Classic Wines

The aroma of damp stones and minerals is undeniable here—that classic Alsatian austerity that the region’s fans love so much is in abundant evidence. But the beam of lemony acidity cuts right through all that and provides a lift that both b... read more

Among wine lovers, the name Gaja is legendary. The patriarch of this family-run operation, Angelo Gaja, has had the same effect on Italian wine as, say, Frank Sinatra had on American music. Which is to say that his influence has been nothing short of r... read more

This wine, originally the brainchild of two of the world’s most highly regarded producers-Frescobaldi and the Robert Mondavi family-seems to embody all the potential of the “Super-Tuscan” name. And the best part is it won’t brea... read more

July 09, 2007Rose season is here, and not a moment too soon. There is, after all, only so much of the same old red and white juice you can possibly drink, and rose - or, in this case, rosato - is the perfect antidote. The wines are generally less than ... read more

Wine of the Week: July 3, 2007This wine is the color of fresh blood, with a brick-colored rim heading in the direction of garnet. But the nose is all rich, ripe blueberries and blackberries, a hint of the expected zinfandel spiciness, and a base note o... read more

Wine of the Week: June 24, 2007This wine is proof of how far California sparklers have come. I just wish more people would shell out the extra $5 to buy a bottle of this beauty and leave the Korbel on the shelf. Not that there's anything particularly w... read more

Also called rose sparkling wine. This is can be made in one of two ways. It is possible to produce pink sparkling wine through the methods used to produce pink still wine, which is to say allowing the skins and the juice to remain in contact just long ... read more

Real Tokaji is made in northeast Hungary in the Tokaj-Hegyalja region of the country. It is, like Sauternes, very much a product of grapes that have been affected, in the best years, by the fungus Botrytis Cinerea, also known as Noble Rot. The process ... read more

Considered by many to be the greatest dessert wine in the world, Sauternes are made in the Bordeaux region of France from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes that have, if the weather is just right, been infected by the fungus Botrytis Cinerea, or Nobl... read more

Muscat is both a grape variety and a style of dessert wine made from that variety. The dessert wine, known variously as Muscat, Moscato, and Moscatel, among others, can be produced via any number of processes, including fortifying the base wine, harves... read more

The national sparkling wine of Italy. Prosecco is produced in the north of the country, in the Veneto region, from the white grape variety also known as Prosecco. Although there are still Prosecco wines, the most popular are the sparkling ones, which a... read more

Also called Rosé Sparkling Wine. This is can be made in one of two ways. It is possible to produce Pink Sparkling Wine through the methods used to produce pink still wine, which is to say allowing the skins and the juice to remain in contact just ... read more

Champagne is traditionally made from a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier. However, there are certain instances when the winemaker decides to produce a bottle of bubbly only from red grapes. These are referred to as blanc-de-noirs. Lite... read more

Champagne is traditionally made from a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier. However, there are certain instances when the winemaker decides to produce a bottle of bubbly only from chardonnay. These are referred to as blanc-de-blancs. Lit... read more

Viognier is a white-wine producing grape on the rise. In the past 10 to 15 years, Viognier varietal wines have grown in popularity among both connoisseurs and casual wine drinker alike. This is likely due to its rich golden color, relatively high alcoh... read more

The Rhône region of France is more well-known for its red wines than for its whites. This is unfortunate, for the white wines of this region are every bit as exciting, just as delicious, and, more often than not, completely unique in the world of ... read more

The Gewürztraminer grape variety produces some of the most deeply colored, full-flavored, high-alcohol white wines in the world. It typically smells like roses and exotic fruits, and its abundance of flavor and richness is most appealing to lovers... read more

Carmenére is a traditional grape variety of Bordeaux that has, over the course of the last century, fallen out of favor there. It is, however, undergoing a bit of a revival in Chile, where it was brought in the 19th Century. When Carmenére is... read more

Rosé is produced in one of two ways. Saignee is the process of bleeding up to 1/3 of the fermenting red wine from the vat before it has had the chance to pick up too much color or tannin, resulting in a rosé, as well as in a more concentrated... read more

Rosé Champagnes and other sparkling wines are produced using the same methods applied to still rosé wines: Either red grapes are crushed (in the case of rosé Champagnes, this more often than not means pinot noir) and the juice is allowed to sit in... read more