The Wine Intellect

This is a question asked by individuals new to wine and those who consider themselves quite versed in wine.  Even now, as I taste my way through the excellent wine selections for my WSET course, and the suggestions of other wine school directors, I find myself asking every now and then, "Is cheap wine bad?" What makes wine cheap, anyway? There are a couple of things to consider: The name of the Producer  Where the wine is from Methods used during harvest (hand- picked, versus machine) What occurs during the wine making process Vintage All of these factors play a role in the price you pay for your wine.  However, I admit: it can be discouraging scrolling through Instagram and looking at accounts of wines with price tags that make you want to consider other less expensive hobbies! While I have enjoyed expensive wine, I have also enjoyed wine with price points that allowed me to still pay my bills!  Enjoying wine is not about locating and only drinking wines from the Ri...

Today's wine notes are on the Weibel Pomegranate California Sparkling Wine. This wine is produced by the Weibel family from their own family estate vineyards located in Lodi Wine Country (located between the San Francisco Bay and Sierra Nevada Mountains).  For three generations, the Weibel family have produced California Champagne and fine wines. They are known for their Green Hungarian , which became popular with new wine drinkers in 1959.   Today, under the direction of Fred Weibel Jr., the Weibel family continues to produce wines from naturally flavored sparkling wines to non-varietal table wines. Weibel Pomegranate California Sparkling Wine This grape sparkler is pale red in color, with ample bubbly. On the nose, there are crisp red fruit and a hint of citrus. The juicy pomegranate on the palette highlights the moderately high acidity that ends with an off- dry finish.  You can't go wrong with this one for brunch, a celebration or simple enjoyment. The bubbles in...

  Another Wine for Sparkling Wine Enthusiasts I am familiar with the still wines of Olema from Sonoma, but I wanted to try a sparkling wine from the Loire Valley, and was quite intrigued to find Olema carried a Cremant De Loire. The Olema Sparkling Wine (Brut) comes from the Loire Valley's Angers region. Winemakers, Tony Biagi and Jesse Fox, work with a historical producer in the town of Brissac, that has the expertise to bring the best of the Loire Valley's sparkling wine tradition. The winery has been in operation since 1872. This sparkling wine is not like the sparkling wines I am accustomed to drinking that pack a certain punch. After the first sip, you will almost immediately notice, it is different. Not "purple unicorn" different- but there is a difference in the structure. The DNA is still sparkling wine, but when I drink this, I think clean...I think ethereal. What do I mean by this? For example, if you are familiar with A.J. De Margerie Grand Cru Brut or Veu...

Lately, I have received many questions about how to study for the WSET exams for Levels 1 and 2. Rather than create two blogs to address this, I will do one. My approach to studying for the exam was the same for both. Below, I have nine tips to help you get started. 1. Determine if you have the time to take the exam . First and foremost, look at your schedule and be sure you can add the course and the suggested study hours to your schedule. If you have a busy schedule, this may not be the time to take the course, let alone the exam. I don't know about you, but I am the  all or nothing  type. I don't want to take the exam for the bragging rights that I  barely passed; I want to take the exam, and be able to demonstrate I know my stuff! 2. Review the Specifications Guide for your level . The Specifications are your guide to passing the exam. It lists the learning outcomes (which are essentially the material you need know and what you will be tested on).  The learning ...

 Hey, Everyone! I am back with another rare wine. This time, I present: Teliani Valley Kindzmarauli , a wine of the Republic of Georgia . How cool is that? Before I discuss the wine, let me provide a little bit of background. For those that may not be familiar with the location of the Republic of Georgia (not to be confused with the state of Georgia ), this country is located south of Russia and north of Turkey. To have a better understanding of its size, it is smaller than the state of Maine! The Republic of Georgia is full of history, enriched in cultural traditions and yes, winemaking. It is considered one of the oldest agricultural sites for growing grapevines as well as the production of wine. Wine is important to the people and culture of Georgia and its production dates as far back as 8,000 years ago. Though, international varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are permitted, 95% of Georgian wine is made from indigenous varieties, such as: saperavi , kis...