Affairs of the Vine

04/02/2021

10/02/2020

A shoutout to some of the wines we’ve been enjoying lately. 🍷

What’s your go-to vin-o?

09/30/2020

Wine Term Wednesday is back, and today we're talking about CLAY, specifically clay in soil and how it affects vines and grapes. ⁠
*If you're a winemaker or work at a vineyard and want to share your input, put it in the comments or DM us!*⁠
WHAT'S CLAY?⁠
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Why it’s special: Clay soil manages to stay cooler than other soils, which works out well for extremely hot regions like the Barossa Valley. They are said to produce exceptionally bold, burly and concentrated wines. There are almost endless combinations of clay-based soils; some are rich with limestone, known as calcareous clay. The Barossa Valley soil is considered clay-loam: a mix of clay, sand and silt.⁠
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Where to find it: Bordeaux’s Pomerol, Spain’s Rioja & Ribera del Duero, Australia’s Barossa Valley⁠
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Grapes that dig it: Shiraz, Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet Franc⁠
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09/23/2020

We believe in wine and wine education for all, so every Wednesday we’re breaking down terms to make them easier to understand. Follow for updates.

09/18/2020

Have you ever had a , from grapes?
I was recently listening to the podcast about this often overlooked white wine from the Loire Valley, and remembered my visit back in 2018 to that area of France.
Along the way we stopped into Château du Coing, an active winery (with a castle!) making Muscadet wine and brought a few bottles back.
The flavor was different from what we were expecting - a touch of lime or lemon acidity, a hit of fresh herb and deeper, bready notes from extended skin contact.
Traveling and tasting - can’t wait to get back to it. Have your past travels brought you an unexpected wine discovery? Share with us or send us a DM to share your wine.

09/15/2020

and (to name a few) have published some really insightful articles about much the overdue need to diversify the wine industry, including its lexicon.
Find a few links in our bio to articles related to this subject.

06/04/2016

For a grape that’s notoriously difficult to grow, Pinot Noir is ubiquitous in wine regions from its ancestral home in central France to mountainous Australian vineyards, and even hot California deserts where it doesn’t thrive. While Sideways Movie may take credit for making this berry-scented red easy to sell, the world should thank Cisterian monks and ancient Popes over Paul Giamatti’s 2004 performance.

06/01/2016

Go figure... Mead Wine is making a comeback.

Widely considered the oldest of mankind's alcoholic beverages, mead has somewhat fallen out of favor over the past several thousand years. Mead, also known as honey wine, is traditionally made of o...

06/01/2016

06/01/2016

Have you seen these?

06/01/2016

It's all about the soil when it comes to wine and basically, better soil - better wine.
Limestone - Where to find it: Champagne, Burgundy, the Loire Valley, England.
Why it’s special: If there were to be a “most famous” soil type, it would probably be limestone. There is a trail of limestone that runs from England all the way down through many famous French wine regions. This soil type contains a high percentage of calcium carbonate, the main component of limestone (hello, high school science). This chemical compound allows for easy absorption of minerals, which make happy and delicious grapes. Limestone soil also retains moisture very well, helping the vines withstand periods of drought. When you taste a wine grown in limestone soil, it will often sear across your tastebuds with tingly minerality and high acid- a delightful experience.
Grapes that dig it: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc

06/01/2016

It's all about the soil when it comes to wine and basically, better soil - better wine.
Sand - Where to find it: Italy’s Barolo, South Africa’s Swartland, Bordeaux’s Médoc & Graves, parts of California
Why it’s special: Why “swipe right” on sandy soils? They’re resistant to that nasty louse, Phylloxera, which will slowly strangle the life from a grapevine. Because of that, areas with sandy soil have extremely old vines, giving them major bragging rights. A wine grown in sandy soil is often soft, with light color and low tannin. Sandy soil retains heat well, and in a cooler climate will result in soaring aromatics in the finished wine.
Grapes that dig it: Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Zinfandel

06/01/2016

It's all about the soil when it comes to wine and basically, better soil - better wine.
Clay
Where to find it: Bordeaux’s Pomerol, Spain’s Rioja & Ribera del Duero, Australia’s Barossa Valley
Why it’s special: Clay soil manages to stay cooler than other soils, which works out well for extremely hot regions like the Barossa Valley. They are said to produce exceptionally bold, burly and concentrated wines. There are almost endless combinations of clay-based soils; some are rich with limestone, known as calcareous clay. The Barossa Valley’s soil is considered clay-loam: a mix of clay, sand and silt.
Grapes that dig it: Shiraz, Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

06/01/2016

It's all about the soil when it comes to wine and bascially, better wine = better soil
Volcanic Soil -
Where to find it: Sicily’s Mt. Etna, parts of the Napa Valley, parts of the Willamette Valley, Santorini.
Why it’s special: Volcanic soil, you might have guessed, results from a long-ago volcanic eruption. Volcanic soil is rich in specific minerals: iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium. This allows for excellent water drainage so the grapevines don’t get “wet feet”. Wines grown in this soil type generally exhibit extra-pronounced aromatics. They have a bright, fresh quality that really captivates.
Grapes that dig it: Nerello Moscalese, Chardonnay, Assyrtiko, Cabernet Sauvignon

06/01/2016

For a grape that’s notoriously difficult to grow, Pinot Noir is ubiquitous in wine regions from its ancestral home in central France to mountainous Australian vineyards, and even hot California deserts where it doesn’t thrive. While Sideways Movie may take credit for making this berry-scented red easy to sell, the world should thank Cisterian monks and ancient Popes over Paul Giamatti’s 2004 performance.

06/01/2016

Wonder what they drink at Buckingham Palace? HM Queen Elizabeth II and family.
The Queen can't just hit a wine shop and pick up a few bottles for the weekend. There are several layers of civilians with superannuated titles that winemakers must pe*****te before reaching royal lips. Most notably, there’s the Clerk of the Royal Cellar, who is in charge of all purchases of spirits and wines for the Royal Household.