Category: Ramblings and Rants

Wine Will Never Smell the Same Again: Luca Turin and the Science of Scent
I’ve recently discovered someone that I think may be perhaps the greatest writer of tasting notes in the history of

How to Kill a Wine Brand
In my other life, the one I lead in the business world, I’ve been involved with or close to the
Who is the Average Wine Consumer?
Perhaps the American wine market needs its own persona incarnate like Joe the Plumber. We’ll call her Jane the Accountant.
Natural Wine: The Panel Transcript
I find it quite fascinating that in many ways, the cutting edge of winemaking today involves a return to quite
Gold Medals Do Not Mean Good Wine: Actual Proof?
Bear with me while I get this out of the way: I told you so. I’ve taken a lot of
Small Signs of Troubled Times in the Top Tier of Wine
I’m not the most plugged in person when it comes to the California wine industry. I’m not a buyer, a
Testing the Old Spoon in the Champagne Bottle Trick
I don’t know exactly when I was first told, but for years I’ve “known” that if you want to keep
When Biodynamic and Organic Winegrowing Might Not Work
I recently moderated a panel of Biodynamic winemakers for the SF Chefs. Food. Wine event that took place here in
Introducing the Vinography Wine Club
This blogging business stinks. You can’t make any money at it. Advertising revenues are plummeting, readership is down, and those

Wine Geek Out: What They Know About Oxygen and Wine
. We still don’t know a lot of things about wine. It’s a complex animal, where a lot of variables
A Book for the Wine Lover That Hates to Read
A lot of wine books get published every year, and not many of them are very good, especially for wine

Why You Still Can’t Buy the Wine You Want
It’s difficult, but if I concentrate hard, I can remember a time when you couldn’t order stuff on the Internet.
Independence for the Modern Wine Drinker
Happy Independence Day from the United States, where we’re celebrating the historical casting off of the “chains” in which our
Do We Have eBay to Thank for All That Counterfeit Wine?
If you aren’t yet aware of the fact that fake wine is a big deal, you will be soon. It’s
Highlights from the 2009 Aspen Food & Wine Classic
I just returned from a weekend as a speaker at the 27th annual Aspen Food & Wine Classic, the grandaddy
Vinography on Women and Wine Radio
For those who may crave a little more multi-media around these parts, I’m happy to let you know that I

The Chinese Roots of California Wine
Every time I visit Meadowood in Napa Valley, I find myself spending time in front of a reproduction of an