Blog

We could easily list more than five elements, (I’m sure one could argue about color, alcohol, phenolic compounds, yeast, and a hundred other things) but when we taste a wine we want to evaluate, these are the things to keep in mind and in your tasting notes. And on that subject, buy a cheap notebook (it’ll get stained if you do it right) and try to write a bit about every great wine you taste. You can even list the following five...

We’ve been busy all week, setting up our new labeling machine and labeling the results of our newest vintages. Winemaking is in many ways about just getting out of the way and letting the grapes speak for themselves, but the entire process? Extremely complex. First, there’s choosing land in an area that’s hospitable to growing grapes, and making sure there will be adequate water. Then, there’s testing the soils...

Whether visiting wineries, trying a new wine at a restaurant, or opening a bottle at home, it helps to have a general idea of what to look for as far as color, aromas, and flavors are concerned. Once we’ve educated ourselves a bit about what to expect from different types of wines, and what we personally like to drink, it’s common to turn to writers for wine reviews on unfamiliar wines and vintages. Essentially, what a...

At Sumner Vineyards, we set aside small lots of our best grapes to receive new oak barrel aging. These hand-picked selections then receive our Pinot Noir Reserve designation. The difference in flavor in the Reserve is—in addition to the berry fruits in both Pinots—a warm gingerbread aroma and spiciness on the palate. It pairs beautifully with an autumn meal of roast goose or smoked ham. Wikipedia says that: “Reserve wine is a...

On July 20, 2008, Albanian artist Saimir Strati created a mosaic made entirely of 229,764 wine corks in partnership with Sheraton Tirana. The piece was over 1,000 square feet, and took a week to complete. The artwork was completed over the course of 27 days at the hotel. Strati began his career doing restorations in Albania on several mosaics at the archeological sites of Byllis, Amantia and Apollonia. He is a member of the British...

If you’re passionate about wine, the University of California at Davis offers a series of courses that can give real depth to your interest in the grape…or even result in a degree. Many courses are online, so you can learn advanced topics from anywhere in the world. Some of their featured courses are: Introduction to Wine and Winemaking Whether you’re interested in a career in the wine industry, or are just a devoted...