Decant, You Can
“I love wine, so for my birthday, people tend to get me lots of wine stuff. This year, someone gave me a decanter. What wines are best for decanting? What is the best way to get the wine into the...
View ArticleCorkage Three
“My wife and I are about to celebrate out 10th wedding anniversary. We have been saving a bottle of wine that was given to us as a gift for our wedding. We’re hoping to take it with us to the...
View ArticleSpit it Out
By Jennifer Cossey “A group of girlfriends and I are heading to wine country for Thanksgiving Weekend open houses. Last time we visited, there were people who were spitting into cups. Can you tell me...
View ArticleAbout the Size of It
When out to dinner the other night, we noticed a lot of bottles on the wine list that were larger and smaller than the normal ones. What are the advantages and disadvantages to these sized bottles?...
View ArticleScore!?
I’m confused about magazine wine scores. I kind of understand the 100-point system, but what does it mean exactly? Is a $10 wine that scores 90 points as good as a $100 wine with the same score? Who...
View ArticleHeads Up
By Jennifer Cossey “I sometimes get terrible headaches when I drink red wine. Why? Someone mentioned that I might be allergic; can this be true? Please say no! I love red wines, except of course, for...
View ArticleTime in a Bottle
“Sometimes it takes my husband and me several days to drink an entire bottle of wine, sometimes longer. How long can you keep a bottle of wine open? When does it go bad?” - Kelly (Lake Oswego) I find...
View ArticleTired Wine Tips
“What do you suggest to do with wine once it has passed its prime? I really hate putting wine down the drain.” - Jake (Bend) I am also a very waste-not-want-not kind of person. It kills me to dump any...
View ArticleCase of Crafty
By Jennifer Cossey “I really enjoyed your piece about how to use leftover wine, but what about the bottles? Other than recycling them, any creative ideas as to what to do with those?” - Tim (Portland)...
View ArticleChew on Brew
“My wife and I are getting ready to host a dinner party. Since some of the guests don’t love wine, we want to find some cool beers to pair with dinner as well. Can you offer any suggestions about...
View ArticleGreen Defined
What is the difference in organic farming and Biodynamic practices in the vineyard?” - Andy (Salem) Rest assured, you are not alone in trying to understand the difference. To start, most organically...
View ArticleGlass Class
"We like a variety of wines but it isn’t in our budget to buy a glass for each kind. Can you give me a few suggestions as to what kind of glasses might work for several styles?” - Jessica (Portland)...
View ArticleThanksgiving Table Wine
“Other than Pinot Noir, what variety of wine, ideally something local, would pair well with a traditional Thanksgiving meal? We love Pinot but are looking for something a little different to show off...
View ArticleWine Lover on Your List?
By Jennifer Cossey “My best friend is having us over for Christmas and my wife and I wanted to get him a thank-you gift for his generous hospitality. He loves wine but seems to have all the gadgets....
View ArticleHeart to Heart
“I was thinking about getting my husband a case of red wine for Valentine’s Day as a way of telling him “I love you” but also as a way to keep his heart (and mine if he shares) healthy. My question is:...
View ArticleBarrel By...
“I have noticed people in tasting rooms talking about American versus French oak barrels in regard to winemaking. What is the difference? Is one better than the other?” - Randy, Portland There are...
View ArticleAroma Kit Question
"From time to time, I see aroma kits advertised. Are these (at least in the commercial version) at all really useful to improve one’s nose or enjoyment of the wine experience?” Clayton in Portland Many...
View ArticleIntroducing Somm School
“I have an interest in becoming a certified sommelier and was curious how to accomplish this goal.”- Brian in Salem Your question comes at a perfect time, as this will be the final installment of this...
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