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

Kathleen Willcox explains how millennials  have redefined the role of sommelier.

Tom Wark reminisces about Halloween of old.

A group of Masters of Wine visits California with Elaine Chukan Brown.

Julien Miquel tries to open a bottle of wine with a shoe.

Jeremy Parzen has a Go Fund Me campaign for an ad protesting a confederate memorial.

Tom Barras explains how to research what you’re drinking.

Elizabeth Smith interviews Madeline Puckette, creator of Wine Folly

Alfonso Cevola, On the Wine Trail in Italy,  shares links to some his newspaper columns.

For history buffs, Elizabeth’s Vines has the story of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson’s Naples connection and the Marsala wine he served his troops.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts

Crushed Grape Chronicles visits Caderetta’s Southwind Vineyard in Walla Walla Washington.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Fredric Koeppel reviews the Eva Fricke Wisperwind Lorcher Riesling 2015, Rheingau

The Wine Curmudgeon’s Wine of the Week is the Feudo Arancio Stemmari Grillo 2017

Jamie Goode reviews the Gamay 45, Yvon Métras Moulin-à-Vent 2015

The Drunken Cyclist abides Halloween reviewing the 2017 Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz Barossa Valley

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the 2015 Avalon Blend a Zinfandel dominated blend from California.

Tom Lee reviews the Proprietary Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon from William and Mary Winery with fruit sourced from Oak Knoll.

Red Wine Please reviews the lineup from Gooseneck Vineyards which sources grapes and wine from around the world.

Pull That Cork reviews three wines from Left Coast Estate in Willamette Valley

As The Dude abides, Swirling Dervish reviews her Halloween wine, the  2017 Gnarly Dudes Barossa Valley Shiraz

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

W. Blake Gray compares Robert Parker the man with Robert Parker the brand.

The Wine Curmudgeon covers bad wine writing, an ancient wine discovery, and another challenge to three tier.

Jameson Fink is looking forward to Raw Wine New York, which happens next week.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

The Drunken Cyclist is visiting Prague.

Allison Levine helps Fiddlehead Cellars of Sta Rita Hills celebrate their 30th birthday.

Wine Country Getaways explains the differences between Napa and Sonoma.

Good Vitus continues his obsession with Willamette Valley with visits to Penner-Ash and Trisaetum.

Tom Lee visits Limerick Lane Winery in Russian River Valley

Talk A Vino visits Chowdafest held at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport Connecticut

Selected Wine Reviews:

Fredric Koeppel reviews the Fiddlehead Cellars “Seven Twenty Eight” Pinot Noir 2013, Sta. Rita Hills

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the 90 Plus Cellars Lot 158 Beaujolais, 2017

Amber LeBeau reviews the La Vostra Prosecco from Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Amber LeBeau also takes an in depth look at several Bordeaux from 2017 and evaluates their futures offerings.

Lisa Johnston reviews the Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 La Crau

Wine Travel Eats reviews Markham Merlot 2015, Napa Valley

JVB Uncorked reviews Bodegas Lan Rioja Gran Reserva 2010

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

Tom Wark addresses the issue of gender inequities in the wine industry.

Vicki Denig reports on the trend of wineries seeking  their own exclusive appellations.

Randy Caporoso discusses the recent changes at Lodi’s Michael David Winery and gets the scoop on their Politically Correct Red Blend.

Pam Strayer reviews The Sommeliers Atlas of Taste by Raj Parr and Jordan Mackay

Wine Travel Eats reviews Wine Block, a substance designed to protect teeth from red wine stains.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts

Travel Wine Chick explores Biltmore Estates Winery in Asheville, North Carolina

Foxress is kidnapped by Lagana Vineyards in Walla Walla for a evening of imagination and tactile adventures.

BC WIne Trends visits Red Bird Estate Winery in the Kootenays, British Columbia.

Selected Wine Reviews:

The Wine Curmudgeon reviews the Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Larry the Wine Guy reviews the 2016 Cantine Enrico Morando Ruché di Caastgnole Moneferrato D.O.C.G

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the Chronic Cellars Dead Nuts Red Blend from Paso Robles

Pull That Cork reviews the line up from Kenwood Vineyards in Sonoma County

wineOrl takes a deep dive into Jean-Louis Chave wines from the St. Joseph appellation.

Vino Sphere reviews the Wairau River 2016 Pinot Noir, Marlborough

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

Karen MacNeil explains how Latina women are saving the California wine industry.

Cathy Huyge writes of her frustration with the inequalities in the wine industry in light of the Career and Salary Survey Report.

Alfonso Cevola, On the Wine Trail in Italy, contemplates the fate of Italian wine in America, as the U.S unravels.

Tom Hyland wonders how Amarone can be made in an elegant style.

The Wine Gourd asks should there be a floor price on retail sales of alcohol as a way of enhancing public health.

Jamie Goode falls in love with ambergris, a perfume ingredient sourced from whales.

Amber LeBeau has a rundown on some intriguing wine books to be published next month.

Artisan Swiss reviews the first episode of a new Podcast entitled Bâtonnage, created by Fiona Beckett and MV Liam Steevenson.

Cellar Tours explores the wonderful world of wine glasses.

My Wine Pal reports on the 4th Annual Judgment of BC (British Columbia)

The Wine Daily pairs slow cooker chicken mole and Zinfandel.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Amanda Barnes, Around the World in 80 Harvests, has a guide to wine tasting in Chile’s Alto Colchagua region.

Jamie Goode visits Dr. Konstantin Frank, a winery in the Finger Lakes.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Julien Miquel reviews the Northern Rhone wines of E. Guigal.

Tom Lee reviews the 2003 Troplong Mondot, a Saint Emilion Grand Crus and the 2013 Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Hill Ranch Vineyard

Joey Casco reviews Left Coast Cellars White Pinot Noir 2017 from Willamette Valley.

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the 2014 Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Amber LeBeau reviews the 2017 Erath Pinot noir rosé from Oregon.

Alison Levine’s Pick of the Week is the Moscatel de Setubal, a Portuguese fortified wine.

Cindy Rynning reviews the Merlot lineup from Novelty Hill/Januik Wineries from Washington State.

Tim Lemke explores wines from Lugana DOC, a white wine region at the southern tip of Italy’s Lake Garda.

Dallas Wine Chick explores wines from the country of Georgia and from the West Bank, Israel/Palestine.

Red Wine Please reviews William Hill’s North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

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

Tom Wark explains the attractions of Willamette Valley vineyard land compared to Napa or Sonoma.

Tom Wark is also puzzled by the reforming of the old New York State Prohibition Party who seem to be tilting at windmills.

Amber LeBeau wonders whether wine regions, especially Washington State, should base their marketing on entry-level wines.

The Wine Curmudgeon posts an hilarious audio of a skit by Monty Python entitled Australian Table Wine from 1972.

Jeremy Parzen provides information about the soon-to-be released 2019 Slow Wine Guide.

Wine to Five Podcast is talking about Teroldego the grape that hails from Trentino Italy.

Vine Art does some research on whether there has been an increase in independent producers in the South of France.

Pam Strayer at Organic Wines Uncorked, profiles Valpolicella DOC now celebrating its 50th birthday.

Pam Strayer also reports that the Indian Provinces of Punjab and Maharashtra have banned glyphosate herbicides.

The wineORL explores the soils of the Northern Rhone appellation of St. Joseph.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Food Wine Click visits Boneterra Winery, the affordable organic/biodynamic wine from Mendocino.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Allison Levine discusses the virtues of mountain vineyards and reviews a vertical of Cardinale Winery’s Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa.

Reverse Wine Snob reviews Domaine De Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem from Languedoc.

My Wine Pal profiles the wines of South Africa’s Ken Forrester

The Wine Stalker reviews the High Valley Vineyard Cabernet 2015 from Lake County.

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

W. Blake Gray analyzes Constellation Brands decision to offload 4 wine brands in favor of pot.

Deborah Parker Wong discusses the impact of reductive winemaking on the perceived vitality of wine.

Julien Miquel interviews Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly.

Levi Dalton interviews Ehren Jordan of Failla Winery.

Matt Walls has a wine documentary on BBC’s Inside Out.

The Drunken Cyclist is running a contest, the winners of which will accompany him to ZinEx, an annual celebration of Zinfandel.

Cool Climate Wine discusses the current trends changing the wine industry.

Bob on Sonoma claims we are living in the golden age of taste.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Wine Travel Eats visits Solemn Cellars in Walla Walla Washington.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Fredric Koeppel reviews the Jordan Vineyard and Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Alexander Valley

Jamie Goode reviews several Pouilly-Fuissés from Domaine du Roc des Boutires

The Wine Curmudgeon’s wine of the week is the Querceto Tuscan Red Blend 2014

Tom Lee reviews the 2008 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

Lisa Johnston reviews the Seven of Hearts 2016 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Susannah Gold’s Wine of the Week is Kopke Colheita 1978 Port.

Vino Sphere reviews the La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Réserve Brut and the La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Réserve Rosé.

Romania’s Liliac Winery

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

A Master Somm raises more questions about the Court’s handling of the cheating scandal.

Tom Wark critiques the recent interview of Dawson Hobbs, spokesperson for wine distributors accusing him of substantial deception.

The Wine Economist reviews The Wines of Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova by Carolyn Gilby.

The Wine Curmudgeon reports on Kroger wine, reliable wine importers, and problems at All About Beer magazine.

Joey Casco reviews the Wine Folly’s Master Guide Magnum Edition by Madeline Puckett and Justin Hammack

Pam Strayer reports on Bayer’s stock retreat after losing the Glyphosate court case.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Jamie Goode reviews the Champagne Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV France

Jameson Fink tastes 6 Hungarian single-variety rosés from Dúzsi Tamás

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the 2016 Terra Barossa Shiraz

The Gourmez reviews the McCay Trulux Zinfandel 2014 from Lodi.

Susannah Gold tastes the 2003 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild at the Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience.

Wine Travel Eats reviews the Milwaukee Brewers’ Cabernet Sauvignon made from California grapes.

Larry the Wine Guy reviews the 2006 Col Solare Shining Hill while vociferously advising us on how to buy a wine gift.

Ningxia, China

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

Lisa Zimmerman covers the distributor’s perspective on the three tier system with an interview of Dawson Hobbs WSWA’s senior Vice President.

The Wine Curmudgeon reports the 5 things he noticed about Texas wine on an Amarillo road trip.

Jeremy Parzen ponders why we find meaning in drinking a wine older than we are.

L.M. Archer breaks the news that the Coppola family has purchased Vista Hills winery in Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley Oregon.

Randy Caporoso gives us the nitty-gritty on Lodi’s seven AVA’s.

Miquel Hudin reports on the rediscovery of the Spanish grape Mandó.

Food Wine Click participates in the Riedel wine glass seminar.

Cindy Rynning reviews a line of watches with the bands dyed with wine.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Matt Walls visits the Ningxia region of China.

Jamie Goode visits Fox Run Vineyards in the Finger Lakes.

Tom Plant takes a cooking class from The Wine Artist in New Orleans.

Wine Travel Eats visits downtown Walla Walla.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva.

Good Vitis reviews a gewürztraminer, langerin and schiava from Alto Ridge-Südtirol in Northern Italy.

Talk A Vino reviews a red and white blend from Farmhouse Wines produced by Cline Cellars and sold as natural wine.

Lushious Lushes reviews three wines from Hacienda de Arinzano, Spanish wine sold under the Vinos de Pago classification.

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

Jamie Goode tells the story of his journey into wine.

The Wine Gourd has the stats on the repeatability of wine scores among critics.

Alfonso Cevola, On the Wine Trail in Italy, traces the recent history of Tocai Friulano, the white grape from Friuli.

Tom Wark admires the beauty of wine in a polarized world.

Around the World in 80 Harvests provides an informative guide to the Marlborough region of New Zealand.

Margaret Rand has the 2018 Harvest Report from Bordeaux.

Deborah Parker Wong reports on the interest in Sonoma shown by the Bordeaux-based trade show VinExpo Explorer.

Amber LeBeau ponders the wine drinking trends of Generation Z.

The Color of Wine interviews Paula Harrell of P. Harrell Wines

Neel Burton profiles the wines of Corsica.

Wine Country Getaways reports on The Cheeses of Europe presentation at the Wine Blogger’s Conference.

Winery Visits and Travel Posts:

Alder Yarrow tells a sad story of his visit to Vinoptima in Gisborne New Zealand, a winery devoted to only Gewurztraminer which is now in receivership.

Jamie Goode visits Paritua winery in Hawke’s Bay New Zealand.

The Wine Daily visits Sherwin Family Vineyards a beautiful property in Napa Valley.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Fredric Koeppel reviews the Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Riserva 2013

Allison Levine discovers the diversity of Madeira wine.

Martin Redmond profiles the Lirac region of Southern Rhone.

JVB Uncorked reports his bucket list of wines he wants to taste.

Amber LeBeau reviews the 2016 Welsh Family Wines Blaufränkisch from Dauenhauer Farms in the Willamette Valley and the 2009 La Conreria de Scala Dei Priorat from Spain

Tom Lee reviews the 2011 Dehlinger Chardonnay from Russian River.

Wine Travel Eats reviews the Chateau Montelena 2017 Potter Valley Riesling

Tim Lemke discovers value in Red Mountain wine.

Appetite for Wine reviews Dow’s 2012 Late Bottled Vintage Port

Red Wine Please reviews the 2016 Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay

My Wine Pal reviews the Champagne Taittinger Brut Reserve N/V

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

An injured party speaks out about the Court of Master Sommeliers cheating scandal

The Academic Wino summarizes research regarding the effect of vineyard practices on bee populations.

Wine to Five Podcast chats with Evan Goldstein the master of food and wine pairing.

Simon Wolff reviews Tasting the Past: The Science of Flavor and the Search for the Origins of Wine by Kevin Begos.

The Wine Curmudgeon asks if the next phase of the wine slowdown has started.

Washington State Beer and Wine explains how you can help your local winery by volunteering.

Selected Wine Reviews:

Jamie Goode profiles Anthony Road, the excellent Finger Lakes producer.

Allison Levine features Nero d’Avola, the flagship grape of Sicily.

Eric Annino tastes through the lineup of Napa’s ZD Wines.

Reverse Wine Snob reviews the Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare Rosé from California’s Central Coast.

Amber LeBeau profiles Cascade Valley wines, a cooler AVA in Western Washington.

Tom Lee reviews the 2012 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir Estate from Russian River.

Talk-A-Vino takes a deep dive into Washington State Merlot comparing several examples with wines from Napa’s Duckhorn Vineyards

Lisa Johnson reviews the Hedonist Shiraz 2017 a biodynamic wine from McLaren Vale, and Cadmus Wines Malbec from Tupungato, Argentina.