Category: Ramblings and Rants

ChatGPT, Wine Writing, and Sommelier Education
Much hay has been made in recent weeks as the wine world grapples with the implications of ChatGPT specifically, and

The Definitive List of Latinx-Owned Wineries in America
To your average wine drinker, they are invisible. Just as they are to your average lettuce eater. But make no

The Definitive List of Black-Owned Wineries Around the Globe
It has been amazing to watch the shift in wine news coverage in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and

Representation Matters in Wine Stock Photography
Two years ago, any search in a stock photography database for a phrase along the lines of “people drinking wine”

The Wine Industry is Headed For Self-Inflicted Decrepitude
They say that you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. It seems like we’re

Ingredient Labeling In Prospect in the US
On the heels of new EU requirements to make ingredient and allergen information available to consumers on wine labels (enforceable from 8

The R-Word
It’s the time of year for reflecting on the past and planning for the future. But the American wine industry

The 2022 Vinography Gift Guide for Your Favorite Wine Lover
It’s that time of year again. It remains to be seen just how badly the hangover of supply-chain disruptions will

Dispell That Thanksgiving Wine Anxiety
The American Thanksgiving holiday always brings with it a predictable set of responses. Americans fret over what wine to serve

Unexpected Blends
The combination of ongoing climate chaos and the shifting demographics of wine drinkers have driven some California wine producers to

Tastebuds Suck! Long Live The Olfactory Bulb
Those of you who follow me on Instagram or Twitter will know that I’ve recently returned from a press trip

Hey Colorado, Join the 21st Century!
I know, it’s scary. Change is so daunting. And voting for it is even more so. I know you’re worried

“Blind Ambition” Is the Wine Movie the World Needs Right Now
People of my generation will always remember the infamous Jamaican bobsled team. The unlikely story of four guys from the

New Rules For Serving Alcohol
In California, where I live, it is illegal for me to be served alcohol by someone whose attire exposes the

Americanization or Improvement? Tailoring Wine for Export
I spend a good deal of time traveling to wine regions around the world, tasting and talking. My interests in

Pix—The Inside Story
American wine isn’t keeping up with the digital technology revolution, and it hasn’t been for a long while. I’m not

Inflation Looms for CA Wine
In last month’s column, I covered the rise in California’s grape prices in the wake of disastrous fires and two light vintages,
Pix Wasn’t the Only Wine Tech Failure I’ve Seen Up-Close
If you’re lucky, you’ve been blissfully unaware of the hullabaloo (mostly on Twitter) surrounding my recent column for Jancis Robinson