The Wine Idea

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 … Along for the RideRead more

Why is there something rather than nothing?  Why are you yourself and not someone else?  Where do babies come from? Such good questions! Big thanks to all of you who send … Since You AskRead more

You know by now that the Wine Corner cherishes a special fondness for winemakers with a historical consciousness; the kind of people who have a healthy respect for the old ways, … The Old Timey-est of Them All?Read more

Gone are the days when This Week in the Wine Corner was must-hear radio — when my predecessor, mentor and BFF Edward R. Murrow (above with mike and ciggie) intoned the Formaggio Kitchen … Minus Shirt and TieRead more

When the exotic beverage known as coffee first appeared in Europe in the second half of the 17th century, inns, taverns, alehouses, pubs and caterers of every description were already well-entrenched. … Meet Me at the CaféRead more

Hello to all TWWC enthusiasts and boo-birds (endeavoring to be even-handed, here!). It’s a great pleasure to announce the soon-to-be publication of my new multi-volume book of essays, the harvest of … Literary BulletinRead more

We’ve written before about the number of grape varieties at work in our world — many more than people imagine. Beyond the now thoroughly exploited (and, frankly, rather humdrum) varietals Chardonnay, … The Lure of ElsewhereRead more

Does winemaking resemble dog breeding? It’s a provocative question but not a facetious one. The thought came to me while having lunch with an old friend (now in his eighties) who … What a Dog Show Can Teach Us About WineRead more

Does it strike you as strange that so much talk about wine is about wine talk itself? There’s certainly plenty to be said about somm (that’s sommelier) speak with its arcane vocabulary … Made to MeasureRead 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

We always make room to talk about the romantic side of wine — all the beautiful places and interesting people responsible for bringing it into being. We speak much less about … The Grapes That Fall Along the WayRead more

The place names Bordeaux and Burgundy may be the most well-known in the wine world. Even people with no wine experience at all know of them and with good reason. Each began its wine-obsessed … Not Since LunchRead more