The Wine Idea

”A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds” American philosopher and moralist Ralph Waldo Emerson (above) memorably opined. But in the world of commerce, consistency is pretty much everything: the … Should We Be Talking About Continuity?Read more

The people who work hard everyday to present a positive image of wine and wine culture like to emphasize wine’s ancient lineage and unbroken continuity.​The simple process of harvesting grapes and … Topsy TurvyRead more

The late Italian actress Virna Lisi, top, is clearly having a wonderful time, and though its not clear what the occasion might be, the smile, the eye-contact and the raised glass … Clink!Read more

  The argument seems to have been going on forever, with no resolution in sight. Is it possible to judge wine on objective standards, or is it all just a matter … Canon FodderRead more

The wine education industry has been booming, it seems, with courses offering some sort of certification drawing particular interest from both amateurs and those seeking a career path. Then there is … Imagine ItRead more

Wine may well be the original International Man of Mystery. Since wine isn’t (and can’t be) made everywhere, it must travel from often remote locales and through many hands to arrive … What Price Is Right?Read more

When is a wine ready to drink? It’s not so much a complicated or difficult question as it is a misunderstood one, we think. The great Orson Welles didn’t help matters … Wait, Wait — Don’t Sip Me!Read more

Most of us turn to wine, if not as a vehicle of relaxation, at least as a gateway to it. If you’ve gone so far as to acquire the apéritif habit, … Is Your Wine Thinkable?Read more

There was a time when the tasting note was a wine insider’s tool. Sommeliers, cellar masters and wine brokers, whose job it was to make purchasing decisions, made use of them … <bold>Pour Me Another Tasting Note</bold>Read more

One of the things we learn as we become more acquainted with the wide world of wine is that there’s almost no end to its variations. Wine can be made in … Fat and Skinny Had a Race. Or Did They?Read more

It’s gone from Val day, to Gal day, to Pal Day. Maybe, to cover all our bases, it should just be Enthrall Day — a day to celebrate, or at least … The Heart Has Its ReasonsRead more

Cork taint may not be the most commonly encountered wine fault, but it is the one most people can name, if not always recognize. The condition typically declares itself with an … Corky … or Just Quirky?Read more