Articles
Rhône Wines
Running up a 12-inch (30-cm) wide, rock, one-sided staircase with no handrails from one terrace to another, all more than 30% sloped, I pause to capture my balance, which has now shifted behind
An Enology Education: Tips from the Pros
If you are thinking about taking your amateur winemaking to a more professional level, it might be time to consider taking some winemaking classes. In this issue, two wine school instructors discuss some tips for finding your way in winemaking school.
Rhône in a Box: Wine Kits
A good winemaker understands not only his or her grapes and where and how they are grown, but also his or her techniques of elaboration and the greater context of the wine
Sweet Wines: Tips from the Pros
Two pro winemakers share advice for home winemakers to make sweet wine at home
The Devil is in the Details: Dry Finish
There are five items that are considered essential by geologists for true happiness. To wit: a loaf of crusty bread, a block of cheese, a skin of wine (preferably red), a
Tannin Myths and Methods
From modern wine chemistry labs to your home winery — what is known about tannins and how can winemakers control their impact on their wine? Research is debunking many widely-held beliefs about
Seyval Blanc
Seyval blanc (say-VAHL blahnk) is a hybrid, the product of intentional breeding to blend and express desirable traits from the parent vines. And unfortunately, hybrids often get no respect in the world
Sensory Perspective
Not long after I got started making wine I realized I was relying more than I had expected on core sensory concepts like sight, smell and taste to guide my winemaking activities.
Buying Fresh Grapes
If you are lucky enough to live on the West Coast of the United States, near a winegrowing region, getting grapes is relatively easy. However, living on the East Coast — or anywhere that is not near an established viticultural area — does not mean you cannot get quality wine grapes. Here are some keys to success when buying grapes shipped from a distant location.
Understanding Yeasts
Without yeast, there can be no wine. But the role of wine yeast goes well beyond alcoholic fermentation — the biochemical process of converting sugar into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. Yeast
Urban Growth: Dry Finish
Chris Henry in his San Diego “Urban Microvineyard.” The yard looks great. What are those?” inquires a woman from the sidewalk, looking in the direction of my four vibrant green grapevines. “Those
Non-Grape Blends
Country (non-grape) wines can be combined to create a blend that is better than the sum of its parts. More and more savvy winemakers are discovering an unexpected similarity between grape and
Urban and Suburban Vineyards
Growing grapes on a farm isn’t easy. Even with tractors, spray rigs and workers to help, sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all the issues that arise during the growing season. Just when
Being a Wine Judge
When I was first asked to interview a certified wine judge at the 2011 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition, the largest competition of its kind, I will admit that I felt a
Making Ice Cider
A good ice cider balances the line between tart and sweet and there is more than one way to produce them. Get the cold facts to making ice cider at home.
WineMaker to Winemaker: Dry Finish
My winemaking career all started with an issue of Wine-Maker. Seven years ago, I was working in high-tech marketing and business development in the Silicon Valley. One day I stumbled into a
A Vineyard Education
Back in 1995 I took my first viticulture course. I had returned from a short stint as a college instructor in Northern Minnesota, which proved a bit too cold for a third
“Hip” Winemaking: Dry Finish
It was February of 2009 when our fascination with winemaking began. My wife Jan and I had planned on making rhubarb as our initial batch. The fruit had been waiting patiently in
Ways to Rosé
You have several options when it comes to making a rosé wine. Learn three of the most common techniques here.
Entering Competitions: Tips from the Pros
Your friends and family think your homemade wines are the best, but are they right? The best way to find out is to enter your wine in a competition. Wine competitions can also be a good way to gain feedback on wines that you may think are flawed, but you’re not sure what went wrong. In this issue, three wine judges share their advice for avoiding common mistakes when entering competitions.
“I Make Wine Because . . .”
Take part in any home winemaking gathering and you will find that winemakers have a lot to say. When it comes to one subject, however, we all agree on one thing —
(Another) Year in the Vineyard, Final Installment, October 21, 2010 with Wes Hagen, Clos Pepe
(Another) Year in the Vineyard Week #32 (The Last Weekly Blog for 201) October 15-21, 2010 Wrapping it Up and Looking to the Skies For a harvest that began so quickly behind
(Another) Year in the Vineyard Wine Blog, Week 31 by Wes Hagen, Clos Pepe
(Another) Year in the Vineyard, Week #30 The Beginning of the End, and One Hell of a Scare (all photos this week courtesy of www.bottlebranding.com and Jeremy Ball..thanks Jerms! Mouse over photos
(Another) Year in the Vineyard Wine Blog, Week 30 by Wes Hagen: Clos Pepe
(Another) Year in the Vineyard Week #30: October 1-8, 2010 Zen and the Challenging Vintage Harvest is an excellent metaphor for life. Like any difficult cycle in our lives, harvest usually begins
(Another) Year in the Vineyard Wine Blog, Week #29 by Wes Hagen, Clos Pepe
(Another) Year in the Vineyard Week #29: 9/25-9/30, 2010 From Mellow to Manic in a Single Heat Wave And Why English Majors Make Bad Electricians As you might have guessed, the blogs