Terroir may be the most important word in wine and also one of the least useful when left unexplained. Some people treat terroir as an
Tag: wine tasting
Smooth Wine and the Death of Attention
In wine, “smooth” is a dangerous compliment. It sounds harmless. Who could object to smooth? It’s friendly and never interrupts dinner with an opinion about
Is There a “Right” Way to Appreciate a Wine?
I don’t think there is one single right way to appreciate a wine. But that doesn’t mean anything goes. Wine appreciation is not like solving
Expressive Wine Tasting: A New Tasting Model
I think we need a new conversation about wine quality. Wine quality is not about a high score from critics. There are many quality wines
A Defense of Wine Writing That’s Really about Tasting
Terry Theise has long been my favorite wine writer. His book What Makes a Wine Worth Drinking: In Praise of the Sublime played a central
2026: The Year Wine Becomes Expressive
It’s January, which means we are all briefly seized by the delusion that we can become better versions of ourselves by sheer declarative force. We
Exploring the Philosophy of Food and Wine 