Now I Know My Wine-Phabet: T is for Tempranillo

In this new series called “Now I know my Wine-phabet”, I will explore letter by letter wine and what I believe are some of the most important and/or influential aspects in the world of wine.  Since I am only choosing one topic per letter, many will be missed.  Hopefully these posts come across as being whimsical and informative.

A Love Letter

My Beloved Tempranillo,

I write this love letter as I sit here and reminisce on our previous encounters.  The first day we met,  I was in college and on a budget.  You too were in your youth, young and fruity, just a “Joven” from Rioja.  Our first encounter was love at first sight.  I can still smell your intoxicating strawberry aromas. (more…)

Now I Know My Wine-Phabet: S is for Sulfites

In this new series called “Now I know my Wine-phabet”, I will explore letter by letter wine and what I believe are some of the most important and/or influential aspects in the world of wine.  Since I am only choosing one topic per letter, many will be missed.  Hopefully these posts come across as being whimsical and informative.

Ahhh Choo…sniffle sniffle…cough cough….itch itch…”Ouch my head hurts”!

Sounds like someone is getting sick.  It is getting close to Halloween and the temperature is changing.  Or maybe they drank a glass of red wine last night which contained…Da Da   Da Da Dun! (Symphony #5)… SULFITES!

Those menacing evil sulfites, what are they!?  Why do they get me sick?  These microscopic creatures cause me to get allergies such as rashes and headaches.  Worst of all they always ruin a good time. (more…)

Now I Know My Wine-Phabet: R is for Ruby Cab

In this new series called “Now I know my Wine-phabet”, I will explore letter by letter wine and what I believe are some of the most important and/or influential aspects in the world of wine.  Since I am only choosing one topic per letter, many will be missed.  Hopefully these posts come across as being whimsical and informative.

What is red, rare and retro?  No, it’s not a red zoot suit.  It’s not an under cooked steak on a sizzle platter.  And no, it’s not a white kid claiming to be a Blood.  Okay one more hint, Carignane.  Yes, that’s it! Ruby Cab!  Ruby what? Ruby Cab!  Don’t tell me this is the next big thing after pink Merlot!  Give me a break…I wouldn’t waste a letter of the Wine-Phabet on such a gimmick.

You can say Ruby Cab is “old school”, “keepin’ it real”.  Ruby Cab is not frontin’.  Ruby Cab is straight up gangsta.  I don’t mean Marky Mark gangsta and it’s not NWA gangsta.  Ruby Cab is back in the day gangsta, like the Fonz. (more…)

Now I Know My Wine-Phabet: Q is for QbA

  In this new series called “Now I know my Wine-phabet”, I will explore letter by letter wine and what I believe are some of the most important and/or influential aspects in the world of wine.  Since I am only choosing one topic per letter, many will be missed.  Hopefully these posts come across as being whimsical and informative.

The Letter “Q”?  Hmmm, we could talk about Quarts de Chaume, but we touched on that during the letter “L” is for Loire.  What about Quinta?  Nah, boring it’s just means Chateau.  Let’s see what the teacher wants to do.

Teacher –  “Okay class, quite down and let’s sing along.”

Class –  “A-B-C-D-E-F-G—-H-I-J-K-LMNOP—-QbA-T-U-V—W-X—Y & Z  Now I know my Wine-phabet, won’t you sing with me?  Wait a minute, that doesn’t sound right!” (more…)

Now I Know My Wine-Phabet: P is For Phylloxera

 In this new series called “Now I know my Wine-phabet”, I will explore letter by letter wine and what I believe are some of the most important and/or influential aspects in the world of wine.  Since I am only choosing one topic per letter, many will be missed.  Hopefully these posts come across as being whimsical and informative.

I give many wine seminars for my staff and wine club members, and I can never get through a seminar without talking about Phylloxera.  What is Phylloxera?  It’s only the most devastating “NO SEE-EM” in viticulture.  When I was on the beaches of Australia “NO-SEE-EMs” were these little sand flies that made my life miserable.  Every night they would have a feast on my legs and back.  Phylloxera is not a sand fly but a small louse that feasted on the leaves of North American grape vines.

The gypsy aphid boarded a transatlantic ship and landed in Europe.  When Phylloxera arrived in Europe, it changed its eating habits and instead of feasting on leaves, it preferred the delicate deliciousness of the root-stock.  I am not sure if the root stocks had large amounts of estrogen, but the little mite transformed into an asexual louse, and the women started to reproduce only women.  This made it very difficult to stop the reproduction habits of the aphid.  It devastated the European wine industry.  The solution was to graft European vines on North American root stocks. (more…)