There’s an invisible line that we Minnesotans feel in our bones, and when the thermometer dips below, there’s no going back. I’m talking about the transition from the refreshing white wines or rosés we rocked all summer long to the hearty red wines that we stick with all winter long. Even if it warms up … [ Read more]
Red Wine 101: The 9 grapes you need to know
In the late 1970s, a historic pinot noir winery in Oregon had to make cabernet sauvignon from purchased grapes just to pay the bills because, at the time, no one was buying Oregon pinot. They hated doing it because it felt like selling out. But having had the opportunity to taste one of those cabs … [ Read more]
White Wine 101: It’s all in the grapes
“I don’t like Chardonnay. They’re too oaky.” “Cabs are too dry.” “Merlots are…eww, merlot.” Everyone has an opinion on the wine they like and usually an even stronger opinion of the wines they don’t. That’s good. That’s great, in fact. But bear something in mind next time you hate on a particular grape: Don’t blame … [ Read more]
How to explore the world of wine without going broke
For a long while, being educated about wine made you fancy or, so it seemed, automatically a snob. Knowing about liquor meant you were a drunk. Knowing about sake made you exotic but somehow not in a good way. Knowing about beer, though, went from being blue-collar to kinda cool to being practically mandatory depending … [ Read more]