Tastings we do online with others. Usually using Twitter to exchange information about the wine.
Winemaker José Luis Moreira da Silva, Zé Luis as he is known more informally, has the challenge of making wine in two Portuguese wine regions. The two regions could not be more different in terms of growing conditions and grape varieties. Fortunately the distance between Vinho Verde and the Douro is not too great, about 90 minutes by car. In […]
Sustainability initiatives in Bordeaux include a variety of approaches. These efforts must at least preserve, if not restore, the environment and have a positive effect on society. According to the Le Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB, Bordeaux Wine Council), the region began its sustainability efforts 20 years ago. 35% of Bordeaux’s vineyard area were taking a certified environmental […]
Change is a constant in our world and in the world of wine. It’s probably fair to say that change in younger wine regions is greater than in long-established ones. As viticulturists learn the intricacies of soil and climate, where varieties are planted can change. And viticulturists and winemakers must at least respond to changes in the climate if not […]
The current diversity and quality of wine around the world can be a bit overwhelming. Not that as a consumer I’m complaining, but it can be a challenge to taste wine from every region let alone every variety. The same applies to the quality and diversity of California wine in my experience. Petite Sirah is one of those varieties that […]
The first versions of Chilean Carmenere I tasted years ago were often characterized by generous fruit flavors, dense color, chewy texture and distinctive flavors of jalapeño or green bell pepper. Those flavors of jalapeño and bell pepper were pleasing in moderation, but I found them overwhelming in many versions of the variety. Recently I was re-introduced to Chilean Carmenere from […]
Lori Budd and I have at least two things in common — a love of Cabernet Franc and the same “gateway” Cabernet Franc wine. For both of us, the Cabernet Franc that first grabbed our attention was made by William Harrison Vineyard and Winery in Napa Valley’s St. Helena. It’s a small wine world. Lori and her husband, Mike, have […]
My experience tasting wines made in the U.S. state of Virginia is very limited. I first tasted Virginia wines at the Wine Bloggers Conference (WBC) we attended in Portland several years ago. It was our first WBC and I was overwhelmed by the variety (and sheer number) of wines we tasted during the event, not to mention the number of […]
The origin of the name Villa Maria has been a curiosity to me since first I first read the wine bottle label and realized it was a New Zealand wine. The name never quite fit with its New Zealand origin. I remember several years ago searching the Villa Maria website for a clue as to its origin. The founder of […]
Albariño. Are you familiar with it? The white winegrape is grown extensively in the Rías Baixas region in northwest Spain; in fact the variety represents nearly all of the plantings in this cool, coastal region. Albariño produces a crisp, dry white wine with a range of flavors that include citrus, melon and stone fruit to delicately floral with an interesting […]
Are you familiar with Beaujolais, the French wine region dedicated to the Gamay grape variety? If you enjoy fruit-forward wines with relatively low alcohol levels, juicy acidity and silky tannins then you really should become acquainted. We recently participated in a tasting of Beaujolais that demonstrates the range of wine production in the region by a single producer. We received […]
We enjoy wine, food and travel. Pull That Cork is a chronicle of our wine adventures, the food and wine pairings we create and our travels which are increasingly organized around wine.