Massachusetts is a state coveted by wine retailers: with strong tech and finance as well as other industries, major research centers and the jet-set destinations of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, it’s fair to say there’s a large population interested in wine. The Wine Bottega , 341 Hanover St, Boston. Waltham, MA. MORE >>

These wines will give Burgundy a run for its money! “A generation ago, the New Zealand wine industry launched Sauvignon Blanc in Britain and put New Zealand wines on the map,&# says Bill Redelmeier of Southbrook Vineyards, who spearheaded the group effort to promote Canada’s cool climate Chardonnays to international media. MORE >>

The Oak Barrel and Wine A typical oak barrel holds either 59 or 60 gallons (depending on where it’s prototyped from – Bordeaux barrels or “barriques” hold 225 liters or 59 gallons, where a barrel from Burgundy sits at 60 gallons or 228 liters). Oak is utilized somewhat like a “seasoning” to add flavor and palate appeal to a wine. wine facts MORE >>

There’s something of a cottage industry that has emerged in trashing the reputation of wine experts. Granted, there’s a lot of pretension and bluster worth bashing but let’s not throw the Burgundy out with the bathwater. Richard Quandt of Princeton wrote an hilarious essay entitled “ On Wine Bullshit.” MORE >>

Main | Hearty Burgundy at Sanford? swirlingnotions on November 29, 2007 05:16 AM Alfonso, When the wine industry gets to be as big as the perfume industry with as much marketing clout and spin (its almost there), theyll be able to squelch the validity of natural wine making the way the perfume industry has done with natural scents. MORE >>