The Petite Sirah grape originates from France (where else?) in the late 1800’s. The vines produce a small grape with a thick skin. It was created by crossing the Syrah and Peloursin Grapes with the intent of producing a disease resistant grape. Farmer’s at the time were having trouble protecting their harvest from disease. The…
Tag: Wine School
An Intro to Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the most popular white wine in the world. The versatility of the grape and the large flavor profile of the finished product make it a favorite of many. Terroir and climate are important for imbuing flavor into the wine, however Chardonnay is easily and effectively molded by a winemaker’s vision. The result is…
The Pinot Noir Grape
The Pinot Noir grape originates from the Burgundy region of France. In France, wine made with Pinot Noir is labeled after the region. It is one of the most popular wine grapes in the world and is grown in all major wine regions. Pinot Noir is a small dark grape that has a thin skin. …
The Sangiovese Grape
Sangiovese is a red wine grape from Italy. Grapes for the most sought-after Sangiovese wines are grown in Tuscany where warm weather, clay like soil, and topography are favorable to growing conditions. Sangiovese is used in many of Italy’s most appreciated wines. American wine makers also grow Sangiovese and are getting much better in producing…
Should I Cellar and Age my Wine?
A vast majority of wine sold is meant to be consumed sooner rather than later. Many wine makers produce wine with that in mind; the sooner you drink the wine and enjoy it, the sooner they can sell you more! There is, however, plenty of wine that will benefit with additional time in the bottle…
What are Tannins?
I love tannins so I gravitate towards tannic wines. If you’ve read my reviews, you know I refer to tannins quite a bit. So, what are tannins? Why are they in wine? What do they taste like? Does all wine have tannins? Understanding what tannins are doesn’t make you a wine snob, but it can…
The Barrel Cellar 