The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco, has been attributed to Mark Twain. Whether he actually uttered those famous words is up for debate, but the meaning is not. Those words reflect the frigid summer fog of the San Francisco Bay Area.
To allow Australian wine to be sold in the vitally important export market of Europe, the Australian wine industry had to comply with European Commission regulations governing regional marketing and content for wines. This meant that 85% of the wine must come from the region named on the bottle.
When it comes to cellaring wine, it can seem a bit daunting. Most wines bought in Australia are consumed straight away ie within a few days after purchase. However, as most people know, a good wine will improve with age. This does require a certain amount of trust, blended with hope, that the wine you select will be better after a number of years stored in the right environment.
There was a time when all wine bottles were sealed with a cork but now it seems more common to see only screw cap wines on the shelf. Initially screw cap closures were seen as ok for white wine with a very short shelf life however there is now more acceptance of this type of closure for all types, except sparkling. It all seems a bit confusing, so lets take a step back and see what has happened to bring about this change.
The most popular wine tasting destinations are in Santa Maria Valleys and Santa Ynez collectively referred to as Santa Barbara Wine Country. What make this destination popular besides the wine are the rustic ambiance and the beautiful scenery which are a welcome change from the fast moving city life. Wineries are scattered in huge numbers all over the place and a tourist can hope to taste a variety of wines in one place while soaking in natural beauty.
Every year, the US approves over 100,000 wine labels for distribution. Every new wine release in the US must have its own approved label. As a result, American wine labels are often easier to understand compared to their Old World counterparts.
If you are passionate about wine, then you must store it correctly. Due to various chemical reactions, all wine will eventually go off, a wine fridge will delay this. This article discusses wine fridges, why they are different to your normal domestic fridge or a beer fridge and what features to look for when buying a wine fridge.
The third Thursday of November marks a very special event in the world of wines, when the clock strikes 1 after midnight, millions of cases of Beaujolais Nouveau are being shipped from the Beaujolais villages including the nearby towns of Romaneche -Thorins, to their destinations in the different parts of France all the way to the rest of the world. The arrival of the bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau is welcomed by huge banners…
The world of wine and wine collecting can be perceived as an esoteric world of nuanced bouquets and rare vintages but beyond the collectors many of us regularly drink wine and often have a few bottles lying around in the home. If you have ever opened a bottle and found it to be spoilt then you may want to keep in mind a few basic, easy to remember, storage tips which all of us can benefit from whether we have are own cellar of vintages or a couple of bottles in a cupboard.
Mid Willamette valley vineyards have developed a reputation for producing some of the best Pinot Noir grapes in the world as well as an excellent Pinot Gris. The Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area is the largest AVA in the state, encompassing 5,200 square miles, and is home to most of the state s wineries. The Willamette Valley AVA is divided into six sub-regions, each of which has its own particular soils, climates and elevation.
