Wine News

Wine News features articles and press releases that feature new ideas/trends in wine and interesting concepts.

A Great Wine Cocktail for Valentine’s Day – The Torrontes Tango

Torrontes Tango Wine Cocktail Here is a fun wine cocktail that is perfect for Valentine's Day. Enjoy it with that romantic someone or with a group of friends. I learned about this drink when I visited Argentina last March. It is made with watermelon and white wine - preferably Torrontes. In Argentina it is primarily served during their summer months when watermelon is ripe (November – February in the Southern Hemisphere). Fortunately we can find watermelon in many US supermarkets at this time of the year as well. I've modified the recipe with a few new ingredients, and [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:00:48-08:00February 11, 2015|

Three Perfect Places to Have a Wine Tasting Party

Contributed by Nicole Nowlen Wine tasting has been a favored activity of those who love this elegant beverage since time immemorial, and can be a great reason to get friends together and impress them with your knowledge of fine wines. No matter where you hold such an event wine-tasting will bring an air of sophistication to the proceedings, and serves as a wonderful excuse to share your favorite vintages or to introduce new wines to your repertoire. Where you hold your wine-tasting can be just as important as what types of wine you bring, and the two can serve to [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:28:21-08:00August 21, 2014|

Wine: As Wonderful for your Kidneys as for Your Heart?

Contributed by Jenni Phelps: The fact that wine promotes cardiovascular health has long been espoused by scientists, but exciting news suggests that wine may also be linked to healthier kidneys. A study carried out by Dr. Tapan Mehta and his team at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Centre, in Aurora, has shown that those with healthy kidneys who consumed a moderate amount of wine per day (in the region of 4 ounces) had a 37 per cent lower likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease. Additionally, those who already had kidney disease who drank the same amount per day had a 29 [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:28:43-08:00May 19, 2014|

Three Fun Facts to Pair Dessert and Wine

Wine Pairing Guide Contributed by Bryan Vu - Pairing wine with dessert isn’t always easy, and often the task can seem daunting. However Shari's Berries has put together a handy little guide to make pairing desserts with wines a little bit easier. The task of choosing a matching wine for dessert can be daunting for a person if they don't really know where to start. The chart helps to demystify the process: http://www.berries.com/blog/dessert-alcohol-pairing-guide 3 Important Fact When Pairing Dessert and Wine How did these pairings come about? The key to a great pairing is not necessarily how similar [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:29:26-08:00April 29, 2014|

The Joys of Dessert Wine – 3 Great Choices for Under $20

Contributed by Nicole Nowlen - There is a scene that appears frequently in movies, books, or even just the homes of wine connoisseurs we know and love. You can picture it, the imbiber curled up in a chair with a blanket and a pleasant book, perhaps even the ubiquitous cat purring on their lap. Upon their nose is perched a pair of reading glasses, brought out only for these moments of quiet consumption of literature. Perched on the table next to them is a somewhat diminutive wine-glass filled with a rich, almost viscous liquid. At moments spaced by the beat [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:29:55-08:00April 22, 2014|

Positive News on the Health Benefits of Wine

Sparkling Wine & Salad Contributed by Jenna Phelps - Although Millennials rarely drink wine for its health benefits, it’s reassuring to know that drinking wine in moderation promotes physical and mental wellness. Indeed, an article recently published in the scientific journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings highlights that a daily drink of alcohol for men and women, ideally red wine, reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. This is good news, as cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the US. However, the researchers point out that this moderate dosage is the key to good health, as excessive intakes of alcohol [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:30:14-08:00April 14, 2014|

What are the Major Cool and Warm Climate Grape Varietals?

Cool climate Riesling grapes By Guest Author, Sumun Rahim - Any wine lover who has studied the French concept of "terroir" knows that the same grape varietal can produce vastly different wine depending on what type of soil and in what climate it's grown. Some wines do best in cool, even cold, climates; others are better-suited to warm, sunny weather. Knowing which wines thrive in which climates can help you enjoy local wine more fully when you travel as well as be a guide to help you choose from the selection available at the average wine store. Below is a [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-05T14:30:53-08:00August 29, 2013|

Golf and the Joy of Surprise Wine by the Glass Lists

One of the items on my husband’s bucket list is to play golf on Hilton Head Island, so when I was able to get a good deal on a weekly condo rental there recently, we jetted off to the South Carolina island covered with long white sandy beaches, swaying palms, pink azaleas, and oak trees dripping with lacy moss. He was happy because he was finally able to play Harbour Town golf course with the famous red and white lighthouse on the 18th hole. He also enjoyed the challenge of Sea Pines Ocean course, Palmetto Dunes and Shipyard. I was [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:34:02-08:00April 10, 2013|

What Type of Wine Do They Drink in Costa Rica?

March 13, 2013 – This past week I enjoyed my first visit to the beautiful country of Costa Rica. Though better known for coffee than wine, since I was in the country to present a paper on the wine supply chain at the NBES academic conferences, I was naturally curious to learn about the types of wine available in Costa Rica. Therefore I made it my mission to investigate wine lists and store selections during my stay. Chilean Wine Dominates, Followed by Argentina and Spain After visiting six restaurants, three grocery stores and four wine shops, I would have to [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:34:21-08:00March 14, 2013|

Why Italians Link Wine to Food — and Recipe for Florentine Beefsteak

This January we are taking 26 Wine MBA and Wine Bachelors candidates to Tuscany for 2 weeks as part of a Winter Intersession class on global wine business. Most participants currently work in the California wine industry, and are excited to learn more about the Italian wine scene. We will be visiting wineries in Chianti Classico, Montalcino, Montepulciano and Bolgheri, and staying in both Florence and Siena. For more information on the tour schedule, see: http://tuscanwinemusings.wordpress.com/ One of the interesting facts about Italian wine is its linkage to food. In fact, in Italy, the experience of drinking wine is not complete without food [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:37:26-08:00January 2, 2013|

What Dessert Pairs Best with Sparkling Wine? Korbel & Bianchi’s Provide Some Answers

Erica Mandl of Korbel Champagne Cellars For the last tasting of the semester at the SSU WineSense Club, we focused on a holiday theme of sparkling wine and dessert. The beautiful Erica Mandl, head winemaker at Korbel Champagne Cellars, led the tasting by introducing five different Korbel bubblies. These were matched to delectable desserts from the new bakery in Rohnert Park, Bianchi’s. How Sweet is Your Sparkling Wine? Erica cautioned that it was important to understand the level of residual sugar in a sparkling wine, in order to determine the type of dessert with which to pair it. [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:38:10-08:00December 16, 2012|

Average Vineyard Worker Wages in South Africa – Emerging as a BRICS Country

Sept. 2012 - Several times throughout my wine trip to South Africa I asked winemakers the average wage they paid their vineyard workers. The answer was it depends on the region, as well as whether or not the workers have housing and benefits on the property. In terms of regional pay differences, it appears that Stellenbosch pays the highest wages at 170 Rand ($21) per day for a basic vineyard worker who does not live on the estate. Wineries in Cape Point and the Constantia region said they paid 120 – 150R per day ($15 - $18). In Swartland I [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:38:32-08:00November 12, 2012|

The Source & Extinction of “Burnt Rubber” Taste in South African Wines

Last week I had the opportunity to attend CapeWine and visit five major wine growing regions in South Africa. During the course of my eight day visit, I realized that the vast majority of the more than 300 South African wines I tasted did not include the telltale “burnt rubber” note that I used to rely upon to identify “South Africa” in a blind MW tasting. Some people also refer to this taste as “eraser or band aid,” but it is a unique note that has plagued South African wines for many years now – especially in reds and primarily [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:38:57-08:00October 4, 2012|

Why Millennials Don’t Read Emails

Last night we had our annual SSU Wine Club Board planning meeting at my house. This is usually a relaxed event where we identify the wineries we want to invite to campus next semester, and enjoy a BBQ dinner with many fun wines. This year’s planning dinner was equally enjoyable, but I was struck by our conversation about how we will promote our educational tasting seminars. “We will market the seminars via word of mouth and Facebook, of course,” said our new VP of Marketing. “Most college students never read emails.” As a college professor, I already knew this, but [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:40:58-08:00May 29, 2012|

Wine Poetry: How an Ancient Persian Legend Gave Birth to a Petaluma Gap Winery

“As a child growing up in Persia I heard the story of the discovery of wine,” says Pari Azari, “but it is also documented in my Persian cookbook. In fact Omar Khayyám referred to the story in some of his poetry.” Kamal Azari, Pari’s husband and co-owner of Azari Winery, nods in appreciation as he listens to his wife. “Yes, it is this story, plus the fact that I was born in Shiraz, the ancient city in Persia thought to be the birthplace of the syrah grape, that inspired us to start our winery.” Pari then proceeded to tell the [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-02T13:26:36-08:00November 28, 2011|

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