Wine Education
Fun and obscure: Spain’s mencia grape, Bierzo region, and Descendientes de J. Palacios “Petalos” wine
Spanish wines continue to amaze me. After six beautiful weeks traveling the country, I still was not ready to leave the land of cava, sherry, garnacha, and crianza. Thankfully, the global wine world still makes it possible for gorgeous Spanish wines to be delivered to my door (or, in this case, to the door … Continue reading
The differences between synthetic and real wine corks
Real . . . or fake? Get your mind out of the gutter: we are talking about synthetic vs. real corks. The debate over synthetic and real corks is quite heated in the wine world. While many call for tradition and the use of real cork, others argue the benefits of synthetic corks outweigh any … Continue reading
Understanding the French wine classification system Appellation d’Origine Controlée (AOC)
Part of understanding a country’s wine is understanding how the country controls (and therefore labels) its wine production. Perhaps the best place to begin is the system that many modern wine wine governances are modeled after: France’s Appellation d’Origine Controlée (AOC). Appellation d’Origine Controlee Definition and Purpose The term appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) means “controlled … Continue reading
An unconventional Puglian grape: Negroamaro
Just when I think I’ve learned a thing or two about Italian wines from my five months in this country, I venture into a new region and am reminded how many grapes this country produces, and how little I know. Such was the case during my recent three weeks in Puglia: the “heel” of the … Continue reading
In the Middle of Nowhere: Bodega Del Desierto
South African novelist Nadine Gordimer once said that “A desert is a place without expectation”. A photographer who has caught vast desert landscapes and breathtaking sunsets might disagree, as would any camper set underneath a canopy of stars on a desert night. But to most–and certainly to any winemaker–Gordimer’s words ring true. Unless, of course, … Continue reading
Stefano Farina Italia Nebbiolo d’Alba 2008
In an attempt to break my readers out of the habit of drinking Chianti every time they are in the mood for an Italian red, I present to you this delicious Nebbiolo d’Alba from Stefano Farina. Many are intimidated by anything other than Chianti, and understandably so: there are so many Italian grapes to learn, … Continue reading
Discovering Canaiolo in Perugia, Italy
At Sedimentality, we try hard not to get political. It gets in the way of enjoying our food and wine. But all this talk about the Amanda Knox trial has made me think of one thing: Perugia, the city in Central Italy where Ms. Knox lived (and where the mysterious murder took place). We had … Continue reading
Discovering Spanish Jumilla wine
Upon returning to San Diego after so much time in Argentina and Italy, I had one “wine goal” in mind: familiarize myself with wines from other countries, such as Spain. First stop? A beautiful, lush Spanish wine called Jumilla. Jumilla Region/Wines Produced Jumilla is a hot, rocky region in the southwest of Spain between La … Continue reading
Italian Vernaccia: an under-the-radar summer white wine
When planning our three months in Italy, I obviously envisioned wine. Lots of it. Chiantis, Montepulciano d’Abruzzos, Brunellos…. red, red, red, earthy, Italian wine. Yum. Little did I know that I was in for a surprise: the Italian whites are what really surprised me. Grechetto, Frascati, Ribolla, Orvieto, Trebbiano… who knew that Italy had so … Continue reading
The Perfect Picnic Wine: an Overview of Rosé
I don’t want to change the wine world… but I do want to change a few opinions regarding a wine that has received a bad reputation over the last few decades: rosé. What IS rosé? Rosé is a pink wine made from red grapes. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a … Continue reading