White Grape Varietals

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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

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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

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Riesling: German nobility

To this day, I consider that Riesling vintage one of the best wines I ever made, and I wish I could find a bottle or two in my cellar to tas

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Versatile Viognier

It was not long ago that Viognier was almost an extinct grape varietal. Luckily for wine fans, both grape growers and winemakers have learne

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La Crescent: Cold-Climate Hybrid

Looking for a cold-hardy white to grow in a colder northern clime? Meet the University of Minnesota’s La Crescent.

Technique

Making La Crescent Wine: Tips from the Pros

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Chenin Blanc: The taste of terroir

Viticulturists in the Loire Valley tend to describe its flavor as an expression of the terroir of the land.

Technique

Making Riesling Roundtable

Riesling can be made into a variety of wine styles, from bone dry to icewine, and can be enjoyed early or aged for a decade or more. Five pr

Technique

Growing Riesling Grapes: Tips from the Pros

Technique

Chardonnay Winemaking Tips from Burgundy

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Gewürztraminer

Alsace vineyards are tucked into the predominantly east facing slopes of the Vosges Mountains . . .

Technique

15 Wine Kits to Try

In a rut making the same styles of wine time after time? Here are 15 different wine styles we’d recommend making from kits.

Technique

15 Wine Styles You Need to Make

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Pinot Gris/Grigio The name says it all, or does it?

Unknown to the science at the time, these genetic mutations were first noticed hundreds of years ago in Burgundy, France, where the mutants

Wine-wizard

Making Dry Muscat

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Torrontés: An alternative to the common whites

I was particularly drawn to Torrontés because of the Muscat-like flavors, but another reason was because of the challenge it presents from

Technique

Perfecting Pinot Grigio

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Pinot Blanc: A grape with an identity crisis

Pinot Blanc — one of the offspring of Pinot Noir — is waiting for its 15 minutes of fame to come around.

Vidal Blanc

Vidal Blanc was originally develloped for Cognac production in the cold maritime regions of western France. Today it is a go-to grape in the

Technique

Native American Grape Varietals

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Albariño/Alvarinho: The wine of Galicia

Albariño/Alvarinho is the grape of the Spanish region of Galacia, and it’s catching on in the States too.

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Müller-Thurgau: Germany’s other white grape

Prior to giving way to Riesling at the turn of the century, Müller-Thurgau was the most prominent white grape in Germany. It is still very

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The Many Shades of Muscat

Muscat is a complex family of grapes with a distinctive aroma tying them all together. There are hundreds of Muscat varieties, both white an

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Symphony: 40 Years in the Making

Symphony is a white grape bred from Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris by Dr. Harold Olmo. Grown in California, Symphony grapes are foun

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The many wines of Chardonel

Chardonel, as the name implies, has Chardonnay as one of its parents and is used to make similar wine styles. Its popularity is largely alon