Wine Stars

Wine Stories and News for the Young at Heart

Why Celebrating With a Magnum of Sparkling Wine is So Special

Why Celebrating With a Magnum of Sparkling Wine is So Special When selecting a special champagne or sparkling wine for a celebration, consider that there is both power and prestige in offering a magnum of celebratory bubbles, rather than the average-sized bottle. At 1.5 liters, or double the size of the traditional 750-ml bottle, a magnum is designed to serve 10 to 12 glasses and therefore is ideal for a larger gathering. Originally crafted for French royalty to serve at events, banquets and celebrations, the larger format signals elegance, luxury and magnificence. In fact the word, magnum, is based on a [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2026-01-25T12:02:40-08:00January 25, 2026|

How To Plan a Multi-Course Champagne Dinner

Champagne Is Very Versatile to Pair With Many Foods - Even Steak! Photo Credit: Pexels.com Recently I attended a 13-course dinner in Chicago where every course was paired with a different champagne or sparkling wine. Even the steak course! I was amazed, so I spoke with the chef and sommelier and discovered some great tips so you can create your own multi-course champagne dinner. Here are some suggestions for a 4-course dinner, but feel free to expand! Why Champagne and Sparkling Wine Pairs With Food So Well Many people don’t realize that champagne and other types of sparkling wine are [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-09-21T10:27:09-07:00September 21, 2025|

Think Champagne Doesn’t Go with Steak? Laurent Perrier and Alinea Say Think Again

Champagne Does Pair Beautifully With Steak. Pexels.com Many people believe that champagne can only be paired with appetizers or dessert, but Laurent-Perrier believes that champagne can be paired with any food, including steak. To prove this point, they recently organized a multi-course dinner at the 3-star Michelin restaurant Alinea in Chicago. Working with Jon Leopold, Wine Director at Alinea, the Laurent-Perrier team crafted an eye-opening and mouthwatering feast, featuring nine different champagnes paired with thirteen different courses, including Wagyu beef. During several breaks in the 4-hour dinner, Oliver Vigneron, Chef de Cave for Laurent Perrier, explained to the guests in [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-09-16T16:04:18-07:00September 16, 2025|

Wine Trends in British Columbia

A retro pour of predictions — with a BC twist. Contributed by author, Julian Park, and republished here with permission. For more information, please contact Julien at julian@bcwinetrends.com In 2016, Dr. Liz Thach MW published a list of “Hot Wine Trends” that aimed to capture the future of wine consumer behaviour. The industry was bracing for a sparkling boom, boxed wine battles, and a love affair with Sauvignon Blanc. Almost a decade later, we’ve pulled the BC data, opened a few bottles, and checked which of those prophecies aged well — and which were more fizzle than sizzle. Spoiler alert: some [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-08-08T12:52:16-07:00August 6, 2025|

How Your Wine Preferences Change Over Time

Have Your Wine Preferences Changed Overtime to Sweeter or Drier? (Pexels.com) Think back to the time when you first started tasting wine? Where were you? Who were you with, and more importantly, what types of wine did you prefer the most? There is plenty of research confirming that consumers have different wine preferences based on their genetics, with hyper-sensitive tasters preferring sweeter and less tannic wines, and tolerant wine consumers craving larger tannins and higher alcohol wine (see Hanni & Utermohlen). However, there is also a long-held belief in the wine industry that as consumers age, their taste preferences change [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-07-18T11:03:30-07:00July 18, 2025|

Margo Van Staaveren as New Director of Winemaking at Beringer Winery

Margo Van Staaveren, Director of Winemaking at Beringer Winery in Napa Valley Beringer Winery holds an important place in my wine journey, because it was the place that I fell in love with wine. A friend had brought me to Napa Valley for my birthday and we did a tour and tasting at Beringer. I will never forget standing on the porch of the old historic Beringer house, looking out at the vineyards, and having one of those "ah ha" moments. Surrounded by friends, laughter, and a delicious taste of chenin blanc in my glass, I knew that wine would [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-07-10T10:33:18-07:00July 10, 2025|

$109 Billion U.S. Wine Market Shows Uptick In Q1 2025 Shipments

Consumers Continue to Shop for Wine in $109 Billion U.S. Wine MarketGETTY (This article was originally published in Forbes.com. Republished here with permission) After two years of declining wine sales volume in the U.S. market, a new report suggests that the situation may be improving. Developed by Gomberg-Fredrikson & Associates, a wine market intelligence company established in 1948 that uses U.S. government data to analyze wine shipments and revenues, the report shows a positive uptick in wine shipments for the first quarter of 2025. “We are seeing an uptick in both California wine shipments and imported wine in the first [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-06-15T03:01:36-07:00June 15, 2025|

What Is The Future Of AF Wines?

The Future of AF Wines and Vineyards. Getty Many people want to know if the current strong growth in Alcohol Free (AF) wines is just a trend, or if it is here to stay. Given that alcohol-free wines have been available commercially in the U.S. market for 40 years (Arial was introduced by J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines in 1985 and Fre was released in 1992 by Trinchero Family Estates), there will always be a place in the market for these types of wines. However, with the current consumer focus on health and wellness, it is expected that many more AF [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-04-13T16:56:35-07:00April 17, 2025|

The Challenges And Cost Of Producing Alcohol Free Wines

High-quality Wine Grapes Are Needed to Produce High-quality Alcohol-Free Wines. getty While most consumers assume that wine without alcohol should be easier to produce and therefore less expensive to purchase, the reverse is actually the case. Creating a high-quality alcohol-free wine requires at least two extra production steps, beyond regular winemaking: 1. Grow and harvest high-quality grapes (using low-quality grapes results in a low-quality wine) 2. Ferment the wine (using traditional methods, with yeast—usually in a stainless steel tank) 3. EXTRA STEP: Remove the alcohol from the wine (which usually strips the wine of many flavors and aromas—different technologies include vacuum distillation and reverse [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-04-13T16:50:13-07:00April 15, 2025|

New Alcohol Free Wines That Taste Delicious

New Alcohol Free Wines That Taste Delicious. Photo Credit: Getty Over the years I have tried many alcohol-free wines and have always been a bit disappointed. They either tasted too sweet and fruity, or thin and bitter. However, with the new health and wellness trend sweeping the globe, some wineries have invested more money and new technology into creating some alcohol-free wines that actually taste delicious. Here are five that I've recently tasted that I continue to purchase on my own and enjoy. Please note that portions of this article were previously published in Forbes.com. Growth of Alcohol-Free Wines There [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-04-13T16:55:22-07:00April 13, 2025|

How to Enjoy ‘Green’ Wine

Enjoy Green Wine During March and for St. Patrick's Day. Photo Credit: Getty As March arrives and St. Patrick’s Day approaches, the color green typically comes to mind. It’s usually not hard to find a bar or pub serving ‘green beer,’ but discovering ‘green wine’ may be more challenging. However, there are three green wine types you can find and enjoy during March, or even year-round. #1) Vinho Verde – The Original Green Wine If you haven’t tasted a glass of ‘Vinho Verde’ yet, you are in for a treat. Originating in Portugal, this style of white wine is light, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2025-03-17T14:58:45-07:00March 17, 2025|

Wine Tasting with a Robot Named Scorpion: A Robotic Revolution in Sipping!

Scorpion, the Wine Serving AI Robot Contributed by guest author, Hermon Dubale: Imagine this: a robotic arm that resembles a scorpion, elegantly reaching for a bottle of aged Chardonnay and pouring it with finesse while interacting with you. Scorpion’s AI functionality detects people and can even engage in light, charming conversation, creating a fun and interactive atmosphere. Recently, Scorpion was installed in 1936 Wine and Spirits NYC and has received many reviews. Watch the YOUTUBE VIDEO to see a customer experience Scorpion for the first time and call it “a real sommelier.” This is because Scorpion not only pours wine [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-12-23T14:05:33-08:00December 23, 2024|

A Simple Guide to Hosting a Wine-Centric BBQ Party

BBQ and Wine - A Great Combination. Photo Credit: Splash.com (Contributed by Kevin Fagan) Warm weather ushers in the fun tradition of hosting family BBQ parties. Grills and smokers nationwide are lit up and filled with succulent meats, veggies, and even pizzas and grilled fruits. While it’s common for many people to crack open a cold beer or soda to enjoy with these BBQ delights, others enjoy pairing their grilled treats with wine. If you want to try this idea, here’s our guide to hosting a wine-centric BBQ party. #1) Create An Inviting Atmosphere While most wine tastings are elegant [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-10-02T07:27:06-07:00September 30, 2024|

Tips to Select Wines for Your Superyacht Parties

Tips for Selecting Wines for Your Superyacht. Photo Credit: Pexels.com (Contributed by Kevin Fagan) Yachting is a luxurious experience and a time for you to sit back, soak in the serene views and enjoy a superyacht party. That's why it is natural to expect an impressive wine selection on board. But sometimes it can become rather difficult to experience such a luxury that meets perfectly with your standards. To say it simply, having an exceptional wine tasting list on the yacht is rare. Generally, there is no experienced sommelier on board, so it becomes the host’s, or the chief steward’s/ [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-07-17T09:18:59-07:00July 17, 2024|

Celebrate Wine With New ‘Come Together Community’ of Wine Events

Friends Enjoying Wine and Socializing. Photo Credit: 123RF.com Good news, a new wine company called, ‘COME TOGETHER—A Community for Wine Inc,’ has just been launched this May 2024. It is a mission-driven company committed to creating and sharing positive, inclusive consumer information about moderate wine consumption and wine’s historic role as a communal beverage. The company was formed in May 2024 by three wine industry professionals who are donating their time and efforts to the company and its projects and events. They are: 1) wine journalist Karen MacNeil, author of the Wine Bible; 2) Gino Colangelo, CEO of public relations [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2024-06-26T18:09:28-07:00June 26, 2024|