Pinot Blanc, called Pinot Bianco in Italy, is the third mutation of Pinot Noir that I have wrote about for this site, there are more... Pinot Blanc is the white version, and unlike Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc can only be made into white wine. Pinot Blanc is fun to smell. Really, the aromas are so floral and fruity and pretty, almost never oaked because that would hide these beautiful aromatics and steal the vibrant acidity. I just returned from the Willamette Vall

Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris is a rusty pink colored grape, a mutated clone of Pinot Noir, and most often makes a white wine. I will frequently seek opportunities to use rosé versions of Pinot Gris because, I love rosé, and many people are unaware that it can be made of these grapes. In the New World the choice to call it Gris or Grigio is based on the style the winemaker is modeling, French inspired or Italian, and can be difficult to determine by looking solely at the label.

As we approach summer, I like to recommend great sipping white wines to pair with boat rides, and campfires at dusk. Albariño is one such white wine. If you have not had the opportunity to try these relatively inexpensive white wines, seek some out this summer. Look to the Galicia region of northwest Spain, the rainy region of Spain, north of Portugal. These wines are fruity, moderate bodied, with crisp lively acidity. Typically, these show peach and apricot aromas when fully

Some people love it, and some, not so much. Frequently, especially Chardonnay will showcase a buttery texture, and even aroma. It is a natural byproduct of a process called malolactic fermentation, a secondary fermentation process that changes malic acid, which is astringent, into lactic acid, which is creamy. The process happens to many red wines, too, although it is harder to perceive in reds. Reds are produced with the skins in contact with the juice, and the color is bled

Pinot Noir is the black grape of Burgundy France, it is produced all over the world and is the principle component in Champagne production. It is most commonly produced as a red wine, but did you know that it makes beautiful dry rosé, or that by removing the skins, it can be made into white wine as in the production of Champagne? Indeed Blanc de Noirs and vintage Champagne are made of Pinot Noir grapes with the skins separated off to prevent color extraction. Rosé is made by

Oak ageing wines is a process that allows a winemaker to impart color, texture, aroma, and flavor to the fermented juice. There are several varieties employed in wine production and the variance can be subtle to extreme. I frequently tell people to imagine putting a volume of water into an oak barrel. Gradually, the water will take on a yellow or even brown color as it remains in contact with the inside of the wooden vessel. If you were to drink the water that had been aged i

In the last few weeks I have been asked to do private groups with guests that wanted to create a specific curriculum catered to a special group or event. This is really fun for me, and offers the opportunity to allow my guests to be specific about their needs. One of my favorite aspects of Wine Time Online, is the ability to share the experience with people from all over the world, in real time, on our devices. We sip together, apart. We can choose any wines, produced anywher

Ten years ago, I was walking through vineyards in the Columbia Valley. It was my first visit to Washington State and I was on a trip hosted by the Washington Wine Commission. We took a statewide tour and visited Yakima Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Red Mountain, Columbia Gorge, Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills, and Snipes Mountain. In 2010, that was nine of the eleven American Viticultural Areas officially designated in Washington State. Now, in 2020 there a

When I think of Australia the first grape that comes to mind is naturally Shiraz. I have been selling wine in the United States for nearly thirty years, and I continue to learn new things every year. In this year, I learned that there is incredible Pinot Noir produced in south Australia, not the area I had been led to believe I should look for it. I had the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks in the Mornington Peninsula of Victoria, Australia in February, and I got to walk