Understanding Sapidity – the taste of something savoury in wines
All too often winetasters assume that freshness in wine derives from acidity, but this is not the true for all wine. Comes in sapidity.
Nuggets of wisdom
The genius of Prosecco – why Prosecco is not running out of bubbles any time soon
The genius of Prosecco lies in its enormous popularity. Prosecco’s message oozes lifestyle and goes above and beyond the appeal of just any sparkling wine.
I am sorry to tell you that my husband and I are very bad about food
When Ladies’ Home Journal in 1929 asked Eleanor Roosevelt to give her view on food, she wrote: “I am sorry to tell you that my husband and I are very bad about food”.
Champagne’s forgotten grapes reveal a potential for acidity and freshness
As a result of climate change, Champagne’s grapes are very ripe, with acidity decreasing in grape must. To preserve acidity, a winemaker can use no less than 7 grapes in Champagne, including the 4 forgotten ones.
What’s wine typicity? Some words about the character of wine from a certain place
In France, they call it ‘typicité’, in Italy ‘tipicità’, in English typicity. What is wine typicity and are we talking the same language?
When the wine is pulled, you have to sell it, unless the proof is in the tastevin
One of the most peculiar objects used to taste wine is a tastevin. Some sommeliers still use the tastevin, although nowadays it functions more as a tool for commemorations or decoration.
The tempremental queen of Condrieu, or Viognier in the Northern Rhône
The grape Viognier comes into its own in Condrieu. Condrieu is a tiny, white wine area in the North Rhône Valley, south of Lyon. Viognier produces there a wine in a category all of its own.