Chik Brenneman

Posts

• 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

• Article

  Grenache: An international blender

  In the vineyard, Grenache is extremely vigorous and needs a long growing season to mature all of its fruit.

• Article

  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

• Article

  Merlot: Noble grape of Bordeaux

  . . . Merlot is the most common grape variety grown in France with about 280,000 acres.

• Article

  Nero d’Avola: The red grape of Sicily

  . . . Sicily’s legacy of red wine is all about Nero d’Avola, second only to Catarratto Bianco. There are almost 18,000 hectares (about 4

• Article

  Marquette: A hardy cold-climate hybrid

  If you are looking for a cold-tolerant red grape, Marquette might be the varietal for you. Bred in Minnesota, this hybrid can withstand temp

• Article

  Montepulciano

  To understand Montepulciano the grape, you also have to understand the difference with Montepulciano the place. Chik Brenneman takes you on

• Article

  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

• Article

  High Acids, Low Tannins: Barbera

  Barbera is a favorite among winemakers because its high acidity makes it a useful grape for blending and also a unique varietal wine. Get ti

• Article

  Pinotage: The Red Grape of South Africa

  Pinotage is the most recognized — though not the most widely grown — South African red wine grape.

• Article

  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.

• Article

  Syrah: Versatile, bold and colorful

  Australia recognizes Syrah as Shiraz. It is presumed that the name stuck as the cuttings that were brought to the country in the 1830s by Ja

• Article

  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

  Wine Blending Partners

  Blending accomplishes several goals in winemaking. It can be done to improve flavor, mouthfeel, cover a defect, balance the chemical profile

• Article

  Cabernet Sauvignon: The king of red wine grapes

  Cabernet Sauvignon is known for making some of the world’s most robust red wines.

• Article

  Gewürztraminer

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

• Article

  Cabernet Franc: The “other” Cabernet king

  Cabernet Franc is thought to have originated in Southwest France, specifically in Libournais.

• Technique

  Wines Two Ways: Oaked and Unoaked

  To understand flavor balance in your wine, you must first understand some of the basic principles to consider when deciding whether or not t

• Article

  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

• Article

  Chambourcin: A vigorous, dark hybrid

  . . . (Chambourcin) does get a little more respect than other hybrids because of its ability to improve color in other wines without taking

• Article

  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

• Article

  Sangiovese: The king of Tuscany

  Grapes in Tuscany are a way of life, and Sangiovese, the red workhorse of Tuscany through the millennia, is as noble as they get — well, d

• Article

  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.

• Article

  Marechal Foch

  Marechal Foch is a cold-climate red grape that has dispersed plantings in the Midwest, Northeast, and Canada.

• Article

  Muscadine: A taste of the South

  Muscadine is a grape variety from the South that is used in many culinary recipes, but also makes a fine wine.