Minnesota Winery Visits: Chankaska Creek
Minnesota and Wisconsin Winery Visits – a SeriesSeeing where the grapes grow and the wine is made has always been important to my understanding of wine. It’s a way to connect the place with the wine in the glass. During our annual time in Minnesota (typically spring and summer) I’ll be visiting wineries to better … Continue reading
Time to Try a Cold Climate White: Chankaska Creek Itasca!
TL:DR Search out Chankaska Creek’s 2023 Itasca, it’s really good! Itasca – A Cold Climate Hybrid GrapeThe Itasca grape is one of the most recent releases from the University of Minnesota’s Grapevine Cultivar Development Program. The goal of the wine grape cultivar program is to develop grapes that are simultaneously hardy to Minnesota winters (agricultural … Continue reading
Hybrid Grapes and Cold Climate Wines
It’s Time for Hybrid Grapes and WinesHybrid grapes have come a long way in recent years, as well as winemakers understanding of how to get the most out of these grapes in their voyage to become wine. Whether the concern is over grape survival in bitter cold winters or how resistant they are to common … Continue reading
Favorite Dow’s Tawny Port Pairings
Tawny PortTawny Port is a sweet, fortified wine from the Douro river valley in Portugal. Tawny ports are long aged, anywhere from 10 to 40 years. They are aged in large “pipes”, old barrels of 600 liters. This long aging causes the wine to lose its’ original deep color while acquiring unique aromas and flavors … Continue reading
A Port Primer: Do You Know Your Ruby from Your Tawny?
Why Port Wine and Choosing a Favorite StylePort wines are relatively unknown to many wine consumers, which is a shame. They aren’t in the popular dry wine, low alcohol category, but they have so much to offer. Port wines are sweet and they are fortified to a level of 19-22% abv. They are perfect after … Continue reading
Domaine Bousquet: Sustainable, Affordable, Delicious!
Domaine Bousquet – A French Family in Argentina?The Bousquet winemaking family was originally established at a property in Carcassonne in the south of France. In 1990, third generation vigneron Jean Bousquet visited the Tupungato high altitude region in Mendoza, Argentina with an idea of establishing vineyards and a winery. At that time, the area was … Continue reading
Uruguay Tannat Surprise
Wine from Uruguay: Surprise!Tannat based wine from Uruguay is really a surprise x 2. Surprise #1 is that wine grapes are grown and wine is made in Uruguay. Wine regions of the world typically range from 30 – 50° latitude, with 30° being a very warm climate. Looking at a map of South America, we … Continue reading
Languedoc – Hidden Value from France #winophiles
French Winophiles Extol the Virtues of the LanguedocThis month, our French Winophiles are returning to the Languedoc region. Our Winophiles have virtually visited the Langudoc and sister region Roussillon several times, most recently in 2022, here. Take a look further down in this post for this months’ links to my fellow writers discoveries! (click on … Continue reading
Jeff! Where Have You Been?
If you have followed my blog for some time, you might have noticed a dramatic slowdown in my posting frequency over the last two years. Today I am returning to more active posting. What happened? Read on. Short attention span? Here’s the TL;DR: Sold the House, Moved to France 2021: The InvitationOur son moved to … Continue reading
Celebrate Earth Day with Female Winemakers in the Rhône
Women Taking Leadership Positions in Rhone WineriesAll over France, women are establishing a real presence in the wine industry. In the Rhône Valley, some women are taking their commitments to sustainability into the vineyard and winery. Today on Earth Day 2024, we’re highlighting three winemakers working in the Côtes du Rhône and Cótes du Rhône … Continue reading
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