A Free Wine Encyclopedia!We’ve often had people come up to us and point to the vintage chart hand-outs that we offer to the general public: They ask in wide-eyed bewilderment, “What is this?” Basically, vintage charts score the success of the vintage, as far as the quality of the wine goes. The charts are universally tabular in form,… read more »
Imagine that you are a winemaker or that you own a winery, and you are tasting some of the wines that are maturing in the barrels. You are an experienced taster, and are able to read into wine. You can detect characteristics that tell you this wine will improve and become a superb wine. From… read more »
About one year ago, (WOMC Newsletter, June 1991), we wrote about the deadly root-burrowing louse, phylloxera vastatrix. We included the article as a history lesson. During the latter half of the 19th century, the parasite, which is of American origin, devastated millions of acres of vineyards around the globe. It was brought under control by… read more »
Paul, Are any of the domestic wines that we are accustomed to made from native grapes, or do they all have their origins elsewhere?” M.M., Temple City, CA Any grape, really, can be made into wine, but few indigenous grapes have achieved any degree of success as raw wine materials. Native grapes, botanically of the… read more »
How do you tell the difference between a good wine, (i.e., a well made wine), and a poor one? When a popular T.V. detective asked this question while researching a homicide case involving winery principals, the merchant whom he had asked, looked down at him from over his bifocals and haughtily replied, “The price, sir!”… read more »
Is wine really good for you? A few months ago, 60 Minutes ran an exciting T.V. segment on medical researchers in this area. 60M’s narrator, Morley Safer, pointed out that although people in France consume 30 percent more fat than we do, and exercise less, and even smoke more, a middle-aged American man has a… read more »
“Paul, I read now and then about wines that sell at auctions for wild prices, like $25 ,000 . a) What kind of wines are worth that much? b) Can I start a collection for investment purposes using WOMC wines, and sell them later for a big return?” A.R., El Cajon Thanks for asking about… read more »
This letter came in recently. “A friend asked my husband and myself to a wine tasting at their home. We went to find a salesman from a German wine company showing his wines. They were medium to good but very expensive! We find the Wine of the Month Club has better value. It was not… read more »
“I have seen some of the same grapes used to make ‘blush’, ‘blanc’, and ‘rose’ wines. In some cases from the same winery! Could you tell me the difference?” Dr. T.R.E. Bakersfield I’m not sure that I can because there is no code, law, or regulation which governs the terminology regarding the color of wine…. read more »
“We just recently joined the Wine of the Month Club. The selections have been very enjoyable so far, and we are sure they will continue to be. A minor problem. Both my wife and I are unable to finish a bottle of wine in one evening. It is just a bit much for us. Is… read more »