To decant or not to decant, that is the question. Hold up—what is decanting anyway? In the simplest terms, it’s the act of pouring a liquid (wine) from a vessel (bottle) into another vessel (usually a glass carafe). Sounds easy enough. But should you do it? And why? Some people think decanting is completely unnecessary … [ Read more]
Wine Time: The Chain of Custody from Vineyard to Glass
February 25, 2019 by
Welcome to our new monthly wine column: Wine Time. This monthly journal will be filled with practical knowledge about the world of wine. This month, Brie Roland explains all the hands your bottle passes through from vineyard to shelf. I t’s almost too easy to buy a good bottle of wine in the Twin Cities. … [ Read more]
Taking Wine Tasting Menus to Task
February 8, 2019 by
F or many who love to dine, the marriage of good food and wine is undeniable. A thoughtful wine pairing can elevate an already delicious dish to previously unknown heights. In fact, it was the experience of this very thing that inspired me to pursue a career in wine; a carefully chosen glass of Muscadet … [ Read more]
C’est le Vin: Europe’s vintners are buying fruit, lighting fires, and saving good vintages as climate change alters the future of fine wine
January 2, 2019 by
The world of wine is always changing. Consider in Champagne, France (circa 1668), when a monk by the name of Dom Pierre Pérignon fought desperately to keep the bubbles out of the insipid red wine he was making for mass. It wouldn’t be until much later that the region would become known for its beloved … [ Read more]
Thanksgiving Wine: Don’t worry, keep it simple
November 20, 2018 by
As we dive headlong into this holiday season, I find myself reflecting on celebratory meals of the past where the chronic overachiever in me could be found pouring over anxiety-inducing articles suggesting that I spatchcock or sous vide my turkey, or plan a multi-course dinner complete with the “perfect” wine pairings (you really want me … [ Read more]
Wine and Oxygen: A (Complicated) Love Story
October 18, 2018 by
Remember that time you were so excited to pop the cork on your favorite fruit-driven red from the local shop (your picnic wine!) only to find that its once-vibrant ruby color had been swapped for a subtle, orangish hue and the pleasant aromas of fresh tart cherries and strawberries now somehow smelled like the trail … [ Read more]
