 8 – Chile and Argentina – The Hottest Wine Growing Region in the World
Chile and Argentina are hot - and not just climatically. The past 15-20 years have seen an explosion in wine quality, production and exports from these countries that have been producing wine for over 400
Course 7 – Giving Your Wine Some Breathing Room
We've all been told to "take a deep breath and relax" at some point in our lives. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it doesn't. It's pretty much the same way with the process of decanting wine
Course 6 – Italian Overview
News Flash - It's really cold outside! Kind of makes you want to curl up in front of a fire with a good book and a soothing glass of red wine... or bundle up and
Course 5 – Old World – New World… What’s the Point?
Thinking back to elementary school history lessons, you probably recall America being referred to as "The New World". If you visit Europe or Asia and see the centuries-old tombs, cathedrals and monuments, you can almost
Course 4 – Champagne
The New Year is quickly approaching and bubbly wines are on every store shelf, so it seems appropriate to talk about them. In keeping with our pledge to explore the various wine producing regions in
Course 3 – What’s Climate Got to Do With It?
You're in your local wine shop, browsing the shelves for something to take to a holiday party. You want something full bodied and smooth with warm fruit flavors that will match well with holiday foods...
Course 2 – Oak
In our last edition, we started the discussion of oak fermentation and aging...Unlike fruit flavors or sweetness, which come from the grape, oak flavors in a wine come from the winemaker. Master Sommelier Andrea Immer
Course 1 – Naming Conventions
Bordeaux vs. Cabernet Sauvignon - what's the difference? Chablis vs. Chardonnay? Sancerre vs. Sauvignon Blanc? In most cases, the difference is the naming convention. Some wines are named for their grape variety. Others are named