History of Wine
From as early as Biblical times, the idea of wine has been mentioned numerous times – and for thousands of years, wine has been used for ritual, religious, and even health …
Articles
Texas Hill Country AVA
The Texas Hill Country AVA is located north of San Antonio and West of Austin. The key areas in the AVA are Austin, Fredricksburg, Lampasas, New Braunfels, and Johnson City. The …
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is a convivial region of Burgundy with a refocused attention to style. It is a place where light-hearted wines and creativity are allowed to thrive. Although nouveau is a popular …
Top Ten Wine Shops in Philly
Buying good wine in Philly can be a challenge. The prices are too damn high. Most of the folks working in most of the wine shops in Philadelphia know more about …
Wine & Health through the Ages
Wine must be a magical elixir. Otherwise, how can we explain why a restaurant wine list often turns a CEO into a pouting child? I have seen powerful doctors in bespoke …
Lake County Wines
It Nevers Snows In Lake County“It never snows in Lake County.” That’s what we were told by the person working at a Lake County winery. We had come to Napa/Sonoma for …
Wine Ratings 101
How Wine Ratings Came to BeWine ratings are both standardized and controversial. The ratings are often subject to individual preferences and tastes. However, they are also a systematic way to rank …
Cellaring Wine
Let’s start with a basic idea: what is a wine cellar? It’s a room designed to store wine over a very long period. That’s all the room does. You shove a …
Austrian Wine
Austria is well known for Mozart, Schnitzel, Sacher torte, and The Sound of Music, but are you aware of its viticulture? During the 19th century, Austria’s wine industry boomed, but many …
Pennsylvania Wine Law Primer
As of August 8th, 2016, how alcohol is bought and sold in Pennsylvania changed dramatically. It is not just about semi-privatization and consumer choice. That is not half of it. The new …
Wine Phrases for Beginners
Essential Wine TermsFor most wine enthusiasts, getting to know wine only gets daunting at tastings. When people more experienced throw out a jumble of words and phrases, not to mention the …
Italian Wine Pairings
An Italian Sommelier’s Guide to Italian Wine PairingsItalian Wine Pairings from the NorthItaly is a country of diversity, and it’s hard to make generalizations. This is especially true when considering the …
What are Tannins?
What are Tannins?The dictionary isn’t much help. Here is the definition:tan·ninnoun a yellowish or brownish bitter-tasting organic substance present in some galls, barks, and other plant tissues, consisting of derivatives of gallic …
Growing Grapes without Irrigation
In 2015, California’s Governor Jerry Brown issued an executive order that included a mandatory 25% water reduction. Not surprisingly, the news went national; this was a first in America. Future of …
The Top BYOB Restaurants in Philly
BYO culture in Philly is unique among American cities. It came about due to the influence of the PLCB and high rent in Center City’s restaurant district. For most chefs, the …
