Feb 8, 2014
Do I and others who publish their own site about wine know far too much about the contours of our navel? Have we explored its ins and outs ad infinitum? This is the gentle charge that was made in a number of ways by at least four different commentators in this recent post here at FERMENTATION about the distinction between “blogger and “journalist”. I wanted to address this charge of “blogger navel gazing” because it comes up so very often…
Jan 23, 2014
There’s very nifty golf course here in Napa called Chardonnay Golf Club. As you might imagine, there are LOTS of grapevines strewn about the property and it’s really a beautiful sight and beautiful set up. So, I’m out there playing the other day with a buddy. It’ about 11:30am and it’s 65 degrees outside. The sun is shinning. In fact, by 3pm the temperature will get up to about 71 degrees. It’s January. The dead of winter. Clearly, the Golf…
Aug 2, 2013
Some fairly stunning information concerning the idea of “Wild” or “Indigenous” yeast is coming to light that has implications for wine marketing and wine making. How shall I put this? Let’s try this: If you think your wine went through fermentation driven by wild yeast or if you think the wine you are drinking was produced via a wild yeast fermentation, it probably wasn’t. This is the startling conclusion brought to light in a study undertaken in British Columbia and…
May 15, 2013
Yesterday the National Transportation Safety Board recommended lowering the legal blood alcohol level for drivers from .08 to .05, which would put the U.S. (or any states that adopted the new, lower level) in line with the standard for much of the rest of the world. The question is what impact would this change have on wine drinkers? What impact would it have on the level of fatalities caused by drunk drivers? HOW MUCH COULD YOU DRINK?Look at any of…
Mar 21, 2013
There is a good chance that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will vote today on a proposal to privatize that state’s alcohol sales and distribution system. If the measure passes the house, it will move to the Senate. If the proposal successfully passes through the PA Senate, it will be signed into law by Governor Corbett, the person who has pushed hardest for privatization. If the privatization effort is successful in Pennsylvania it will be among the most successful, pro-consumer…