Wine Appraiser

Tonight we are tasting two wines. One is a regular Riesling, and the other is a non-alcohol Riesling.

Three main ways to remove alcohol from wine.

One of the biggest reasons people have a problem with non-alcohol wines is the mouthfeel.

Mosel is known for steep-sloped vineyards and slate and granite soils. Alsace Rieslings are normally a little fuller-bodied, higher alcohol, and have richer...

Tonight we are tasting two Rose’ wines.

There are several reasons why Rose’ is a great summer wine? First, it is bright and crisp with high acidity. Second, it is best served well chilled. Third, it has berry-driven flavors.

Despite the two areas being closely located. They produce distinct wines.

Tonight, we are tasting:

What do you want in a tasting room?

White Bordeaux or Bordeaux Blanc account for only 10% of Bordeaux wine production. However, since 2000, white wine production in Bordeaux has increased 50%. Bordeaux Blanc can be separated into two distinct types of wine. Dry and Sweet.

The most famous white blend is made up of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

Sauternes and Barsac are best known for their sweet wine production. Sauternes normally use Botrytized wines. It is known as “noble rot”.

Semillon – is the most planted white wine grape in Bordeaux and gives the wine body, weight, creamy texture, and sometimes honey and beeswax.

S...

Certain words take on meanings and connotations when they’re used to describe tannins in wine. According to the Wine Enthusiast, here are some words used to describe tannins and their meaning.

Grippy: Immediately noticeable

Integrated: Perfectly in line with all other components, like flavor and weight

Silky: Fine-grained and unobtrusive

Plush: Soft and integrated

Velvety: Soft but with subtle grip

Resolved: Smooth, no longer astringent, typical of mature wines

Harsh: Not integrated into the wine

Also, if drinking a high tannin wine, it...

Tonight, we are talking tannins. What are they, why are they in wine, are they important, do I want them in my wine? We will attempt to answer all of these questions and more!

Tannins are complex compounds that are found in many trees and grapes. In wine, tannins mostly come from the grapes, but can also come from the wood barrels during the aging process. In the grapes, most of the tannins are found in the skin, seeds, and stems of the grapes. So, the amount of contact the juice has with these components will ultimately...

Tonight we are tasting an Australian white wine. While not one of the major whites, Semillon is a fairly popular white wine produced in Australia. For the second straight week, our wine comes from the Barossa wine region.

The Barossa wine region has two subregions or (GI's – Geographical Indications).

Barossa Valley produces big red wines and bold whites. It is a warmer weather area.

Eden Valley is located in a chain of hills called the Mount Lofty Ranges. The higher elevation makes Eden a distinctly cooler climate leading to wi...

Australia is best known for its Shiraz. Big bold Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon from Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Coonawarra. These are all from South Australia.

We have talked about Western Australia (Margaret River) known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

Yarra Valley in Victoria is a cooler region known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Tasmania is off the south Coast of Australia and is an island. This is a cooler region and produces sparkling wines, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.

Riesling is normally dry and crisp and best known for coming...

Tonight, we are tasting another new wine. It’s Gruner Veltliner. Sometimes just referred to as Gruner. These wines have primary flavors of lemon, lime, grapefruit, and nectarine; followed by notes of white pepper, iris, green bean, radish, tarragon, ginger, and honey.

The best Gruners are perfumed, dry, and full-bodied with high acidity.

This is the number one wine grape in Austria. It can be made into a light fruity wine, a heavier bodied dry wine, and a sparkling sekt.

Serve well chilled, near refrigerator temperature.

We are tasting with a Ri...

What is a Pet-Nat?

They will often have a bottle cap on top. They are sparkling, but not at the level of a Cava, Prosecco, or Champagne. They are lightly fizzed. They are natural wines made without much intervention. They use natural yeasts and without many additives. Pet-Nat’s normally have a little lower alcohol. I’ve read that they can be kind of funky, not sure what to expect.

They use the “Methode ancestrale” – without intervention.

Tonight, we are tasting::

2024 Amuse Bouche Pet-Nat. I purchased this at Trader Joe’s for $12.99...

Tonight, we are tasting two Merlots from different price points.

The movie Sideways came out in 2004, and is now over 20 years old. When the movie was released, Merlot was the number #1 wine in the US, at about 15% of the total market. Greater than Cabernet Sauvignon at around 12%. By December of 2006, Merlot's market share was down to 12%, and by 2014 it was down further to 9%.

California Merlot production also saw a huge reduction, going from 305,000 tons in 2000 to 220,000 tons in 2019.

Merlot production in California’s (Napa/Sonoma) regions dropped 55-60% between 2000 and 2019, and new plantings of...

Tonight, we are tasting two Sauvignon Blancs.

My favorite Sauvignon Blancs are from Sancerre, part of the Loire Valley in France. Bright but with a lot of minerality.

Some people prefer the bright acidic Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand.

We purchased two wines, a New Zealand wine from Trader Joe’s for $10, and a Napa Valley wine Costco for $28.

Tonight, we are tasting:

Tonight we have two Chenin Blanc-Viognier white blends. We have talked about both of these varieties before.

Both of these wines are about 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% is Viognier. This is a typical blend because Chenin Blanc is bright and acidic and Viognier is fuller-bodied with a hint of sweetness (eventhough it is a dry wine).

Chenin Blanc is a very versatile grape that can be made into late harvest sweet dessert wines, dry white wines, sparkling wines, and oaked or unoaked wines.

While versatility could be a good thing, it may actually be...

It is Austria’s most planted wine grape. Named after Dr. Zweigelt who developed the variety in 1922 from a cross of Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent. The wine is known for being bright, tart, and fruity.

Zweigelt can also make great rose’ sparkling wines. In Austria sparkling wine is known as Sekt.

People say the wine compares to a Pinot Noir.

Tonight, we are tasting:

Tonight, we are tasting three wines. Two will be around $10, and a third wine will be over $20. Can we taste the difference?

Tonight, we are tasting:

Tonight, we are tasting a Champagne and celebrating the past year. We are drinking a LeMesnil Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru Brut Champagne. It is 100% chardonnay and comes from the Grand Cru vineyards of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. It is a dry wine with flavors of citrus (lemon & orange), white flowers, peach, almond blossom, brioche, pie crust, biscuit, chalky minerality, and a creamy finish. It is aged on the lees for years and the grapes are grown in chalky soils. It costs around $50.

Best show moment – top three count down.

Tonight, we are recapping some of our favorite wines of the past year.

The winner for the best buy would be from our 6/26/2025 show on Italian wines. A 2022 Madia Torre Zambra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. We purchased this wine from Costco for $7.99. We both loved the wine and scored it a 4.

We also loved the Stone Hill Dry Rose which we tasted on our 5/28/2025 show about Rose'. We purchased this wine from the Winery in Missouri and paid $13.00. Again, we both loved the wine and rated it a 4.

My favorite overall wine came from th...

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the red-wine blend Amarone della Valpolicella.

This wine is a dried-grape wine. It’s a red wine blend. I’m not going into the varieties because I’ve never heard of them.

Amarone has to be aged for at least two years, four for wines labeled riserva.

Until the 1950’s this wine was not really exported, but is now popular in Scandinavia, Germany, and the United States.

By law the grapes must be dried at least until the first of December. The drying process results...

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the red wine grape Blatina, and doing a quick overview of Bosnian wine.

Blatina is a red wine grape variety mostly grown in Herzegovina region of Bosnia-Herzegovina. It was traditionally used as a blending grape with Alicante Bouschet, Merlot, and Trnjak. With the main grape being Trnjak. It produces a dark red wine and is made both in stainless steel and oak barrels. It often has spicy and coffee notes, and developes more chocolatey flavors with age.

It does not self-pollinate, so it has to be planted with...

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the red wine grape Petite Sirah.

In the past, I thought Petite Sirah must be just a small grape variety of Syrah. I was wrong. Well then, what is it?

The grape is also known as Durif, that is a cross between Syrah and Peloursin. The grape has thick skins which give the wine a dark color. Today California has about 12,000 acres planted to Petite Sirah, making it the 6th most planted red variety. California is the main location where the grape is grown. You will also find...

Tonight, Denise selected our wine because of it’s unique label, but it is also a new variety for us to taste. 

We have never had a single variety Macabeo. This grape variety is normally used in blends, and is one of the main grapes used in Cava.

The wine comes from a newer winery, Parajes del Valle that started in 2018. The winemaker is just 28 years old, but it seems she is very well regarded. They are Certified Organic. One website said the wine is excellent with crab legs.

Tonight, we are enjoying:

Tonight, we selected our wine because of it's beautiful label.

Oak Farm Vineyards is from Lodi, California. The wine is estate-grown. The bottle is clear with a small plaque identifying the wine, with a black sketch of a tree growing around it. The tree is a mass of branches, limbs, and leaves growing around the plaque.

Albarino is one of the main Spanish white wine grapes. Characterized by high acidity and thick skins. Albo means white in Spanish. The grape does well in hot climates and can also withstand humidity. Most Spanish...

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the hybrid wine grape Baco Noir. This is a French Hybrid wine grape.

Baco Noir is an easy-to-grow grape that produces a medium to full-bodied wine with fresh acidity and dark fruit flavors hinting of black pepper and tobacco. Wines made of Baco Noir can also have notes of licorice, cedar, and smoke. Normally it will have medium tannins.

Pairs with tomato-based dishes. Also pairs well with sharp cheddars, pecorino, or Parmigiano Reggiano.

Tonight, we are enjoying:

Tonight, we are trying a Kabinett Riesling from Mosel, Germany. Just for some added fun we also have an Emma Reichart Dry Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany.

So what is a Kabinett (Cabby – Net) and what are other words used to describe the sweetness in German wines.

Trocken is the German word for dry.

Kabinett has crisp acidity, green apple, citrus and delicate floral notes. Good for an aperitif and pair nicely with light seafood dishes and salads. Dry to a little sweet.

 Spatlese is a late harvested wine so will have rip...

Champagne must be made in the traditional method.

A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The wine comes from the grand cru village of Verzenay in the Champagne region of France.

Tonight, we are tasting:

Kendall-Jackson's chardonnay is made using grapes grown in the cool, coastal regions of California, which gives the wine its crisp, clean flavor. 

Whole cluster pressed and made in small vineyard lots throughout the winemaking process. Sur lie aging with monthly battonage (lees stirring) giving the wine silky texture and creamy flavor. Aged for 3 months in 44% French Oak (4% new) and 50% American Oak (7% new).

Tonight, our three wines are:

Asti is a town in the Piemonte region of Italy. It is a DOCG-recognized wine area, the highest level in Italy. I have heard that specifically looking for a Barbera from Asti is worth the search. Tonight, we will check out this theory.

Barbera has a deep ruby color, light to medium body, and is known for its high acid levels. In the past it was known for being a high-production, every-day drinking wine. However, during the past twenty or thirty years, it has become a more serious wine variety, and many different styles can be found...

Tonight, we are tasting the 2023 Kirkland California Signature Cabernet Sauvignon box wine. To make the tasting more interesting and less biased, we will blindly taste against a bottle of Cabernet.

This is a 3L box. A typical bottle is ¾ of a L, so it is the equivalent of 4 bottles. They say the box will last 4-6 weeks after opening, but expect it to be half that long.

Tonight, our three wines are:

Tonight, we have three red wines and each one cost under $10.

As in most of our shows, we know the three wines we will be tasting, but we will blind-taste them. Can we find a wine that we like for under $10? 

Tonight, our three wines are:

Tonight, we are having our third Wine Cocktails Show! We love these shows and I can’t wait to make some of these cocktails for family and friends. We are expecting this show to be more of the same. Tonight, we will one White Wine Cocktail and one Red Wine Cocktails.

Last year, our winning cocktail was the Caribou. I actually prefer the Blood Letter Trinidad Sour. So I am crowning it the new champion. We will see if one of the cocktails tonight can take the title.

Tonight, we are enjoying:

Tonight, we are having our second Wine Cocktails Show! We loved our first cocktail show and got many comments. We are expecting this year to be more of the same. Tonight we will focus on Red Wine Cocktails.

Last year, our winning cocktail was the Carribou.

Tonight, we will have one very simple to make drink and a second that is a little more detailed. Also, one will have bourbon in addition to the red wine.

So here are our two cocktails for tonight.

Tonight, we are enjoying:

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about two hybrid grape varieties. The first is Traminette and the second is Vidal Blanc. We are tasting a white wine blend of these two grapes. It is the Stone Hill Winery 2022 Hellbender Blanc.

First, the Traminette is a hybrid white wine grape originally bred at the University of Illinois in 1965. It is an offspring of Gewurztraminer. Like its parent, it is perfumed and spicy, but less aromatic than its parent. It is pretty versatile, but is normally made into a dry or off-dry wine. The dry wine pairs well with...

Tonight, we are blind-tasting three Pinot Noir wines. All three wines are from the United States, but are priced very differently.

Pinot Noir is a medium-bodied, high-acid, fruit-forward wine.

Pinot Noir from Oregon is typically more in the Burgundian Style. California Pinot characteristically has a little greater ripeness and spice.

Here are our three wines for tonight.

Tonight, we are enjoying:

We are changing our show tonight, but we still have you covered with wine information.

Tonight we are going to taste and learn about Gamay.

Gamay is known for being a light-body and fruit-forward wine with low tannins. It typically has cherry and raspberry fruit flavors, and earthy and floral notes. Acid is typically medium to high.

Duke of Burgundy banned Gamay in 1395 because he believed it to be an inferior wine, but it remained and continued to be grown in the southern Burgundy region of Beaujolais. This is the most famous region...

The Iowa State Fair has been included on the New York Times list of places to see before you die, in a travel book about places to visit in the US and Canada, and one of the top experiences for every Midwesterner by Midwest Living magazine. It was also listed as the #2 choice for summer fun in America by USA Weekend in 2004.

Here are some things you will see at the fair. Biggest boar, super bull, biggest pumpkin, lots of food, funny t-shirts, musical acts, Iowa craft beer tent, funny contests (hog calling, husband calling, twin look-alike...

Bordeaux is famous for its red wines, but tonight we are focusing on the region’s white wines. While white wines are not what makes the area one of the most famous wine regions in the world. In the early 1970s the white grape Semillon was the most widely planted grape in the region, regardless of color. Today that is not the case, but it is still the most planted white grape.

Just like the red wine from the area, Bordeaux white wine is typically a blend.  

Tonight, we are enjoying:

Port wine comes from the Douro Valley, Spain. It wasn’t long ago that we tasted a wine from the Douro Valley, Spain. The river continues west through Spain and runs directly through Portugal before it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the City of Porto. This is Portugal’s second largest city and the namesake of the wine. Port wine is highly regulated. No other area can produce “Port” wine. After the start of fermentation, and when about half of the sugar has been converted to alcohol, a spirit, normally brandy, is pumped into the juice to stop the ferm...

Vinho Verde is one of the best-known wines from Portugal. It comes from the Northwest portion of Portugal. The area is green because of its Atlantic Ocean influences as well as denoting the “green” wine that is made from grapes that are less than fully ripe. It comes in both red, white, and rose'. The red wines are mostly consumed locally and is an extremely fruity wine. The white wines are typically blends made from a slew of local grape varieties. The area gets a lot of rain. The proximity to the ocean and the elevation is the two main...

 Mourvedre is most commonly known for being the "M" in GSM Blend.  

The grape originated in Spain, and is known for being a warm-climate grape. The grapes ripen extremely late. In fact, the Southern Rhone Valley is about as far north as the grape can be grown. The berries are small and the skin is thick, which produces a wine that is typically high in alcohol and tannin. It often has a gamey flavor. Called Mataro in Australia.

Our 100% Monastrell wine comes from the Denominacion de Origen Protegida (DO) Jumilla (hoo-ME-uh) region of Spain. This is...

Tonight, we return to South Africa to taste two blended red wines. The first is a Shiraz-based blend from the Stellenbosch Region of the Western Cape. The second wine is mostly a Bordeaux Blend of Cabernet-Merlot.

These wines basically come from different sides of a mountain. The Shiraz blend comes from the cooler Stellenbosch area.

The Franschhoek (FRAHN-SHOOK) wine valley is a French area. Black Elephant focuses on French wine grapes, as does the whole valley. Mountains surround the valley on three sides and is very beautiful.

The Dutch were brought in to...