A daily sample of thoughtful writing and discussion from (mostly) independent wine blogs:

Don Kavanaugh reports on why a large study of the health effects of alcohol was shut down.

This week’s Wine to Five Podcast gets geekio with Verdicchio.

Jeremy Parzen provides more helpful driving tips for visitors to Italy, especially navigating the restricted driving areas.

Amanda Barnes reports on how South American wineries are pushing the boundaries.

Strong Coffee to Red Wine is enthusiastic about the wine preserver Repour.

The Wine Curmudgeon is giving away free wine books to celebrate his 11th  annual rose week and reviews several in time for Memorial Day.

Selected Reviews:

Meg Houston Maker reviews the 2017 Limerick Lane Rosé Russian River Valley

Jamie Goode reviews several wines from Dona Berta, a producer from Douro Portugal.

Fredric Koeppel reviews the Lucien Crochet Sancerre 2015

Allison Levine profiles Giacomo Borgogno – The Original Barolo.

Cindy Rynning outlines the Rhone Valley and reviews several wines from the North and South.

The Drunken Cyclist reviews several wines in cans.

Tom Lee reviews 2010 Betz Family Syrah La Côte Patriarche

Seth Buckley profiles the Maui Food and Wine Festival and New Zealand’s Mt. Beautiful Winery.

John Fodera profiles the new winery at Antinori’s Pèppoli estate and reviews the  2015 Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico

A daily sample of thoughtful writing and discussion from (mostly) independent wine blogs:

Jeremy Parzen reports on the use of reserved grape must (SoloUva) rather than refined sugar in the dosage and tirage of sparkling wine.

Bob on Sonoma describes the various jobs available in the wine industry if you’re contemplating a career move.

1 Wine Dude reviews a book on Godforsaken grapes, free Wine Art Prints, and sunglasses made of cork.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Jo Diaz reports on Stags Leap District ‘Vineyard to Vintner’ annual event held at several wineries in Stags Leap.

Tom Plant discovers what’s new in Temecula, CA.

Selected Reviews:

Julien Miquel reviews  the 2015 Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc, Bordeaux White wine from Pessac-Léognan, France

The Wine Curmudgeon is surprised at the quality of the widely available La Vielle Ferme Rose 2017.

Fredric Koeppel predicts a very long life for this Domaine Ostertag Muenchberg Riesling 2014, Alsace Grand Cru,

The Wine Daily profiles Chateau Peyfaures’ Dame de Coeur cuvée, a Merlot based wine from Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux.

Vino-Sphere tastes several Albariño from Spain’s Rías Baixas region.

A daily sample of thoughtful writing and discussion from (mostly) independent wine blogs:

The Wine Economist reports on prospects for sales of French wine in the U.S. market.

Julien Miquel posts a handy infograph on alcohol levels in various wine styles.

Natalie Sellers at Wine Searcher runs through the world’s most searched for Chardonnays.

Tom Wark sings the praises of Seven Fifty Daily’s coverage of the alcohol industry.

Schiller-Wine has a primer on various styles of sparkling wine from around the world.

Selected Reviews:

Meg Houston Maker reviews the 2014 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Sunbasket Vineyard St. Helena Napa Valley

Fredric Koeppel reviews the San Simeon Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

The Wine Curmudgeon summarizes reviews of rosé from around the Internet in celebration of rosé week.

Jamie Goode reviews several 2015 reds from Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

Susannah Gold explores the Falanghina grape from Campi Flegrei in Campania, Italy.

Food Wine Click serves Beef Bourguignon on a Stick accompanied by the Domaine Pierre Amiot et Fils Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Blanchards AOC 2011

A daily sample of thoughtful writing and discussion from (mostly) independent wine blogs:

Meg Houston Maker posts her keynote remarks about the nature of farming presented at a trade event in Vancouver.

Alfonso Cevola, On the Wine Trail in Italy, writes about the persistence of Italian culture in a world of change.

The Wine Curmudgeon kicks off rose week with a discussion of trends in the wine business regarding rose.

Good Vitis pays tribute to Koerner Rombauer owner of the iconic Rombauer Vineyards who recently passed away.

Susannah Gold wonders what drives people to read wine blogs in 2018.

Jameson Fink writes about the virtues of sweet wine.

Jeremy Parzen has some useful advice for driving in Italy.

Bob on Sonoma has a brief profile of Anderson Valley in Mendocino.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Fredric Koeppel reviews the Scheid Vineyards Grüner Veltliner 2016, from Monterey County

A daily sample of thoughtful writing and discussion from (mostly) independent wine blogs:

Margaret Rand reports on investor interest in Port.

1 Wine Dude takes down Naked Wines for their demonstrably false claims about wine criticism.

The Wine Gourd distinguishes between guesses, predictions, and forecasts in the wine industry.

Around the World in 80 Harvests profiles the Loire Valley.

Bob on Sonoma tells true stories from the tasting room.

Cindy Rynning defines frequently used words found in tasting notes.

My Wine Pal has the low down on British Columbia’s 2017 Vintage.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts

Elizabeth Smith visits Greenwood Ridge Vineyards in Anderson Valley.

wineOrl tastes several Carricante-based wines from the eastern and southern slopes of Mt. Etna at  the trade show,  Contrada dell’Etna

Vino Sphere visits Lambert Bridge in the Dry Creek region of Sonoma.

Around the World in 80 Harvests visits L’And Vineyards, Alentejo, Portugal

Alan Tardi visits Le Printemps des Champagnes, the 5 day trade event held in Champagne.

Selected Reviews:

Jamie Goode reviews the Hermit Ram Pinot Noir Whole Bunch 2017 North Canterbury, New Zealand

Fredric Koeppel reviews Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “Karia” Chardonnay 2012, Napa Valley

Issac Baker profiles the wines of Alsace.

Wine Travel Eats profiles Côtes de Bordeaux and links to several posts covering these relatively inexpensive Bordeaux wines.

Red Wine Please reviews the 2017 Domaine de Bila-Haut Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Pays d’Oc Rosé from Chapoutier.

JVB Uncorked reviews  the Withers Winery 2015 Peters Vineyard Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast.

Susannah Gold reviews the Tenuta Fontana Campania Falanghina Civico 2 2017 and compares it to the wines of Falanghina del Sannio DOP

Tom Lee reviews the 2010 Dehlinger Chardonnay from Russian River.

Talk a Vino continues their series on the wines of Southwest France.

A daily sample of thoughtful writing and discussion from (mostly) independent wine blogs:

Julien Miquel explores the styles, aromas and stories of Riesling, an educational post.

The Wine Curmudgeon exposes the flaws in premiumization, the trend toward charging higher prices for wine.

The Academic Wino reports on a study of grapevine shoot chips as an oak substitute.

Tim Atkin reports on industry consolidation in UK supermarkets and its effect on wine quality.

John Fodera chats with Castello Banfi’s General Manager Enrico Viglierchio and supplies tasting notes as well.

Natalie Sellers profiles the most sought-after wines from Napa.

Bob On Sonoma provides some helpful advice on starting a tasting group.

Wine to Five Podcast this week chats about Ice Wine.

Allison Levine reports on Adam Lee’s new project Clarice Wine and their innovative marketing and sales program.

Selected Reviews:

Jamie Goode reviews the Domaine Vincent Carême Vouvray Sec 2015 Loire, France

Fredric Koeppel approves of the Robert Biale Old Kraft Vineyard Zinfandel 2016, from St. Helena.

Lisa Johnston reviews the English sparkler, Kit’s Coty Blanc de Blanc 2013.

Tom Lee reviews the 2008 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard from one of Washington State’s iconic wineries.

A daily sample of thoughtful writing and discussion from (mostly) independent wine blogs:

Alfonso Cevola, On the Wine Trail in Italy, profiles Valdobbiadene: The Spiritual Center of Italy’s Wine World.

Dr. Vino looks at Sotheby’s wine auction market.

The Wine Economist discusses the market potential of Languedoc, Roussillan, and the Loire Valley

Allison Levine profiles several women winemakers participating in a panel discussion “The Future is Female: The Next Generation of American Wine.”

Julien Miquel lists the top 200 famous  wine names in Napa.

Jamie Goode has photos and a video of Pinhão station and its famous tiles in Pinhão Portugal.

The Wine Curmudgeon covers Ice tea wine, wine delivery apps, and a screwcap made of cork.

Selected Reviews:

The Wine Doctor posts Part 2 of his survey of Bordeaux 2017.

The Wine Daily profiles McGuigan Wines The Plan, a bestselling Aussie wine about to enter the U.S. market.

Reverse Wine Snob reviews Locations E, the Spanish sourced blend from Dave Phinney.

Talk a Vino covers the Southwest of France an ancient wine region and the place from which the French Paradox was launched.

JVB Uncorked reviews the Lucas & Lewellen 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County, CA

Tom Lee reviews the 2009 Carlisle Zinfandel Martinelli Road Vineyard

Vino Sphere reviews Bookcliff Vineyards 2015 Malbec, Grand Valley, Colorado, one of Colorado’s top wineries.

My Wine Tribe profiles Stags’ Leap’s winemaker Christophe Paubert.

Aaron Nix-Gomez reviews the 2015 Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine, Domaine de Thalabert, Crozes-Hermitage

L.M. Archer reviews a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Brut Nature Rosé from Beauregard Vineyards from Central Coast’s Ben Lomond Mountain AVA

Winery Architecture: Valdemonjas, Paredes

A daily sample of thoughtful writing and discussion from (mostly) independent wine blogs:

Richard Hemming MW posts a guide to essential wine stats and resources for 2018.

Tom Wark wonders if the  migration out of CA to Oregon is good or bad for wine sales?

The Wine Curmudgeon celebrates the demise of the Kuvee wine gadget.

Julien Miquel posts links to the top 12 most viral wine videos ever.

Miquel Hudin visits with Chiara Mondavi and profiles Continuum, the winery launched after the Mondavi split.

Bob on Sonoma reports on the Garigiste Wine Festival, a festival featuring very small producers held in Sonoma.

Selected Reviews:

Jamie Goode reviews the grower Champagne, Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Blanc de Blancs.

In a much needed post, Amanda Schuster reviews several Rosés for pink wine haters.

The Wine Doctor assesses the 2017 vintage in Bordeaux.

Fredric Koeppel reviews the FEL Wines Pinot Gris 2017, from Anderson Valley.

Tom Lee summarizes a week of Zinfandel reviews.

Aaron Nix Gomez reviews two from Cotes Du Rhone, the 2016 Raymond Usseglio, Les Claux and the 2015 Domaine Alary, La Brunote, Cairanne.

Michele Williams profiles the Primativos of Cantine San Marzano in Puglia.

Tamara Belgard profiles “History”, the special project from winemaker Melissa Burr of Oregon’s Stoller Family Estate.

A daily sample of thoughtful writing and discussion from (mostly) independent wine blogs:

Wine data guru David Morrison analyzes the scores from the Judgment of Paris and discovers a lack of repeatability among quality assessments.

Caroline Henry reports on Champagne’s disastrous 2017 vintage.

Silicon Valley Bank on Wine posts new data on direct to consumer sales.

Red Wine Please interviews USA Commissioner of the Italian Trade Agency, Maurizio Forte, regarding their new campaign to promote Italian wine.

Cellar Tours profiles the sparkling wines of Portugal.

Amanda Barnes, Around the World in 80 Harvests, interviews Portuguese winemaker Nicholas Delaforce about the different styles of Port, and explores the terroir of the Douro with Quinta Do Crasto.

Bob on Sonoma is fed up with the current fascination for pink drinks.

The Wine Curmudgeon answers questions about European wine consumption, wine refrigerators, and how much wine he drinks.

Selected Reviews:

Julien Miquel explores the summery spritzer White Port and Tonic.

Isaac Baker profiles Adam Lee’s new project Clarice Wine Company’s Pinot Noirs.

Jamie Goode reviews the Terras Gauda O Rosal 2017 , an Albariño from Rías Baixas, Spain.

Fredric Koeppel reviews the Sidebar Old Vine Zinfandel 2016, Russian River Valley

The Drunken Cyclist explores several rosés from Provence.

The Grape Belt discovers the virtues of Pet Nat at Old Westminster Winery in Maryland.

Tim Lee’s Zinfandel of the Month is  the 2015 Klinker Brick Winery Old Vine Zinfandel

Talk A Vino samples several Rosés from Provence and Lodi, CA.

Allison Levine’s picks of the week are several white wines from Crotia, especially the indigenous varietals GRK and Pošip.

Rockin’ Red Blog explores several rosés from Lodi.

A daily sample of thoughtful writing and discussion from (mostly) independent wine blogs:

Karen MacNeil explores the question  of whether women tend to be better wine tasters than men.

Jamie Goode argues that it’s not just the wine but the heritage and tradition that make wine alluring.

The Wine Curmudgeon makes Mother’s Day wine recommendations.

Julien Miquel reports on the comeback of the ancient Italian grape Falerno.

Mark Angelillo came away from Prowein, the international food and wine trade show, with 5 grapes that are about to attract more attention.

Jeremy Parzen views one of 10 existing copies of iorgio Gallesio’s Pomona italiana (Italian Pomology), the landmark work of 19th Century botany.

Wine to Five Podcast this week focuses on the food and wine of Mallorca with Martin Ward of Wine Educator’s International.

Allison Levine celebrates the 200th Anniversary of Champagne Billecart-Salmon.

Talk-A-Vino interviews Tony Rynders of Tendril Wine Cellars in Willamette Valley.

Winey Visits and Travel Posts:

Vino Sphere visits Shadow Springs Vineyard, North Carolina.

Selected Reviews:

Fredric Koeppel reviews the Lucas & Lewellen Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Santa Barbara County.

My Wine Pal keeps us up to date on the latest Aussie wines we should try.

A Must Read keeps us up to date on Okanagan Valley wines we should try.