Wine Study Techniques for Your Learning Style

Today’s blog is dedicated to a recent email I received from one of my WSET Level 2 students (who is busily preparing for her exam this Monday!). It reads: “I’m trying to hard to retain all the information and I’m taking time every day to study, but for some reason, i keep getting regions confused. Wish I had a good …

Measurable Benefits to Wine Education

Staff trainings and wine education seem to be the first to be cut in beverage programs across the county. Why?   Education isn’t tangible and is seen as a cost and not an investment!  However, there is data that shows how wine education and training can actually improve your bottom line! How? According to Harvard Business Review, staff training can improve …

Can Champagne Regain #1 Market Position as World’s Most Consumed Sparkling Wine?

Posted September 3, 2015 (Originally published in Wine Business Monthly Article  as “Can Champagne Regain #1 Market Position as World’s Most Consumed Sparkling Wine?”  in 2014 by Lindsay Pomeroy and Liz Thach). What caused the long reigning king of sparkling to be dethroned? This article analyzes the major causes, and also explores several tactics Champagne can use to regain its …

Wines for a Feast: Pairing Wine for Thanksgiving Day Turkey

Pairing food and wine can be a lot of fun, except when there is the looming pressure of wowing guests at the thanksgiving dinner table. Don’t worry, these holiday food and wine pairing tips will exceed your expectations, resulting in a memorable experience for you and your guests. Classic turkey dinner pairs best with wines low in tannins (which clash …

Holiday Wine Buying

Buying wines for the holidays can be daunting.  In this video, I tackle the issue of choosing wine for either a party or as a gift for the holidays. Whether you’re shopping at a run-of-the-mill neighborhood grocery store or a specialized boutique wine shop there are benefits and draw-backs for each location and I help guide you through each experience …

The Wine Opener Challenge

In these 2 videos we attempt to tackle a fairly obvious question: which wine opener offers the best value? Watch as we try 6 different wine openers readily available on the market today. We grade the openers on: 1. Useability (is it easy to use) 2. Does it work? 3. Value (compares above with actual price). I would love to …

Winemaking Terms 101: Malolactic Fermentation

I had a request recently to breakdown Malolactic Fermentation. What is ML, or MLF or Malo, as it goes by? Well, it’s a secondary fermentation that converts the harsher Malic Acid (think of a granny smith apple) to the softer Lactic Acid (think Milk) via Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). How? Well, you warm the wine and add the LAB (which …

Understanding Burgundy: Vineyard Classification 101

I have very recently returned from my wine tasting trip through France, and want to share with you some of my adventures.  I had left the country and arranged (via US-Californian importers) some tasting visits.  Unfortunately, I struggled a bit to solidify these appointments because I was going exactly during the harvest season.  Just like in California, when there is …