Article

Reconfiguring the Palate & Properly Adding Acid to a Barrel

The Wizard explores the many sensations that tasters experience as a wine goes from grapes, through fermentation, and into the early stages

Wine-wizard

Reconfiguring Your Tasting Palate

Article

Oak Barrel Care: Tips From the Pros

Owning your own oak barrel can yield great rewards when handled properly. We asked the advice of two professionals that know what it takes t

KMBS Lifespan & Lambrusco Grapes

Article

Stable Sémillon

Sémillon is a grape variety that is used to produce some of the great white wines of Bordeaux. Learn about what makes this grape so versati

Technique

Monitoring Your Wine: What to test for and when

There are some winemakers who practice the age-old philosophy that the wine will take care of itself . . . but for those who want to produce

Article

SO₂ Fundamentals

Sulfites get a bad rap in the world outside of true wine aficionados. Alex Russan takes readers on a journey through the world of sulfites a

Article

Trebbiano Family Tree

Grape descriptors and the region of origin were often used in the Old World in the naming of a grape. In the case of the Trebbiano family of

Article

Cork Variability, MLF Question, pH Testing, and Aceto Problems

A concerned reader asks the Wizard why commercially-purchased wines might have their corks raised. She also answers questions on metabisulfi

Wine-wizard

Acetobacter Problems

Wine-wizard

Sulfite Timing Question

Article

Noble Nebbiolo: Time to raise it from the fog

Explore the grape varietal made famous by the Italian wineries producing Barolo and Barbaresco wines in the Piemonte region of northern Ital

Preventing Oxidation, Excess Sulfite

Technique

Making Wine From Juice

Article

Sparkling Wine & Blackberry Wine: Wine Wizard

Kit Wine Glossary

Article

Wine Kit Troubleshooting and Tips

Article

Wine Fermentation 101

You can ferment just about anything on this planet, if sugar is present. But all fermentation, including what takes place in your must, requ

Article

Malolactic Fermentation

Everything you need to know about malolactic fermentation, from what it is, ways to do it, how to test its completion, and more.

Article

Bad oxygen

Article

Making Chardonnay

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular wine grapes, grown across the world, and can be turned into many different wine styles.

Article

Norton: New World nobility

The experts surmise Norton is likely a cross between V. aestivalis and an unknown V. vinifera species. There is possibly s

Article

Verdelho: More than Madeira

Verdelho is the most widely planted grape on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

Article

Colombard: Crisp and versatile

Despite its innocuous character, Colombard is a good choice for home winemakers, as it is easy to work with and allows for a wide scope of t

Article

Sauvignon Blanc: The ‘wild white”

Sauvignon Blanc originated in the Loire Valley of France, and people started cultivating it as a wine grape starting sometime in the 19th ce