sketched image of Jean-Antoine-Claude Chaptal
Grapevines are deciduous plants. This means that, during the cooler months, they lose their leaves. Their lifecycle which consists of seven stages allow them to continue to live for hundreds of years. No one stage is less important than another.
street sign saying useful and useless
Depending on what country you are in, there are specific regulations as to what must be on the label. In the United States, the TTB, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, is the government agency that determines the legality
Here's a neat trick or skill to show off to your friends with the next time you are out wine tasting. When you walk through the vineyard, you can impress them by identifying the grape variety that is growing, just
What are fining agents and why do we use them? They can be used to soften the tannins of a wine or to remove proteins that can ultimately lead to a haze in the finished wine. People don’t like hazy
grape must with dry ice on it
One of the main concerns when harvesting is fermentation beginning prior to you wanting it to. We, as winemakers, want to be in control.  This is why we pick in the morning, when the weather is cooler. We want the
a pencil in a glass of water demonstrating refraction
Brix is a measurement of sugar within a grape. Technically, it is the amount of dissolved sugar in a liquid. It is based off of the concept of relative density or specific gravity which is the ratio of the density
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What is terroir? There are many thoughts about what it is and even if it is real.  I actually find it difficult that people don't believe that there is such a thing as terroir. If you have ever participated in
erlenmeyer flask and graduated cylinder
 Have you heard of bottleshock? Maybe you only heard of the movie with Chris Pine and Snape from Harry Potter about the Judgement of Paris. If you haven’t watched it, I wouldn’t whole heartedly recommend it as a great movie,
sheep to represent a clone
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We were all taught very early in school that 1 + 1 = 2. And that is true... except when it comes to blending wine. Blending wine is an artful skill in the winemaker's portfolio. Just like when you enter