The Wine Idea

The signature on a document, work of art, or other created thing is a mark of origination: a sign that associates the object in some definitive way with those responsible for … SignatoriesRead more

I’ve written elsewhere about the age-old romance between the wine vine and trees, and of the numerous ways in which the two have interacted over the centuries. It’s understandable that this … Still Over a BarrelRead more

Some of the chief pleasures wine affords derive from the effects it produces on the special, hyper-sensitive tissue that lines our mouths — the way it grasps the lips, tongue, gums … You Feel Me?Read more

For me, as for many kids growing up in New England, winter meant long hours logged chasing pucks on local ponds and early morning skirmishes at nearby rinks. Ice time meant hockey … Compulsory FiguresRead more

It’s a question we’re often called upon to answer. It’s true enough that we sometimes move things around a bit to keep the Wine Corner looking fresh, a practice that can … Where Did My Wine Go?Read more

The wine world isn’t unique in prizing expertise; Let’s just say that it does so to a remarkably exaggerated degree. Ask someone, just offhand, to associate a subject domain with the … Must You Be a Know-it-all?Read more

The sommelier is a glam character right now.  Programs from the Institute of Masters of Wine and Court of Master Sommeliers provide demanding, high-level career training and place their grads in … Got Somm Envy?Read more

One of the most frequent, and perfectly reasonable, questions we’re asked to field from day to day has to do with the state of readiness of a given bottle: Is this … Ready or NotRead more

Lovers of wine and the vine can be found all over the world, in every known clime and every inhabited continent. Meanwhile, the places where wine can actually be produced are … HeartlandsRead more

It’s no mystery that quality is a rather mysterious concept; one of those things everyone understands perfectly until it’s time to define it. Judgments of quality in wine are particularly challenging … Quality Wine? What’s That?Read more

Call me Rosé. This is my story. I don’t claim to have had a more interesting life in wine than either of my fellow travellers, Red and White, nor do I profess … Rosé Spills ItRead more

Here in the Wine Corner, we spend much of our time trying put words to what we taste. It’s not unpleasant work, but it is often challenging. All wine can be … The Lexicon BanditsRead more