The Wine Idea

Why is a set of wines arranged in a particular order for tasting purposes referred to as a flight? Even the venerable Oxford English Dictionary doesn’t seem to know. Its editors … The Order of PourRead more

In my mind, he wine experience is readily categorized into three distinct areas of operations. And, while two of these, the making of wine and its imbibing, draw the bulk of … This Way or That?Read more

If you love the world of wine, there’s no corner of its territory that’s without interest – not a single one you wouldn’t care to explore if you had the time … Still in Love with the LoireRead 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, … Should Wine Challenge – Or Just Cajole?Read more

Shall we call them microflora or microfauna?  That depends on whether you categorize them among the plants or the animals. And since the biologists don’t seem to be able to give … Wrongful ConvictionRead more

They come from the mountains or the desert, most often – wild, uncultivated places where the hand of man has yet to make much of an imprint. They are themselves of … The Priest and the ProphetRead more

Thinking about how we think about wine can be an enlightening exercise — and a humbling one. As an example, consider the ways we organize wines in a retail setting. Routinely, … The Kind of Wine This IsRead more

The great — perhaps greatest of all — French actor Jean Gabin (above) is one of many to have played Georges Simenon’s beloved Paris police inspector Jules Maigret on the big … Maigret and the Pet NatsRead more

Our brain’s ability to store visual images in memory and more or less instantly compare them with new inputs for similarities and dissimilarities is impressive. Rather than deal with the many … Of Sodden Madeleines and Upscale RatatouilleRead more

How far back containers go in pre-history is impossible to say, though no doubt it’s very far indeed. Those early human groups who traveled in small, mobile bands across the landscape … Bye-bye to the BingeRead more

In movies of a certain kind (think  The Third Man, Port of Shadows,  Brief Encounter) fog plays a prominent role.  Its presence evokes mystery, doubt, and a vague anxiety  – all … The Fog of WineRead more

The impending (or perhaps only threatened) 100% tariffs on some European luxury goods has the wine industry in a tizzy – as well it might. As Jenny Lefcourt, an importer of … Pray, Mr. BacchusRead more