Wine Appraiser

Tonight we are tasting two wines. One is a regular Riesling, and the other is a non-alcohol Riesling. Three main ways to remove alcohol from wine. Vacuum Distillation. Wine is distilled under pressure, at 85-95 degrees F. Spinning Cone uses Centrifugal force and nitrogen gas to separate wine components. Reverse Osmosis uses high-pressure filtration. One of the biggest reasons people have a problem...

Tonight we are tasting two Rose’ wines. There are several reasons why Rose’ is a great summer wine? First, it is bright and crisp with high acidity. Second, it is best served well chilled. Third, it has berry-driven flavors. Despite the two areas being closely located. They produce distinct wines. Tonight , we are tasting: 2024 Le Rose’ Ile De Conas. I purchased the wine from Trader Joe’s for $7.9...

What do you want in a tasting room? Atmosphere and Comfort: Cozy and Scenic: warm, inviting, and intimate. Access to outdoor spaces like patios or decks with scenic views is highly desired. Design & Vibe: A mix of rustic, comfortable, and modern elements, avoiding sterile. Acoustics & Lighting: Controlled lighting that allows for seeing the wine's color, along with good acoustics that allo...

White Bordeaux or Bordeaux Blanc account for only 10% of Bordeaux wine production. However, since 2000, white wine production in Bordeaux has increased 50%. Bordeaux Blanc can be separated into two distinct types of wine. Dry and Sweet. The most famous white blend is made up of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Sauternes and Barsac are best known for their sweet wine production. Sauternes normally use...

Certain words take on meanings and connotations when they’re used to describe tannins in wine. According to the Wine Enthusiast, here are some words used to describe tannins and their meaning. Grippy : Immediately noticeable Integrated : Perfectly in line with all other components, like flavor and weight Silky : Fine-grained and unobtrusive Plush : Soft and integrated Velvety : Soft but with subtl...

Tonight, we are talking tannins. What are they, why are they in wine, are they important, do I want them in my wine? We will attempt to answer all of these questions and more! Tannins are complex compounds that are found in many trees and grapes. In wine, tannins mostly come from the grapes, but can also come from the wood barrels during the aging process. In the grapes, most of the tannins are fo...

Tonight we are tasting an Australian white wine. While not one of the major whites, Semillon is a fairly popular white wine produced in Australia. For the second straight week, our wine comes from the Barossa wine region. The Barossa wine region has two subregions or (GI's – Geographical Indications). Barossa Valley Eden Valley Barossa Valley produces big red wines and bold whites. It is a warmer...

Australia is best known for its Shiraz. Big bold Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon from Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Coonawarra. These are all from South Australia. We have talked about Western Australia (Margaret River) known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Yarra Valley in Victoria is a cooler region known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Tasmania is off the south Coast of Australia and...

Tonight, we are tasting another new wine. It’s Gruner Veltliner. Sometimes just referred to as Gruner. These wines have primary flavors of lemon, lime, grapefruit, and nectarine; followed by notes of white pepper, iris, green bean, radish, tarragon, ginger, and honey. The best Gruners are perfumed, dry, and full-bodied with high acidity. This is the number one wine grape in Austria. It can be made...

What is a Pet-Nat? They will often have a bottle cap on top. They are sparkling, but not at the level of a Cava, Prosecco, or Champagne. They are lightly fizzed. They are natural wines made without much intervention. They use natural yeasts and without many additives. Pet-Nat’s normally have a little lower alcohol. I’ve read that they can be kind of funky, not sure what to expect. They use the “Me...

Tonight, we are tasting two Merlots from different price points. The movie Sideways came out in 2004, and is now over 20 years old. When the movie was released, Merlot was the number #1 wine in the US, at about 15% of the total market. Greater than Cabernet Sauvignon at around 12%. By December of 2006, Merlot's market share was down to 12%, and by 2014 it was down further to 9%. California Merlot...

Tonight, we are tasting two Sauvignon Blancs. My favorite Sauvignon Blancs are from Sancerre, part of the Loire Valley in France. Bright but with a lot of minerality. Some people prefer the bright acidic Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand. We purchased two wines, a New Zealand wine from Trader Joe’s for $10, and a Napa Valley wine Costco for $28. Tonight , we are tasting: 2024 Kono Sauvignon Blanc....

Tonight we have two Chenin Blanc-Viognier white blends. We have talked about both of these varieties before. Both of these wines are about 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% is Viognier. This is a typical blend because Chenin Blanc is bright and acidic and Viognier is fuller-bodied with a hint of sweetness (eventhough it is a dry wine). Chenin Blanc is a very versatile grape that can be made into late harve...

It is Austria’s most planted wine grape. Named after Dr. Zweigelt who developed the variety in 1922 from a cross of Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent. The wine is known for being bright, tart, and fruity. Zweigelt can also make great rose’ sparkling wines. In Austria sparkling wine is known as Sekt. People say the wine compares to a Pinot Noir. Tonight , we are tasting: 2020 Johann Schwarz “The Butche...

Tonight, we are tasting three wines. Two will be around $10, and a third wine will be over $20. Can we taste the difference? Tonight , we are tasting: 2022 Epicuro Aglianico from Puglia, Italy. Purchased from Trader Joe’s for $5.99. Blackberry and cherry with light spicy notes. Smooth and velvety. 13% alcohol. Single varietal wine, fermented in stainless steel tanks followed by maturation on the l...

Tonight, we are tasting a Champagne and celebrating the past year. We are drinking a LeMesnil Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru Brut Champagne. It is 100% chardonnay and comes from the Grand Cru vineyards of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. It is a dry wine with flavors of citrus (lemon & orange), white flowers, peach, almond blossom, brioche, pie crust, biscuit, chalky minerality, and a creamy finish. It is aged...

Tonight, we are recapping some of our favorite wines of the past year. The winner for the best buy would be from our 6/26/2025 show on Italian wines. A 2022 Madia Torre Zambra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. We purchased this wine from Costco for $7.99. We both loved the wine and scored it a 4. We also loved the Stone Hill Dry Rose which we tasted on our 5/28/2025 show about Rose'. We purchased this wine...

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the red-wine blend Amarone della Valpolicella. This wine is a dried-grape wine. It’s a red wine blend. I’m not going into the varieties because I’ve never heard of them. Amarone has to be aged for at least two years, four for wines labeled riserva. Until the 1950’s this wine was not really exported, but is now popular in Scandinavia, Germany, and the Unit...

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the red wine grape Blatina, and doing a quick overview of Bosnian wine. Blatina is a red wine grape variety mostly grown in Herzegovina region of Bosnia-Herzegovina. It was traditionally used as a blending grape with Alicante Bouschet, Merlot, and Trnjak. With the main grape being Trnjak. It produces a dark red wine and is made both in stainless steel and...

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the red wine grape Petite Sirah. In the past, I thought Petite Sirah must be just a small grape variety of Syrah. I was wrong. Well then, what is it? The grape is also known as Durif, that is a cross between Syrah and Peloursin. The grape has thick skins which give the wine a dark color. Today California has about 12,000 acres planted to Petite Sirah, mak...

Tonight, Denise selected our wine because of it’s unique label, but it is also a new variety for us to taste.  We have never had a single variety Macabeo. This grape variety is normally used in blends, and is one of the main grapes used in Cava. The wine comes from a newer winery, Parajes del Valle that started in 2018. The winemaker is just 28 years old, but it seems she is very well regarde...

Tonight, we selected our wine because of it's beautiful label. Oak Farm Vineyards is from Lodi, California. The wine is estate-grown. The bottle is clear with a small plaque identifying the wine, with a black sketch of a tree growing around it. The tree is a mass of branches, limbs, and leaves growing around the plaque. Albarino is one of the main Spanish white wine grapes. Characterized by high a...

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the hybrid wine grape Baco Noir. This is a French Hybrid wine grape. Baco Noir is an easy-to-grow grape that produces a medium to full-bodied wine with fresh acidity and dark fruit flavors hinting of black pepper and tobacco. Wines made of Baco Noir can also have notes of licorice, cedar, and smoke. Normally it will have medium tannins. Pairs with tomato-...

Tonight, we are trying a Kabinett Riesling from Mosel, Germany. Just for some added fun we also have an Emma Reichart Dry Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany. So what is a Kabinett (Cabby – Net) and what are other words used to describe the sweetness in German wines. Trocken is the German word for dry. Kabinett has crisp acidity, green apple, citrus and delicate floral notes. Good for an aperitif a...

Champagne must be made in the traditional method. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The wine comes from the grand cru village of Verzenay in the Champagne region of France. Tonight , we are tasting: NV Kirkland Signature Brut Champagne. It is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. The grapes come from the grand cru village of Verzenay. Matures in the bottl...