Category: Ramblings and Rants

Australia as a Lesson on Currency and the Wine Industry
. Thanks to the vagaries of the international currency markets, the Australian Dollar has appreciated greatly against the Euro, and

Gallo and Constellation Screwed by U.S. Tort Law
I’m sure I’m going to catch hell for this post from any number of quarters, but it needs to be

The States of Wine Shipping
‘It will cost the economy thousands of jobs.’ ‘It will reduce tax revenues and destroy retailers.’ ‘It will result in

The Essence of Wine: Honey
Image © 2012 Leigh Beisch Sunshine, gathered from flowers by tiny apian efforts, forged into ambrosia that tasted of immortality

The Essence of Wine: Earth
Image © 2012 Leigh Beisch Earth. The first of the elements that the ancients held as the basis for all
Introducing The Essence of Wine
Many facets of wine contribute to its allure and mystery. But foremost among wine’s most magical qualities must be the

Reflections on 8 Years of Wine Blogging
Eight years ago, I decided that instead of giving my friends the same advice over and over again about my

Knock it Off: Things I’d Like to See Disappear From the Wine World in 2012
. Actually, I wrote an article for Fine Cooking Magazine‘s last issue with five New Years wine resolutions. Mine were
You Won Tickets to the ZAP Zinfandel Festival!
Thanks to everyone who submitted Zinfandel themed haiku poems as entries for a chance to win tickets to the ZAP

Happy New Year. I’m Not Recommending Any Sparkling Wine.
2011 comes to a close. If you’re a wine consumer, and one that likes to read about wine, you’ve been

2011 Tests U.S. Vintners
‘Mildew, botrytis, blue mould, green mould, you name it, it was everywhere. This is the most difficult vintage I’ve ever
Looking for Bias in All the Wrong Places
, the wine and spirits columnist for Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper, wine critics from any country with a significant
Ensuring Organic Wine’s Lousy Reputation for Years to Come
I’ll bet you didn’t know there was an anti-sulfur lobby did you? Sure, you thought, there are those winemakers who

Giving Gifts to Wine Lovers: My Advice
Here we are in the Holidaze. A time I enjoy and dread with equal measure. I love Winter as a
Time for a Margin Call on your Wine?
I wrote last week about the great slurping sound that can be heard from China these days when it comes
Giving Thanks in 2011
Happy Thanksgiving from Vinography. For those of you outside of North America, today is America’s food holiday, where there is

Alder on America: Thanksgiving and Wine
At a certain point in my childhood, Christmas faced a stiff challenge as my favourite holiday. Never mind that I