Oak

Pairings November 27, 2012

Spinach and Pepperjack Stuffed Chicken Paired with Robert Mondavi Napa Chardonnay.

I increasingly seem to find myself banging-on about the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) movement. Of course a great number of us have become bored with the same-old over-oaked Cali Chards, but that doesn’t mean to say oak doesn’t have a place in modern Chardonnay. Winemakers treat oak the same way that chefs treat salt when cooking. Without salt, a dish can barely come alive by itself. Adding even the tiniest amount to an unseasoned dish…

Facts October 29, 2012

The Age of Oak.

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Facts October 13, 2012

Wine Myths…Busted: As a Wine Drinker, is it Possible to have a Preference for Different Oak Wine Barrels?

Click here for the rest of my Wine Myths Busted series.

Facts November 10, 2011

The Truth About Wine Prices Infographic

I’m sure there’ll be a little agreement over some of these numbers, but I think it provides quite a cool little basic visualization of what goes into/onto a bottle.

News July 6, 2011

Everything You Wanted to Know About Oak (and Probably Some Stuff You Didn’t).

Oak plays a bigger role in winemaking than I think most people realize! The color, flavor, tannin and texture of a wine can all be influenced via oak contact; either during the fermentation or aging of wine. When it comes to white wines, oak is often viewed as “fruit killer”, and should never be allowed anywhere near the juice. However for the longest time, those with this opinion could been viewed as a small minority. …

Facts, Funny May 5, 2011

Pretentious Things to Say at a Wine Tasting, Should You Want to…

If you are a regular reader of this site, you probably already know that I don’t take myself too seriously. There is a fine-line though. I like to have fun with wine, but there is occasionally a little more serious side to it. The following is my list of Pretentious Things to Say at a Wine Tasting. This list isn’t hypothetical, these are ACTUAL comments I have heard at wine tastings (apart from the one…

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