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

1 Wine Dude’s wine product roundup for this month includes many items suitable as gifts for wine lovers.

Chewin’ Over Eats and Drinks has good advice for pairing wine and beer with BBQ.

Pam Strayer reports on scaling up biodynamic vineyards.

Threads and Vino interviews Connecticut’s Michele McAuliffe owner/winemaker of R Dee Winery

wineOrl profiles Champagne’s Côte des Bar sub-region

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Wine Travel Eats profiles Cain Vineyards on Spring Mountain, master of the use of brett as a flavor component.

Amanda Barnes visits New Zealand’s Stonyridge Vineyards,

Selected Wine Reviews:

Jamie Goode tastes the 2015 Barbarescos and 2014 Barolos with Gaia Gaja

Meg Houston Maker reviews the 2016 Gustave Lorentz Pinot Gris Alsace.

Fredric Koeppel reviews the Alois Lageder “Fórra” Manzoni Bianco 2016

Steve Heimoff reviews several newly released Pinot Noir from Sonoma’s En Garde.

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Cotes du Roussillon Villages Rouge from M. Chapoutier.

The Drunken Cyclist profiles Martini and Rossi’s sparkling wines.

The Wine Curmudgeon’s wine of the week is the Falesco Vitiano Rosso 2015

Amber LeBeau reviews the 2013 Amici Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Tom Lee reviews new releases from Lauren Ashton Cellars

Tom Plant profiles several wineries in San Diego County’s Ramona Valley, an underappreciated wine region.

Vino Sphere reviews the Bollina Corte Medicea 2015 ‘Cletus’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany

Crushed Grape Chronicles profiles Maloof Wines a relatively new winery in Willamette Valley

Aaron Nix Gomez reviews two rosé, a Spatburgunder from Pfalz and a Grenache/Cinsault from Languedoc-Roussillon

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

Tom Wark is not happy with conjunctive label laws that require Sub AVA’s to put the larger region they are part of on the label.

W. Blake Gray reports on attempts to grow grapes in an inhospitable part of Red Mountain AVA where there’s no soil or water.

The Wine Curmudgeon comments on weed and food pairings, wine clubs, and wine and health

Jameson Fink reports on a comparative tasting of Chardonnay from Australia, France, and California.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Allison Levine has advice on where to stay, eat and drink in Downtown Napa.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Jamie Goode tastes several Sherries of various styles.

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the Monopole Rhapsody Bull’s Blood from Eger, Hungary.

Lisa Johnston reviews the Saint Cosme “Little James Basket Press” Blanc 2017 from Gigondas.

Aaron Nix Gomez reviews the 2017 Chateau Coupe Roses, Bastide, from Minervois

Tom Lee reviews the 2009 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Koplen Vineyard, Russian River

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

Tom Hyland explores the pre-Phylloxera vines from Mt. Etna

Tom Wark rebuts a recent defense of the three tier system by Rob Tobiassen, former Chief Attorney for the Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

Amber Lebeau argues that Washington State should avoid specializing in a single grape.

The Wine Curmudgeon makes a movie about sommeliers and Bogart.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Wine Travel Eats visits Doffo Wines in Temecula.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Meg Houston Maker reviews an unusual varietal in the U.S., the 2017 Sidebar Kerner from Mokelumne River Lodi.

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the Crios Red Blend from Uco Valley, Mendoza

Jameson Fink reviews the François Villard Viognier “Les Contours de Deponcins” 2015

Pull That Cork profiles Aridus Wine Company from Willcox, Arizona.

Larry the Wine Guy reviews the 2015 Poggio Gli Angeli Sangiovese from Toscana IGT.

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

Oliver Styles wonders why wine shops and winery stores don’t take more care to properly cellar their wines.

Tom Wark ponders the future of wine.

The Wine Curmudgeon talks to Andrew Stover a distributor and supporter of local wines.

The Wine Gourd tracks the number of wineries in the U.S.

Alfonso Cevola, On The Wine Trail in Italy, recounts his history with Erbaluce, a relatively obscure grape from Piemonte.

Alder Yarrow promotes the upcoming Masters of Wine Champagne Tasting in San Francisco.

Cindy Rynning hosts a discussion of the past, present, and future of Vinho Verde.

Amber Lebeau has a list of wine podcasts worth listening to, focusing especially on Wine for Normal People’s discussion of Tuscan wine regions.

Dallas Wine Chick delves into the history of Montepulciano DOCG.

Helen Conway has the facts and figures on Welsh and English wine and the wines of New South Wales Australia.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Jamie Goode tastes several Cape Wines from South Africa and several more here.

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the Leitz Eins Zwei Dry Riesling “3” from Rheingau

Fredric Koeppel reviews Tenuta Sant’Antonio Nanfrè 2016, Valpolicella Superiore.

Issac Baker reviews several Alsatian Gewurztraminer.

Jameson Fink reviews the  2017 Delinquente Wine Co. “Tuff Nutt” Bianco d’Alessano (Riverland)

Food Wine Click tastes forbidden foods and stinky wines from Cahors.

Helen Conway tastes through an intriguing lineup of Welsh wines.

Red Wine Please reviews the line up from Georges Deboeuf’s new line of wines from Pays d’Oc.

Tom Lee reviews the 2004 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir River Block Vineyard

Tim Lemke reviews the 2016 P.J. Valckenberg, Riesling from Rheinhessen.

Amber Lebeau reviews the 2007 Beringer Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Crushed Grape Chronicles reviews several Malbecs from Cahors.

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

1 WineDude reports on the biodynamic preparations at Troon Vineyards in Oregon.

The Academic Wino has all you need to know about disgorgement and dosage in sparkling wines.

The Wine Curmudgeon reports on his experience at the Colorado Governor’s Cup 2018

Natalie Sellers has the list of Chile’s most expensive wines.

Amanda Barnes, Around the World in 80 Harvests, profiles Portugal’s Dão wine region.

Peter Pharos says huzzah for the wine marketeer. All clap!

Wine to Five Podcast is about a wine-fuelled summer trip across Europe.

wineORL profiles Jacques Lassaigne making grower Champagne in Montgueux

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

The Drunken Cyclist is nearly finished with his ordeal—Day 8 of the 10 worst days of his life in Beaujolais.

Wine Travel Eats visits Palumbo Family Winery in Temecula.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Fredric Koeppel asks and answers What’s the Deal with Malbec?

Meg Houston Maker reviews the 2016 Kingston Family Vineyards Chardonnay Sabino Casablanca Valley, Chile

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the 2014 Pertinace Barbera d’Alba

Tom Lee reviews Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot #67

Aaron Nix Gomez reviews two from Montefalco Sagrentino

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

W. Blake Gray praises the cellaring potential of Verdicchio.

Vine Art discusses the issue of French vineyard subsidies.

Jeremy Parzen revises his opinion of California wines.

Pam Strayer responds to criticism of her recent articles criticizing Sonoma’s sustainability programs.

Jameson Fink’s podcast “What We’re Tasting” is devoted to Chilean wine.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Michelle Williams visits Germany’s Pfalz region.

Jamie Goode tastes some very old red wines from South Africa.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Meg Houston Maker reviews the 2016 Kingston Pinot Noir Alazan Casablanca Valley

The Wine Curmudgeon’s Wine of the Week is the Spanish white, Ipsum, 2017

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the 2014 Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon from California.

Cindy Rynning profiles Franciacorta, the sparkling wine from Northern Italy.

Amber Lebeau reviews the 2014 Patz & Hall Hyde Vineyard Pinot noir

Aaron Nix Gomez reviews the 2014 St. Innocent, Pinot Noir, Zenith Vineyard, Eola-Amity Hills

The Swirling Dervish reviews the lineup from Murrieta’s Well in Livermore Valley.

Crushed Grape Chronicles profiles Deven Morgenstern of Willamette Valley’s Joyful Noise.

Appetite for Wine reviews Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port

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

The Wine Economist has five interesting facts about U.S. wine sales.

Julien Miquel wonders how blockchain technology will change wine.

Tom Lee releases his 2018 Power Rankings of wineries creating buzz.

The Wine Curmudgeon has brief notes on Kent Rosenblum, North Dakota wine, and Australian prosecco

Pam Strayer reports on the organic wines in Wine and Spirits Top 100.

Amber Lebeau extolls the virtues of Zinfandel, even the less expensive bottles.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Meg Houston Maker reviews the 2016 William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Fourchaume

Jamie Goode finds some stunning old vine South African white wines.

Allison Levine profiles several Pineau Des Charentes, the fortified wine from Cognac.

The wineORL tastes a vertical of Fontodi’s Flaccionello della Pieve, a Super Tuscan made from Sangiovese.

Aaron Nix Gomez reviews the 2016 Vincent Paris, St. Joseph Les Cotes

Luscious Lushes profiles Cava sparkling wine, especially the Cava house Codorniu.

Good Vitis profiles Martin Woods Winery from Willamette Valley along with something about obsession and Anthony Bourdain.

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

Lisa Zimmerman summarizes the findings from Silicon Valley Bank’s annual State of the Industry Report released earlier this year.

W. Blake Gray distinguishes wine myths from the facts

Tom Wark explains why he’s attending the 2018 Wine Blogger’s Conference in Walla Walla.

Grape Encounters radio interviews wine writer Elaine Chukan Brown.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Fredric Koeppel reviews the the Zocker “Paragon Vineyard” Grüner Veltliner 2016 from San Luis Obispo.

The Wine Curmudgeon reviews the 2015 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay

JVB Uncorked reviews Alexander Winery, 2009 Reserve Merlot, Galilee, Israel.

Amber LeBeau reviews the 2013 Sheridan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Threads and Vino reviews the lineup from Napa’s Viader Winery and interviews Delia and Alan Viador.

Pull That Cork reviews recent releases from Concho y Toro.

Reverse Wine Snob reviews Tangent’s Sauvignon Blanc and Rose in a can.

Vino Sphere reviews several wines from Cremisan Winery located near Bethlehem, Israel.

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

Karen MacNeil takes restaurants to task for substituting Prosecco for Champagne

Alfonso Cevola, On the Wine Trail in Italy, has a personal history with Trebbiano Abruzzese

Matt Walls discusses classification systems and how they are changing (or not) as wine styles change.

Pam Strayer has part 2 of the dark side of Sonoma’s sustainability movement.

The Wine Gourd investigates how many Australian wineries have survived several generations as family businesses.

Amanda Barnes, Around the World in 80 Harvests, profiles Leon Coetzee of South Africa’s  The Fledge and Co.

Jeremy Parzen has images from his trip to California for the Slow Wine Guide.

Amber Lebeau discusses the explosion in the number of people sitting for the Court’s Master Somm exam.

wineORL has an introduction to the best climats in Hermitage.

My Wine Tribe asks what makes a great wine tasting experience.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

The Drunken Cyclist is in Day 7 of the 10 worst days of his life in Beaujolais.

Alice Feiring visits the Northern Rhone and beyond.

Amanda Barnes, Around the World in 80 Harvests, visits Cloudy Bay in Marlborough, NZ.

Talk A Vino visits Galer Estate Winery in Eastern Pennsylvania,.

Pull that Cork has Part 2 of their visit to Willcox, Arizona.

Dallas Wine Chick visits Terralsole Winery in Brunello di Montalcino.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Meg Houston Maker reviews the 2014 Ramey Syrah Rodgers Creek Vineyard Sonoma Coast

Tom Lee reviews the 2007 Cuvée du Vatican Réserve Sixtine, and the 2015 Steele Zinfandel Pacini Vineyard from Lake County

The Wine Daily evaluates Trader Joe’s branded wines.

Amber Lebeau reviews the 2013 Ridge Lytton Springs from Sonoma County.

Tim Lemke reviews the Feravino, Dika, Graševina (Welschriesling) from Croatia.

Cindy Rynning investigates wines from Crete paired with Shrimp, Feta, and Tomatoes.

The Swirling Dervish pairs 2014 Mercouri Estate Foloi, a Greek wine made from the Roditis grape, with grilled swordfish.

Red Wine Please reviews several wines from Peter Zimmer of Alto Adige.

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

Tom Wark announces that the Vinous fellowship for aspiring wine writers has returned, and Linfield College in McMinnville has created a degree program in Wine Studies.

Tom Jarvis wonders if there is an explanation for why he has bad “wine days” when nothing tastes good.

W. Blake Gray profiles the rare varietal Lacrima di Morro d’Alba

Allison Levine discusses the history of Zinfandel with Dr. Carole Meredith, a grapevine geneticist and proprietor of Napa’s Lagier Meredith.

Amber Lebeau advises caution when buying a “birth year” wine.

Odd Ball Grape tests the hypothesis that variety-specific glasses make a difference in the flavor of the wine.

This week’s Wine-to-Five Podcast discusses Arizona wine.

A Must Read profiles Bordeaux’s esteemed Château Cos d’Estournel including their marketing strategies.

Pam Strayer reports that Waitrose, the UK supermarket is selling 57% more organic wine this year.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Aaron Menenberg reports on the best wines in Virginia’s Monticello AVA, part 1.

Jamie Goode visits Peller Estates in Niagara, Canada.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Fredric Koeppel reviews the Coltibuono Selezione “RS” Chianti Classico 2015

The Wine Curmudgeon finds several good wines for under $10 at an Italian grocery.

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the 2014 Painted Passage GSM from Sonoma.

Aaron Nix Gomez reviews the 2015 Arterberry Maresh, Pinot Noir, from Willamette Valley’s Dundee Hills

The Drunken Cyclist reviews several rosés from Terlato’s portfolio.