-
The Magic of the Oak Barrel: a Genie in a Bottle or a Witches Cauldron?(Post)
If you are haunted by the seductive siren of barrel aging, you are not alone. They are sexy and romantic so what’s not to like? Well, if you do not want to be under their spell like the great Ulysses ...
How Do You Know When Your Wine Has the Right Amount of Oak?(Post)As a home winemaker, you're always striving for the perfect balance of flavors. One of the most crucial elements in this quest is the oak flavor. But how do you know when your wine has absorbed just ...
Is Australian Shiraz just Syrah? No and Yes.(Post)It is a common notion that Shiraz and Syrah are just different names for the same grape, but it might not be that simple. There is debate about whether the distinction is warranted, and there are nay ...
How to Rescue a Wine That Tastes Flat(Post)Every winemaker eventually faces this moment. You take a sample from the carboy, raise the glass, take a careful sip, and something is missing. The wine is not spoiled. It is not obviously flawed. It ...
Can You Fix a Wine That Fermented Too Hot?(Post)Every winemaker eventually has a fermentation that gets away from them. Maybe the room warmed up during the day. Maybe the yeast took off faster than expected. Maybe the fermenter was larger than usu ...
Wonderful Wine Geekery: Using Math to Fortify your Wine(Post)Ever wanted to fortify your wine but got intimidated by how to do it? If so, today is your lucky day. We are going to geek out with some math! Sounds thrilling right? Well, not to be sarcastic but, i ...