deborahparkerwong - Global wine culture

Linden Room credit Michael David Rose Photography

Nightbird Marks 10 Years of Sustainable Deliciousness

July 13, 2026 deborahparkerwong San Francisco, Cocktails, Restaurants, Sustainability, The Tasting Panel, Wine

Celebrating her San Francisco restaurant’s tenth birthday, Nightbird chef/ owner Kim Alter has achieved more than a milestone; she’s beaten[…]

Madeira: The Wine That Inspired Revolution

June 5, 2026 deborahparkerwong Madeira, Fortified wine, SOMM Journal, The Tasting Panel

There wasn’t an empty seat in the private room of San Francisco restaurant La Connessa when Cossart Gordon CEO Chris Blandy took the floor to present “A Toast to Independence with Cossart Gordon & Miles Madeira.” It was just one of many stops on a weeklong U.S. tour Blandy undertook to celebrate Madeira’s role in the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Gianpaolo Paterlini in Acquerello's award winning wine cellar.

Acquerello’s Gianpaolo Paterlini

May 15, 2026 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Restaurants, Sommeliers, Wine

Acquerello’s Gianpaolo Paterlini finding joy one glass at a time.

Old Vines Have New Meaning

May 1, 2026 deborahparkerwong winegrowing, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Spain, Wine Tasting, Winemaking

Wines made from old vines have a more powerful phenolic structure, greater aromatic complexity, and more intensity with respect to expressing the characteristics of the vineyards they were sourced from.

Senses Perform Better Holistically, Not in Isolation

March 14, 2026 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Olfaction, sensory, sensory science

Professionals who consider detecting and identifying aromas part of their stock in trade would be far more confident about their abilities if they had a better understanding of how the senses work together to interpret aromas.

Justin Chin, general manager and wine director at The Happy Crane.

Justin Chin Taking Flight at The Happy Crane

February 2, 2026 deborahparkerwong The Tasting Panel, Restaurants, Sommeliers, Wine & Food Pairing

San Francisco native Justin Chin possesses an almost stubborn optimism
about the future of hospitality. As general manager and wine director of The Happy Crane in his hometown’s Hayes Valley neighborhood, he’s quietly shaping one of the city’s most innovative dining experiences.

Conquer wine headaches

January 16, 2026 deborahparkerwong Wine Tasting, Cabernet Sauvignon, sensory science, Wine, wine faults

Thanks to new research about quercetin, the list of culprits in wine falls into three primary categories: tannins, biogenic amines (BAs), and alcohol.

Olfaction is Better When Paired with Sight

January 9, 2026 deborahparkerwong Olfaction, sensory, sensory science, Wine

Humans may use their sense of sight more,
but through smell, we can determine such things as the quality and consistency of foods and beverages.

Fleur Geffrier, Antoine Chappey and Tomohisa Yamashita in "Drops of God," now streaming on Apple TV.

25 Wines Spied in “Drops of God” Second Season

January 6, 2026 deborahparkerwong Wine Tasting, Blind Tasting, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Burgundy, California, Champagne, France, Gigongas, Italy, Languedoc, multisensory, Pinot Noir, Rhone Valley, sensory, Sommeliers, Veneto, winegrowing, Winemaking

French wines takes center stage in season two.

Gen Z Wine Likers Inspire Hope

January 2, 2026 deborahparkerwong Gen Z, Wine, Wine Tasting

Calls for optimism are the theme of new year missives from wine industry colleagues near and far. One in particular came from a Northern California winemaker who is puzzling over the lack of adoption by Gen Z consumers, an increasingly fragmented and dispirite domestic market and included a request for insights that might inspire hope.

Makers of historic sweet wines rejoice. Gen Z adores you.

December 17, 2025 deborahparkerwong Wine, Bordeaux, France, Gen Z, Germany, Italy, Loire Valley, Piedmont, Portugal, Rhone Valley, Roussillon, Sicily, Spain, Sweet, Veneto

The message my students are sending to the makers of the world’s historic sweet wines amounts to a love letter. My passion for these historic wines can only be described as a love affair.

Benjamen Montpetit is the Marvin Sands Endowed Chair in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis.

Meet UC Davis Yeast Biologist Benjamen Montpetit

September 10, 2025 deborahparkerwong Education, The Tasting Panel, Wine

The University of California, Davis, has a long history of groundbreaking research that has significantly impacted the global wine industry.[…]

Stages of aphantasia, left to right aphantasia, hypophantasia, hyperphantasia.

Aphantasia, revealing the Blind Mind’s Eye

July 15, 2025 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, sensory, sensory science, Wine Tasting

Anywhere from 1% to 4% of the population is affected by aphantasia, meaning their mind’s eye is effectively blind.

New Metrics for Wine Competition Medals

July 12, 2025 deborahparkerwong Wine Competitions, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal

In 2021, The prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) wine competition began using artificial intelligence (AI) developed by Winespace, a Bordeaux-based firm founded by Sylvain Thibaud and Julian Laithier in 2015, as part of its judging protocol as a valueadded feedback mechanism for producers.

Lifelong Leadership Roles Prepared this Sommelier for Success

May 23, 2025 deborahparkerwong Uncategorized

Paul Carayas, GM/Wine Director of San Francisco’s Saison Cellar & Wine Bar, is an arbiter of affordable luxury With close[…]

Image (a) depicts bubbles ascending in a laser-etched glass containing 100 milliliters of Champagne; (b) shows a network of convective cells revealed through 3D computational fluid dynamics modeling; and (c) shows the corresponding velocity field along the axis of symmetry of the glass.

The Science of Bubbles

April 6, 2025 deborahparkerwong Champagne, France, glassware, Luxury, multisensory, Prosecco, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Sparkling wine, Wine Tasting

Bubbles are the hallmark of all sparkling wines, and they play a significant role in the cachet that surrounds this category. Even the terms “bubbles,” “mousse,” and “Champagne” elicit a pleasurable response in expert and novice consumers alike.

Dismantling the Intimidation of Learning

March 14, 2025 deborahparkerwong Learning, Education

For years, I thought there was a secret club of “math people.” They just got it, as if the ability to comprehend complex formulas came baked into their DNA. The textbooks seemed pretty impenetrable, especially for higher-level math and statistics.

North Adriatic, a guide to the region by Paul Balke

North Adriatic Producer Guide

March 5, 2025 deborahparkerwong North Adriatic, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Wine, Wine Tasting, winegrowing, Winemaking

A guide to the producers of the North Adriatic region.

The Vanilla Bias

February 17, 2025 deborahparkerwong Wine, Bias, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Sweet, Vanilla, Wine Tasting

According to neuroscientist Camilla Arndal Andersen, how consumers describe the taste of food can be misleading largely due to inherent biases. Among the most problematic is the “courtesy bias,” which comes into play when people respond with what they see as a socially acceptable opinion that doesn’t accurately reflect how they feel. There’s also the “bias blind spot,” in which we think we’re less biased than others. In short, we’re biased about our biases.

Pelletti Vineyard, Laguna Ridge, Sonoma.

Russian River Valley’s Laguna Ridge Neighborhood

February 16, 2025 deborahparkerwong Russian River AVA, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, SOMM Journal, Sonoma, Terroir, Wine, Wine Tasting, winegrowing, Winemaking

Fog over the Pelletti Vineyard in Laguna Hills, Russian River Valley.

Wine Competitions Adopt AI Metrics for Transparent Results

February 3, 2025 deborahparkerwong Wine Competitions, Austria, Sauvignon Blanc, Südsteiermark, Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine Tasting

New metrics shed light on scores and medals in wine competitions

Chart showing the ten categories of volatile compounds in wine.

Hidden compounds: the secret to aromatic complexity

December 10, 2024 deborahparkerwong sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Wine

Of the more than 1,000 compounds that make up wine’s aromatic profile, desirable aromas are represented by a combination of 82 different volatile compounds, only some of which are detectable when present above threshold.

Chianti Classico Offers Free Online Education

November 18, 2024 deborahparkerwong Chianti Classico, Education, Italy, Olive oil, Wine

If studying Chianti Classico has not made your list of New Year’s resolutions, the Consorzi Vini e Olio Classico has just handed you an incentive; a free, online training program – Mooc Chianti Classico.

Wine cellar at PRESS restaurant in St. Helena, CA.

Napa Valley’s Vincent Morrow Looks to Tomorrow

November 13, 2024 deborahparkerwong Napa Valley, Slow Wine Guide USA, Sommeliers, Sonoma, The Tasting Panel, Wine, Zinfandel

Morrow, who received MICHELIN’s California Sommelier Award in 2022, oversees the wine cellar at PRESS, which houses the largest collection of Napa Valley wines in the world and is focused on library wines. When adding a new bottling to the list, he looks for winemakers who have worked their way up at acclaimed producers and then started their own labels.

Multisensory wine marketing expands the consumer experience

October 1, 2024 deborahparkerwong multisensory, Napa Valley, SOMM Journal, Viticulture, Wine, Wine Tasting, Winemaking

There’s no question the pandemic has amplified the influence of the experience economy, which gives businesses a potentially lucrative channel for success in an unpredictable market while enhancing their level of direct engagement with consumers.

AI puts podcasters in jeopardy

September 30, 2024 deborahparkerwong Uncategorized

AI-generated podcast summarizes four recent articles With advances in artificial intelligence (AI) making huge strides, podcasters look to be on[…]

Champagne Palmer has sourced from the same Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards in the Montagne de Reims region of Champagne for 50 years.

Rare perpetural reserve a hallmark at Champagne Palmer

September 14, 2024 deborahparkerwong Champagne, The Tasting Panel, Winemaking

Beyond the soleras and the enviable Montagne de Reims terroir, the wines of Champagne Palmer’s Vintage Collection reveal a third strength: The cooperative of seven producers has not altered its vineyard sourcing since its founding in 1947, forming what Vervier calls the “DNA of the brand.”

Blind Tasting with Clos de Los Siete’s Michel Rolland

September 11, 2024 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Argentina, Bodeaux blends, Wine Tasting, Winemaking

A group of professional palates recently gathered for dinner at Auro, the one-Michelin-starred restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley in Calistoga, California, for a tasting hosted by Clos de los Siete founder Michel Rolland and managing director Ramiro Barrios to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the estate, located in Argentina’s Uco Valley.

Sustainability is a priority at Spottswoode. Photo courtesy Spottswoode Winery

Navigating the Sustainability Landscape: Which Certifications Matter?

September 8, 2024 deborahparkerwong Sustainability, California, Slow Wine Guide, Slow Wine Guide USA, Slow Wine USA, winegrowing, Winemaking

As the labyrinth of wine industry certifications continues to expand, consumers often find themselves without a compass.

Gigondas’ First White Wines Shine

September 4, 2024 deborahparkerwong Gigongas, France, Rhone Valley, SOMM Journal, Wine, winegrowing

Gigondas joins Languedoc’s oldest white-wine AOP, Clairette du Languedoc, established in 1948, and Clairette de Bellegarde, a tiny Southern Rhône AOP in the Costières de Nîmes, in showcasing
Clairette, which often serves as the base in Southern Rhône and Languedoc blends.

Making scents of wine aromas

August 14, 2024 deborahparkerwong Scent, Aroma, sensory, SOMM Journal

A wine’s scent is one of the best indications of its quality. The hedonic effects of wine are influenced by hundreds of volatile aroma compounds, making it one of the most complex of food and
beverage products.

Bottles of Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon.

Lower-alcohol Cabernet Sauvignon is back in fashion

July 26, 2024 deborahparkerwong Lower alcohol, Alexander Valley, SOMM Journal, Wine, Wine & Food Pairing, Wine Tasting, Winemaking

Interest in lower-acohol wines is growing among consumers putting producers like Jordan back in the limelight. “Our Bordeaux-style Cabernet and Burgundy-style Chardonnay wines . . . range between 12.6% and 13.8% [alcohol], compared to the California average of 14.5%,” says Jordan winemaker Maggie Kruse. “This represents far more than numbers; lower-alcohol wines have a more balanced flavor profile.”

Sarah Vandendriessche on Guiding Environmental Stewardship in Napa Valley

July 25, 2024 deborahparkerwong Napa Valley, Environmental stewardship, Lake County, Mendocino, SOMM Journal, Sonoma, The Tasting Panel, Wine Tasting, winegrowing

Elizabeth Spencer’s Sarah Vandendriessche guides the Napa Valley Vintners’ environmental stewardship committee.

Sweet Wine Becomes a Bridge to Dry

July 18, 2024 deborahparkerwong Education, sensory, SOMM Journal, Sweet, Wine Tasting, WSET

Let’s introduce novice wine consumers to the sweet wines of the world first and bridge them to dry styles made from the same grape varieties.

Reproducing Kopke’s 50-year old Tawny Port

June 27, 2024 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Portugal, sensory, The Tasting Panel

With the creation of a new Tawny Port and White Port categories in March 2022, bottles sporting a 50-year age[…]

Terra Madre Americas food conference to feature Slow Wine USA masterclasses

April 14, 2024 deborahparkerwong Slow Wine Guide USA, Slow Wine USA, Sustainability, Wine, Wine & Food Pairing, Wine Tasting

Visit Sacramento and Slow Food International will host Terra Madre Americas, the American version of the internationally acclaimed Terra Madre Salone del Gusto[…]

Translating the language of the planet at Fondazione SOStain

February 27, 2024 deborahparkerwong Wine, biodiversity, SOMM Journal, winegrowing

Biodiversity equals stability was the key message at Siclia’s second international SOStain symposium.

Wine aromas promote relaxation

February 13, 2024 deborahparkerwong sensory, Aroma, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Wine, Wine Tasting

Wine aromas are t work when we pour a glass of grassy Sauvignon Blanc and feel a deep sense of relief.

Slow Wine debuts 2024 Guide at Grgich Hills Estate

February 11, 2024 deborahparkerwong Slow Wine Guide USA, SOMM Journal, winegrowing, Winemaking

Last December, a like-minded group of winemakers and winegrowers gathered to share the fruits of the labor and celebrate being part of the Slow Wine USA community to mark the release of the seventh edition of the Slow Wine Guide USA.

Ingredients for Action: Napa Valley Vintners tackle sustainability at SOMMCon 2023

December 28, 2023 deborahparkerwong Napa Valley, SOMM Journal, Sustainability, Wine, winegrowing, Winemaking

Sustainability is a catch-all term that’s tossed around casually to refer to just about anything even remotely related to climate action, resource conservation, and land stewardship. But for Martin Reyes, MW, and the panel of winemakers that joined him for the “Napa Valley’s Green Scene” session at SommCon in San Diego in September, achieving sustainability requires taking concrete steps with the intention of ensuring the viability of the planet, the broader community, and the wines that are grown and produced in Napa Valley well into the future.

Glitchy neurons learn to discern aromas

December 15, 2023 deborahparkerwong sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Wine

Due to their reputation as vectors for Brettanomyces and their unwelcome presence when discovered swimming in one’s glass, fruit flies have long been viewed as annoying pests by wine drinkers. But as research subjects, they’re surprisingly beneficial: Their brains are teaching us more about how we humans learn to differentiate aromas.

A Bolly Good Time

November 20, 2023 deborahparkerwong Uncategorized

In May, Cyril Delarue, a sixth-generation pro- prietor of Champagne Bollinger who oversees the producer’s U.S. interests, celebrated the release[…]

Interview with Champagne Piper Heidsieck’s Émilien Boutillat

October 27, 2023 deborahparkerwong winegrowing, Champagne, Sustainability, Winemaking

I spoke with Émilien Boutillat, chef de cave at Champagne Piper Heidsieck, this week from New York for an update[…]

Decoding the Origins of Wine Aromas

October 2, 2023 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Cabernet Sauvignon, merlot, sensory, sensory science

Researchers have identified compounds responsible for coconut and dried fruit aromas in red grape must and new wine.

Thresholds for Smoke Taint a moving target

August 18, 2023 deborahparkerwong Smoke Exposure, Vineyard, Wine, Winemaking

California State University Fresno’s Dr. Miguel Pedroza talks with Matthew Malcom from California Ag Network about his smoke taint research.[…]

Stem Compounds Help Reduce Alcohol and Boost Freshness

August 4, 2023 deborahparkerwong Wine, France, Research, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Winemaking

There’s more to wine grape stems than tannin. The discovery of new stem compounds has prompted researchers at the Laboratoire Excell biochemistry lab in Bordeaux to re-evaluate the benefits of including stems during this crucial stage of production.

Carpe vinum vitrum

July 10, 2023 deborahparkerwong Champagne, Priorat, SOMM Journal, Wine, winegrowing, Winemaking

No matter one’s knowledge of wine, there is simply no substitute for tasting. For those of us who keep an eye on the world’s ever-evolving wine regions, that means seizing an opportunity to taste as well as to meet the makers.

Meet the wine pro behind Drops of God

May 22, 2023 deborahparkerwong Wine, sensory

Where so many fictional movies that explore wine have failed, Drops of God which is an eight-part series inspired by[…]

New World and Old World Heritage

May 8, 2023 deborahparkerwong Chardonnay, Italy, Napa Valley, Wine

Around the World with Alberto Antonini

March 12, 2023 deborahparkerwong Argentina, Australia, Italy, Napa Valley, winegrowing, Winemaking

Deconstructing Aged Amarone

February 12, 2023 deborahparkerwong Wine, Amarone, Italy, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Valpolicella, Veneto, Winemaking

For Lonardi, the drying process known as appassimento that’s used to make Amarone produces wines that are expressive of terroir. Researchers studying
the compounds found in Corvina—the indigenous grape that is the foundation of the wine’s blend—agree. Typical markers for Corvina include balsamic and tobacco notes that increase during appassimento, and the presence of these markers in aged wines points to specific vintage conditions.

Earthly Delights

January 2, 2023 deborahparkerwong Champagne, Sake, Wine

An abundance of beauty ushered in the new year in Northern California.

Returning to Radici del Sud

December 30, 2022 deborahparkerwong Italy, Sicily, Sicily, SOMM Journal, Wine, Wine Competitions

The winning wines at this year’s competition are memorable for several reasons: The whites were fresher, the rosés crisper, and the red wines seemingly more elegant than I recall them being in 2015.

Markham looks to the future

November 17, 2022 deborahparkerwong merlot, The Tasting Panel, Wine, winegrowing, Winemaking

In her role as head winemaker at Markham, Kimberlee Nicholls directs an all-female team that includes assistant winemaker Abigail Horstman, enologist Patricia Sciacca and viticulturist Taylor Abudi. The collaborative culture that thrives at Markham is a direct result of how she prioritizes the professional growth of her team.

Why is pu-erh the Pinot Noir of teas

November 16, 2022 deborahparkerwong China, Pinot Noir, sensory, Tea

Red-wine drinkers gravitate to the robust flavors and wine-like tannins of rich, intense pu-erh teas. They exhibit aromas and flavors that are found in wines like Pinot Noir: earth, forest floor, mushroom and even barnyard.”

Renaissance for Chile’s Itata Valley

October 19, 2022 deborahparkerwong Chile, Itata Valley, SOMM Journal, Wine

Wine culture in Itata Valley, the northernmost of Chile’s three southern wine regions, exemplifies what is known as “evolution in isolation.” Experiencing no phylloxera and only a modest incursion of international grape varieties, this isolated region has held on to its heritage grapes and ancestral winemaking practices seldom found beyond its borders.

Five Decades for California’s Class of ’72

October 18, 2022 deborahparkerwong Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, SOMM Journal, Sonoma

Of the California wineries celebrating their 50th birth year in 2022, six gathered to mark the occasion with a retrospective tasting at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena. Each dazzled us with three wines while reflecting on five decades of harvests and providing a snapshot of their current vintages.

Honing perception with chocolate and fragrance: a feel good task

October 17, 2022 deborahparkerwong Wine, Chocolate, Perception, SOMM Journal

In an effort to expand my perception beyond my daily work with beverage alcohol, I tackle the evaluation of chocolate and fragrance a few times each year by judging hundreds of products as part of an unpaid panel.

The New Gold Rush

July 8, 2022 deborahparkerwong Australia, Beaujolais, France, Italy, Restaurants, Sicily, Wine, Wine & Food Pairing

The San Francisco Bay Area has long been a destination for the wine world’s movers and shakers; you can read about those I meet in my new column, Date by the Gate. This cycle, winemakers and authors made their way to the the area with tastings and book signings that were nothing less than awe-inspiring.

Biogenic amine toxicity a reality for histamine-sensitive consumers

June 30, 2022 deborahparkerwong Wine, Biogenic amines, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal

By now, most informed wine consumers have accepted the fact that sulfur isn’t the root cause of wine-derived headaches and instead place most of the blame on alcohol. Meanwhile, what has been identified as a source of adverse reactions to no- and low-sulfur red wines, particularly by histamine-sensitive consumers, are biogenic amines. What are they and why can they be a problem?

Flavor-tripping with the miracle fruit Asaba

April 8, 2022 deborahparkerwong Perception, sensory, SOMM Journal

As a species, we’ve been eating and drinking to intentionally alter our states of perception ever since. For generations, the indigenous peoples of the Congo, Nigeria, and Ghana have used the fruit (and leaves) of Synsepalum dulcificum, a shrub indigenous to West
and Central Africa, in ethnomedicine. The taste-altering properties of this flavorless, bright-red berry—dubbed “the miracle fruit,” it’s about the size of a coffee bean—make for a fascinating sensory experience.

Learning to Perceive

February 8, 2022 deborahparkerwong Wine, Aroma, Bordeaux, France, Scent, Semillon, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal

While perceptual learning plays an important role in evaluating wine, there’s another phenomenon related to perception that arises from the wine itself: perceptual interaction. When our olfactory system
is confronted with complex aromas, we often perceive them as a single aroma due to odor blending in a process known as
configural perception (our perception of the smell of coffee as a single aroma is just one of many examples).

Age drives complexity in sparkling wine

December 17, 2021 deborahparkerwong Champagne, France, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Wine, Winemaking

After tasting the Piper-Heidsieck Hors-Série 1971 ($499), a rare, late disgorged Champagne that spent 49 years resting peacefully on its lees, I was inspired to delve deeper into the role yeast autolysis plays in the flavor development of sparkling wine.

The duality of-smell phenomenon

October 17, 2021 deborahparkerwong Wine, Non food aromas, sensory, sensory science, Wine Reviews

Our sense of smell is based on two delivery pathways, orthonasal and retronasal; that makes it the only “dual sense modality” we possess, one that provides information about things both external and internal to the body.

We’re losing Syrah’s peppery notes

August 20, 2021 deborahparkerwong Wine, Aroma, France, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, winegrowing, Winemaking

Now the days of comparing a
glass of Northern Rhône Syrah to
a strip of peppered bacon appear
to be coming to an end.

Italian Wine Podcast: Get US Market Ready talks with Deborah Parker Wong

July 26, 2021 deborahparkerwong Italy, Slow Wine Guide USA, SOMM Journal, Wine, WSET

Get US Market Ready host Steve Raye talks with Slow Wine Guide USA National Editor Deborah Parker Wong about her journey and work as an educator, journalist and much more. The 2021 Slow Wine Guide USA is available on Amazon.com.

Alvarinho’s Authentic Terroir

July 18, 2021 deborahparkerwong Portugal, Terroir, The Tasting Panel, Wine, winegrowing, Winemaking

Alvarinho produced in its native terroir is incomparable to expressions of the variety grown elsewhere. But it may ultimately prove to be on a trajectory similar to that of Pinot Gris, which is renowned for producing light, delicately floral wines in Italy’s Collio region and wines of great mineral intensity and fruit purity in Alsace. Time will tell.

Shochu: the spirit of the Summer Games

July 11, 2021 deborahparkerwong Japan, Olympics, Shochu

While saké is a fixture at all of life’s important moments in Japan, the similarly lengthy history and traditions of shochu have made it the nation’s distilled spirit of choice.

Unraveling Geologic Metaphors

June 17, 2021 deborahparkerwong Uncategorized

The discovery of more naturally-occurring compounds found both in soil and in wine prompts the winegrowers of Sancerre to abandon their geologic metaphor and take credit for winemaking choices that reflect their terroir.

Sustainability: A Shared Message Delivered by a Chorus of Voices

June 1, 2021 deborahparkerwong California, New York, Oregon, Slow Wine Guide USA, Washington

Bringing together like-minded stakeholders for its second global conference addressing sustainability, Sustainable Wine UK will host the Future of Wine Americas Conference, 1 – 3 June. This no-cost, online conference will connect peers for information sharing, debate and best practices aimed at tackling pressing topics such as water conservation, the benefits of organic versus low-intervention wine, sustainable management of pest and disease outbreaks, and the role of social fairness in the green movement.

A Milestone for Schug Carneros Estate

May 17, 2021 deborahparkerwong Carneros, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir, SOMM Journal, Wine, Wine & Food Pairing, Winemaking

Walter Schug departed this world in 2015 but his passion for Pinot Noir lives on at Schug Carneros Estate which is celebrating 41 years of devotion to the variety. Axel and Claudia Schug, third generation winegrowers, were joined by chef Kristine Schug and winemaker Johannes Scheid as they presented a retrospective tasting that spanned the past, present and future of the Carneros estate winery.

Sneak peek at the Slow Wine Guide USA 2021 print edition

April 20, 2021 deborahparkerwong Uncategorized

Slow Wine debuts its first stand-alone guide which has been expanded to cover the wineries and wines from the United States’ major wine growing regions of California, Oregon and Washington and New York states.

Following Malbec’s fingerprints to identify terroir

April 7, 2021 deborahparkerwong Argentina, Malbec, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Terroir, Wine

What Argentina’s savvy winemakers have known for many decades—that certain vineyards reliably produce superlative wines despite vintage variations—is now scientific fact.

France protects sensory heritage

March 12, 2021 deborahparkerwong France, SOMM Journal, Sustainability, Terroir, Wine, winegrowing

An infamous rooster named Maurice and a gaggle of contented geese have helped ensure biodiversity in France. In the face of complaints about the noises and smells typical of the countryside, the French Parliament passed a law on January 21, 2021, protecting what it calls the “sensory heritage” of its rural areas.

CBD waters take flavor cues from spas and trending spirits

February 22, 2021 deborahparkerwong CBDs, Functional beverages, hemp, SOMM Journal, Water

As beverage companies experiment with new ways to improve water’s hydrating ability while incorporating additional health benefits, they’ve embraced the use of CBD derived from hemp. Its biphasic properties are similar to those of alcohol in that small doses are uplifting, while larger doses suppress mood and energy.

Genetic Diversity Enhances Human Olfaction

January 23, 2021 deborahparkerwong sensory, SOMM Journal

The sequence of 400 or so genes that control human olfaction is considered
by geneticists to be unusually diverse among animal species. Until recently,
researchers thought that any deviations resulting from that diversity led to a reduction in perception, but the results of a new sensory study have revealed otherwise.

Cava – a Spanish Wine Category in Transition

January 15, 2021 deborahparkerwong Spain, Sparkling wine

The Cava wine category is evolving from its origins as a Denominación de Origen (DO) to the inception of five sparkling wine designations that are in use today: Conca del Riu Anoia, Clàssic Penedès, Corpinnat, Cava de Paraje Calificado, and Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja. These designations seek to improve the overall quality and global image of Spanish sparkling wine by focusing more on terroir and establishing higher standards—for aging, for production, for winegrowing, and more—than the original Cava DO traditionally has.

The Multitasking Tongue (Chinese translation)

December 26, 2020 deborahparkerwong Scent, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal

Deborahparkerwong.com contributor Rex Ting-chia has translated The Multitasking Tongue for our Chinese language readers. You can find the pdf here[…]

Monarch Tractor Powers Next-generation Viticulture

December 15, 2020 deborahparkerwong Sustainability, Technology, Trends, Viticulture, Wine Business Monthly, winegrowing

A compact, smart, electric tractor has been on the wish list of sustainably-minded winegrowers the world over. With no significant advances in tractor technology for more than a decade, the arrival of the Monarch tractor represents the missing link needed to fast track the integration of precision agriculture and address the growing labor challenges confronting the wine industry.

Five years of Progress for Alentejo’s Sustainability Program

December 13, 2020 deborahparkerwong Climate change, Portugal, Sustainability, Vineyard, Viticulture, Wine

Producers in the Portuguese winegrowing region of Alentejo— whose vineyards encompass about 18,000 hectares, or almost a third of the country—have made significant gains in sustainability under the guidance of the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Program (WASP).

The Gold Standard

December 8, 2020 deborahparkerwong Blind Tasting, SOMM Journal, Wine

Studying wine without the experience of tasting it in real-world settings such as trade events and seminars is frustrating at best. One elegant solution,
developed by author and educator Evan Goldstein, MS, and his business partner, Full Circle Wine Solutions CEO Limeng Stroh, has quickly become the gold standard of study tools for professionals and consumer enthusiasts.

Taint or Terroir? (Chinese translation)

December 7, 2020 deborahparkerwong Chinese, Terroir, Wine, wine faults

Rex Ting-chia Ting DipWSET has translated Taint or Terroir for our Chinese readers.

Bobal: Past, Present and Future (Chinese translation)

December 7, 2020 deborahparkerwong Bobal, Chinese, SOMM Journal, Spain, Wine, Wine Reviews, winegrowing, Winemaking

Chinese translation by Rex Ting-chia Ting, DipWSET Rex Ting-chia Ting, DipWSET has translated Bobal: Past, Present and Future for those[…]

Brut Sous Bois Q & A with Mathieu Roland-Billecart

December 6, 2020 deborahparkerwong France, Champagne, Winemaking

No one needs a reason to drink Champagne but ringing out 2020 is certainly a good opportunity to reach for something beyond your sentimental favorite. In an effort to learn more about Billecart-Salmon’s Brut Sous Bois, I asked Mathieu Roland-Billecart for the inside scoop on this particular cuvée.

Five Reasons to Love Grenache, Garnacha Blanc and Gris (Chinese translation)

November 18, 2020 deborahparkerwong Chinese, France, Roussillon, Spain, Terra Alta

A hearty welcome to the site for Rex Ting-chia Ting, DipWSET who has translated Five Reasons to Love Grenache Garnacha Blanc and Gris for those who read Chinese.

Protected: A New Chapter in California Wine History

October 15, 2020 deborahparkerwong Uncategorized

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Taint or Terroir?

October 10, 2020 deborahparkerwong Australia, California, Smoke Exposure, SOMM Journal, Terroir

What can we expect as winegrowers in Australia, Chile, France, and the United
States are increasingly forced to adapt their winemaking practices and styles to account for devastating fire seasons?

Vodcasting for Success

August 26, 2020 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Trends, Vodcasting, Wine, Wine Media Conference, Wine Reviews

Vodcasting is where podcasting is headed. Superb vodcasting relies on the format you use and the quality and reliability of your recording software and internet connection.

Taking a Closer Look at Modern Hybrids

August 10, 2020 deborahparkerwong Wine, Austria, Education, SOMM Journal, winegrowing

In the search for alternative ways to control grape vine diseases while reducing the use of synthetic herbicides and pesticides, a cadre of modern hybrids—second- and third-generation interspecific varieties— are demonstrating considerable promise in both the vineyard and the glass.

Valentina Cubi’s Decade of Organic Winegrowing in Valpolicella

July 29, 2020 deborahparkerwong Amarone, Italy, Organic, Valpolicella, Veneto, Wine, winegrowing

When I first tasted the Valpolicella wines produced by Valentina Cubi in January of 2011, I was captivated. After visiting the organic estate a few times over the last decade and tasting the wines during the annual Amarone Anteprima events that are held every February in Verona, my appreciation has only deepened. This year the winery which is located in the Valpolicella Classico region of Fumane marks a key milestone celebrating a decade of organic certification.

Alpine Sauvignon Blancs of Styria

July 26, 2020 deborahparkerwong Austria, Sauvignon Blanc, Südsteiermark, SOMM Journal, Vulkandland Steiermark, Wine, winegrowing, Winemaking

It’s Sauvignon Blanc—not Grüner Veltliner—that’s the star of the show in Austria’s Südsteiermark DAC, a historic winegrowing region in the country’s southern state of Styria that has evolved rapidly over the last thirty years. The variety is grown at high elevation in all five of Südsteiermark’s sub regions and on steep slopes that rival those of the Mosel.

The Anosmia Threat

June 26, 2020 deborahparkerwong Scent, sensory, sensory science

In the United Kingdom, anosmia and ageuisa have been stronger predictors
of COVID-19 than fever. As of April 1 out of 400,000 people reporting one or
more symptoms on a mobile tracking app developed at King’s College London, 18% had lost their sense of smell or taste and 10.5% were experiencing fever.

Well Born, the origin of Bien Nacido Vineyard

June 24, 2020 deborahparkerwong Bien Nacido, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Santa Maria, SOMM Journal, Vineyard, Wine

Inspired by its striking maritime climate—attributable to the juxtaposition of the San Rafael Mountain and Transverse Ranges to the Pacific coast as well as to its chalky, sandy loam soils—the Miller Family named the site Bien Nacido, which means “well born” in Spanish, and planted it in 1973.

The evolving styles of Chardonnay

May 26, 2020 deborahparkerwong Chardonnay, Trends, Wine, Winemaking

California Chardonnay has had its ups and downs over the last 60 years but it had clearly been a cash cow for many producers whose styles have evolved while remaining a hallmark for others whose style hasn’t changed significantly for decades.

Retrospective tasting with Penfolds’ Peter Gago

April 14, 2020 deborahparkerwong Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Older vintages, Shiraz, SOMM Journal, Wine

In keeping with Gago’s practice of tasting verticals of older Penfolds vintages alongside panels of expert tasters, I’ve amended my tasting notes to include the historical perspective documented in Penfolds: The Rewards of Patience. This consummate guide to all things Penfolds provides invaluable hindsight through the lens of the world’s most highly-regarded palates.

Bobal: Past, Present and Future

April 12, 2020 deborahparkerwong Bobal, SOMM Journal, Spain, Unique Varieties, Utiel-Requena, Wine, winegrowing, Winemaking

Iron Age wineries tamed the ancestor of the indigenous Bobal vines of Utiel-Requena.

The Sauvignon Blancs of Concours Mondial du Sauvignon

April 9, 2020 deborahparkerwong Austria, Bordeaux, Chile, France, Loire Valley, Napa Valley, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc, sensory, SOMM Journal, Wine

There is no better time to gauge the quality and stylistic range of Sauvignon Blanc than during the only international wine competition devoted solely to the variety: the 2020 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon, which unfolded in Touraine, France, in early March.

The Pride of Piedmont

April 9, 2020 deborahparkerwong Italy, Piedmont, SOMM Journal, Wine, Wine & Food Pairing

In early February an unprecedented gathering of approximately 200 producers of Barolo and Barbaresco arrived in New York City to present their 2016 and 2017 vintages to the trade. They gathered at Center415 in midtown Manhattan for a walk around-tasting that ran for five hours; a boon for tasters who for once had time on our side.

Five reasons to love Grenache /Garnacha Blanc and Gris

March 3, 2020 deborahparkerwong Spain, Wine

In northeastern Spain, Garnacha Blanca can predominately be found in the regions of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena and Somontano but the Terra Alta PDO has the treasure trove with 1400 hectares of old vine Garnacha Blanca under vine. That amounts to one-third of the vines grown worldwide and growing as new plantings are on the rise.

The Beauty of Vins Doux Naturels

March 3, 2020 deborahparkerwong France, Roussillon

The Roussillon region of Southern France is home to five AOPS that produce fortified vins doux naturel wines.

Taking Control of Total Package Oxygen

March 2, 2020 deborahparkerwong Oxygen, Packaging, Winemaking, Winemaking

The oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of a wine closure is just one of several factors that contribute to the total package oxygen (TPO) in a bottle of wine.

Slow Wine Guide 2020 – your free digital edition

February 10, 2020 deborahparkerwong Biodynamic, California, Italy, Organic, Slow Wine Guide, Sustainability, Uncategorized, Wine, winegrowing

Enjoy your free digital edition of the 2020 Slow Wine Guide.

In Pursuit of Sensory Literacy

February 6, 2020 deborahparkerwong Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Sonoma, Wine

When Sonoma’s La Crema Winery turned 40 last year, it celebrated the milestone with a unique exercise: Led by Dr. Henry “Hoby” Wedler, it was easily one of my top sensory experiences of 2019.

World Bulk Wine Expo 2019

January 28, 2020 deborahparkerwong Uncategorized

Watch highlights from the 2019 World Bulk Wine Exposition.

James the Wine Guy Interviews Deborah Parker Wong, DWSET

November 8, 2019 deborahparkerwong Wine

Prolific video blogger and wine writer James Melendez tells me that this insightful interview is one of his most popular to date. Read it on his James the Wine Guy site – https://jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com/2019/08/20/james-the-wine-guy-interview-series-deborah-parker-wong-wine-opinion-leading-communicator-journalist-and-author/#comment-12859

Alentejo’s Dark Horse, Alicante Bouschet

October 14, 2019 deborahparkerwong Alentego, Portugal, SOMM Journal, Wine

As grape varieties go, it’s fair to say that Alicante Bouschet (Ahlee-KANT Boo-SHAY) is flashy in the vineyard. It’s one of the few—along with Chile’s Carménère and Campania’s Piedirosso— whose leaves turn a deep, brilliant shade as the growing cycle winds down.

Highlights from WSET Wine Education Week

October 14, 2019 deborahparkerwong Education, Uncategorized, Wine, WSET

The SOMM Journal’s Global Wine Editor, Deborah Parker Wong, DWSET (’09), recently hosted three professional mixers marking the 50th anniversary of the London-based Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

Parker Wong teamed up with three Sonoma wineries—Balletto
Vineyards, Sangiacomo Wines, and McEvoy Ranch—in welcoming WSET
alumni and students as well as members of the trade to taste and network
during Wine Education Week, held September 9–15. Three lucky attendees were awarded access to a Level 2 online certification course.

Falling hard for Petrichor

October 10, 2019 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Scent, sensory, sensory science, wine faults

The term petrichor was derived from the Greek words petra (stone) and ichor (the blood of the gods) by researchers Isabel Joy Bear and Richard Thomas in their 1964 paper “Nature of Argillaceous Odour” to describe the scent of rain.

Wine 123: Causation and Detection of Wine Defects Offered at Santa Rosa JC

October 1, 2019 deborahparkerwong Botrytis cinerea, Brettanomyces, cork, Santa Rosa JC, sensory science, Volatile Acidity, Wine, wine faults, winegrowing

I’ll be teaching Wine 123: Causation and Detection of Wine Defects at Santa Rosa JC next semester (Spring 2020). Check out our video courtesy of the Distance Learning department’s Emily Hansen –

Fast horses and slow whiskey

September 10, 2019 deborahparkerwong Rye, Spirits, Whisk(e)y

It’s not common knowledge that rye whiskey production originated in Pennsylvania and Maryland, where it reached its zenith in the late 19th century. Historically, each state produced a different style: Pennsylvania rye was spicy and bold, while Maryland rye traditionally presented more well balanced flavors.

Lyre’s alcohol alternatives take a seat at the bar

September 10, 2019 deborahparkerwong Alcohol alternative, Alcohol free, Cocktails

Imitation is called the sincerest form of flattery; in the case of Sydney, Australia-based company Lyre’s, which makes a range of alcohol alternative
products that mimic classic spirits, it’s an artful homage.

Thinking in Smell

August 20, 2019 deborahparkerwong sensory, sensory science, WSET

Of the five senses, smell in Western culture has gotten a bad rap. In the English language there are fewer positive equivalents for the sense of smell than there are for the other four senses. You might sniff out a deal or smell a rat but the terms for nose in our vocabulary particularly as they relate to wine are more often than not derogatory (snobby, snooty, snotty, etc.).

Functionals defining premium hydration 2.0

August 19, 2019 deborahparkerwong Adaptogens, Beer, Functional beverages, Kombucha, Spirits, Wine

There’s little doubt this disruptive reinvention of the beverage category will impact wine and beverage alcohol consumption for a host of reasons. Among them is alcohol moderation or abstinence by younger consumers whose lifestyles already include frequent consumption of functional products. While beer and spirits producers have already found purchase in the category through brand extensions and acquisitions, wine producers don’t seem in any hurry to participate.

The Multitasking Tongue

June 27, 2019 deborahparkerwong Wine, Scent, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal

Although we understand the physiology of the olfactory epithelium, the organ where volatile aroma compounds are converted in to the electrochemical signals that we perceive as aromas, smell or olfaction is still largely a mystery. For example, we have 400 types of olfactory receptors but we don’t know which volatile aroma compounds activate the majority of them.

Orchestrating the microbiome of a whiskey

June 26, 2019 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Spirits, Whiskey

Ask Jack Daniel’s enthusiasts what they like most about their preferred whiskey and the term “consistency” comes up time and[…]

Kindred Spirits: The Central Otago Burgundy Exchange

June 10, 2019 deborahparkerwong Wine, Burgundy, New Zealand, Pinot Noir

When winegrowers in Burgundy found kindred spirits among the winegrowers of Central Otago the resulting collaboration now in its twelfth year has everyone who loves Pinot Noir cheering.

Central Otago 4.0 Insights from the 14th annual Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration

June 10, 2019 deborahparkerwong New Zealand, Pinot Noir, Wine

The three-day 2019 Pinot Noir Celebration held in Queenstown, Central Otago delivered on Chairman Paul Pujol’s welcome promise of examining the region, its producers and their wines with a perspective as fresh as a stiff breeze off Queenstown Bay.

Rare Back-to-Back Vintage Declaration for Port

May 18, 2019 deborahparkerwong Portugal, Wine, Wine Reviews

The flight of 16 vintage ports produced by the Symington Family Estates, The Fladgate Partnership and Quinta do Noval were presented to the trade during the tasting hosted on May 9th at the Nikko Hotel.

Alto Adige’s mountains of earthly delight

May 1, 2019 deborahparkerwong Alto Adige, Italy, Sauvignon Blanc, Vineyard

Vineyards and apple orchards lie under the soaring peaks that surround Bolzano, the bustling center of Alto Adige, a pristine and autonomous region in northeastern Italy. Less than a two-hour drive from Innsbruck over the dizzying Brenner Pass, Bolzano is a study in contrasts; a place where Austrian and Italian cultures merge and Old and New World lifestyles converge.

Spring vegetables present unique wine-pairing challenges

April 28, 2019 deborahparkerwong California, Food and wine pairing, sensory science

It seems a Ph.D. in organic chemistry is necessary to fully understand the
issue, but wine science educator Deborah Parker Wong can provide some insight into what happens when certain vegetables meet the palate.

The Simple Pleasures of Italy’s Native Grapes

April 22, 2019 deborahparkerwong Italy, Native varieties, Restaurants, San Francisco, Sicily

San Francisco restaurateur Francesco Corvucci, a Calabrian native whose gift for the cuisines of Southern Italy has brought life to several once-iconic North Beach locations, is a proponent of both wines. “My lists are devoted solely to Italian wines and my cuisine to Italian ingredients and dishes. In practice, the success of this wine style is undeniable; it more than satisfies a traditionalist like me and is very accessible for consumers.”

The Not-So-Great Divide

April 18, 2019 deborahparkerwong Concord, New York, sensory, sensory science, Technology

A recent study conducted at jointly at Penn State University and the University of California Davis illustrates significant differences in what consumers and self-described wine experts find likeable in wine.

The wines in question were six pairs of unoaked Chardonnay that had been doctored with increasing amounts of the compound – methyl anthralinate (MA) – that gives some native American vitis labruscana grape varieties their “grapey-ness.”

Beyond the Bar: Wine country visits that take you beyond the tasting room

April 3, 2019 deborahparkerwong Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Carneros, Enotourism, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir, Sonoma, Wine, Wine & Food Pairing

Gone are the days when wine tasting was synonymous with standing at a bar. Wineries are now offering tasting experiences that include such activities as hiking with your dog, appreciating a world-class sculpture garden and breathing through a yoga class. If you think a standard wine tasting at a bar sounds more like drudgery than a dream day, these four non-traditional wine tasting experiences are for you.

Your guide to the Slow Wine Guide 2019 (free download)

March 19, 2019 deborahparkerwong California, Italy, Oregon, Vineyard, Wine Bars

The 2019 Slow Wine Guide (free download) arrived in San Francisco on Monday, March 4th, for the Guide’s first stop on a tour of the US that included Portland, Denver, New York and Boston. With more than 100 wineries from Italy and California participating, the tour drew a record number of tasters reflecting the growing interest in wineries whose values and practices are aligned with Slow Wine.

Emilia-Romagna: The Enticing Italian Flavors and Rich culture of Bologna

February 15, 2019 deborahparkerwong Wine, Emilia-Romagna, Food and wine pairing, Italy, The Tasting Panel, Unique Varieties, Viticulture

Best known by Americans for its iconic food products—namely prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Balsamic vinegar, and its effervescent Lambrusco wines—there’s far more to Emilia-Romagna than these familiar tastes.

Snapshot of New Mexico

February 9, 2019 deborahparkerwong New Mexico, Pinot Noir, SOMM Journal, Trends, Viticulture, Wine, winegrowing

The recuperation of New Mexico’s wine industry began in earnest when Italian, German, and French viticulturists brought their expertise to the state in the 1980s. Winegrowing in New Mexico continues to be influenced by these modern-day founding fathers, their families and a host of young winegrowers who are quickly elevating the quality and style of the region’s wines.

Are you experienced?

February 9, 2019 deborahparkerwong Carneros, sensory, sensory science, Sonoma, Trends, Wine

The odor of wet dog isn’t exactly something we want to detect in wine, but
experiencing this scent after a communal hike at Kunde Family Winery in Sonoma Valley could actually prove enjoyable.

New Mexico winery makes some noise

January 28, 2019 deborahparkerwong New Mexico, SOMM Journal, Vineyard, Viticulture, Wine

Young winemakers in New Mexico are leveraging the wisdom of the region’s winegrowing founding fathers and creating some buzz for[…]

First-ever Slow Wine Guide to Oregon and second California edition coming online…

January 24, 2019 deborahparkerwong Biodynamic, California, Napa Valley, Oregon, Organic, Sonoma, Uncategorized

First-ever Slow Wine Guide to Oregon and second California edition coming online… First-ever Slow Wine Guide to Oregon and second[…]

WSET 50th Anniversary Week: Professional Development Mixer at Balletto Vineyards

January 16, 2019 deborahparkerwong Sonoma, WSET

Save the date. On September 9th WSET alumni and anyone interested in learning more about WSET certification courses are invited to join Deborah Parker Wong, DWSET and host John Balletto for a professional mixer celebrating WSET’s 50th anniversary at Balletto Vineyards.

WSET 50th Anniversary Week: Professional Development Mixer at McEvoy Ranch

January 1, 2019 deborahparkerwong Events, WSET

Save the date. On September 15th WSET alumni and anyone interested in learning more about WSET certification courses are invited[…]

Thickheaded Somms: Examining the neuroscience behind expert wine tasting

December 28, 2018 deborahparkerwong Blind Tasting, Books, Research, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Wine, wine faults

Among our many activities, wine professionals devote a considerable amount of time to perception, the state of being where we become aware of something through the senses.

A Home for “The Prisoner”

December 21, 2018 deborahparkerwong Napa Valley, The Tasting Panel

From the moment its first 385-case lot was labeled, The Prisoner has been an outlier in the California wine industry.

Golden Bordeaux: A triumph with popular snacks

December 19, 2018 deborahparkerwong Bordeaux, Botrytis cinerea, Food and wine pairing, France

There are two basic, intentional approaches to food and wine pairing: mirroring the flavors and weight of a wine with similar foods resulting in what I like to call “a sublime experience” and contrasting pairings, a “high-risk, high-reward approach” that works the opposite ends of the flavor spectrum for maximum impact.

Exploring North and South American terroirs

December 19, 2018 deborahparkerwong Argentina, California, Chardonnay, Chile, Mendocino, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir, Vineyard

There’s a yin and yang to winegrowing in the Americas. As the vines in North America are stirring to life, the vineyards in South America are ready for harvest.

Fifty Years of Secco Bertani Amarone

December 15, 2018 deborahparkerwong Amarone, Italy, SOMM Journal, Wine

When winemaker Andrea Lonardi took the stage at September’s Full Circle Beverage Conference in San Francisco to present a tasting[…]

The breath of life

October 24, 2018 deborahparkerwong Biodynamic, Chile, Demeter, SOMM Journal, Viticulture, Winemaking

It was an oxygen epiphany. Could oxygen be the key to making wines that shimmer with life? I, for one, have now added it to the long list of factors that may determine whether a wine seems dead or alive.

Vinexpo Explorer shines global spotlight on Sonoma County, Calif.

October 19, 2018 deborahparkerwong Buyers, California, International, Sonoma, Spirited, Uncategorized, Wine

Vinexpo Explorer presented the gathering of wine buyers and press from 27 countries with an opportunity to take a deep dive into the region and its terroir, personality, and the myriad wine styles produced in Sonoma County. Spirited interviewed some of these buyers, most of whom were first-time visitors to the region, to gather their firsthand impressions of Sonoma County wines.

Cabernet with a twist

September 21, 2018 deborahparkerwong Bourbon, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, The Tasting Panel

The practice of finishing whiskey in wine barrels has been around since the 1860s, when scotch producers first utilized Sherry[…]

Big data supports expert wine tasters

August 23, 2018 deborahparkerwong Big Data, Blind Tasting, Research, sensory, sensory science, The Tasting Panel 2009, wine faults

In the course of developing software for predicting consumer wine preferences, a Houston-based start up, VineSleuth, shed new light on[…]

A tranquil moment with Didier Depond

August 18, 2018 deborahparkerwong Champagne, Chardonnay, France, SOMM Journal

In a rare tête-a-tête, The SOMM Journal joined Didier Depond, President of the Champagne houses Salon and Delamotte, for an[…]

Natural cork, a scapegoat for wine defects

August 16, 2018 deborahparkerwong cork, Packaging, Research, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Wine

When wine professionals encounter a sensory deviation in wine and the offending molecule isn’t obvious, cork often takes the blame by default.

Micro-lot Cabernet from Napa’s rockiest site

August 15, 2018 deborahparkerwong Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley, SOMM Journal, Vineyard, Wine

Cobbles reminiscent of the kind you find in the Southern Rhône aren’t the first thing you typically encounter in a Napa Valley vineyard. At Game Farm vineyard, owned and managed by Alex Vyborny and son Ben, it’s what differentiates their site from many others in Oakville. That cobbled terroir drew Goosecross Cellars winemaker Bill Nancarrow who sources fruit for the independent C. Elizabeth brand to the site like a bee to honey.

Lodi home to California’s best wine value

August 14, 2018 deborahparkerwong Chardonnay, Lodi, Value

Collier Creek 2016 Front Coach Chardonnay is, by all accounts, a first class
ticket for the price of coach. With a retail price of $9.99, you might assume that massive amounts of this wine are being produced but winemaker Susana Rodriguez Vasquez made just 5,000 cases.

Picchetti Winery scores big with 2017 Sauvignon Blanc

August 13, 2018 deborahparkerwong Arroyo Secco AVA, CA State Fair, California, Santa Cruz, Sauvignon Blanc, Vineyard, Wine

At first glance, this ethereal Sauvignon Blanc which is described by Mike Bruzus, associate winemaker at Picchetti Winery, as “almost color less, the palest straw” could be mistaken for water. But from the moment your nose comes within a few inches of the glass, there’s a rush of aromas, a jumble of fragrance that includes pink grapefruit, pineapple, gooseberry, honeydew melon, guava, lychee and mineral notes of wet rocks and saline. A precursor of what’s to come when you taste it and a certain indicator that this isn’t a “simple” wine.

Iberian varieties victorious for Lodi’s St. Amant Winery

August 13, 2018 deborahparkerwong CA State Fair, Lodi, Unique Varieties, Wine Competitions

If you enjoy port, the rich, fortified wine of Portugal’s Douro Valley, you’re already a
fan of Touriga. Touriga Nacional as it is known in Portugal is one of the five classic grape varieties that are blended to make Port wines. The Touriga variety that won this year’s Best of Show Red made its way from Portugal to UC Davis where it was selected by St. Amant Winery’s late Tim Spencer and planted at an estate vineyard in Amador County in 1980.

Imagery repeats as CA State Fair California Winery of the Year

August 10, 2018 deborahparkerwong CA State Fair, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, Enotourism, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma, Wine Competitions

In a repeat performance, Imagery Estate Winery founded by Joe Benziger in 1985 has been honored for the second year running by the California State Fair as the 2018 Golden State Winery of the Year. Benziger, who was at the helm for the 2017 award, has now retired but serves as guide and mentor for his second daughter Jamie Benziger, 31, who stepped up as winemaker in 2018.

Paraiso Vineyard: The backbone of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

August 9, 2018 deborahparkerwong CA State Fair, California, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sustainability, Terroir, Vineyard, Wine, Wine Competitions, winegrowing

Spanish missionaries at Mission Soledad first planted vineyards in the region now known as the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA in the late 18th century. But winegrowing on the windswept terraces of the Santa Lucia mountain range began in earnest in 1973 when Rich and Claudia Smith established the Paraiso Vineyard. Parasio is the tenth iconic vineyard to be acknowledged by the California State Fair as Vineyard of the Year.

Shaw Organic: Is This the Next Miracle from Bronco Wine & Trader Joe’s?

August 1, 2018 deborahparkerwong Organic, Packaging, Trends

The Wine Economist Mike Veseth on Fred Franzia’s latest Trader Joe’s brand Shaw Organic: Is This the Next Miracle from Bronco[…]

Reaching a Tipping Point

July 13, 2018 deborahparkerwong CBDs, hemp, Medical Marijuana, Nanobioscience, Organic, Research, The Clever Root

In 2013, a hemp strain known as Charlotte’s Web drew national attention to the therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol (CBD), especially[…]

Residual light and the color gradation of rose

July 8, 2018 deborahparkerwong France, Provence, SOMM Journal, Sonoma

While the level of residual sugar plays a role in the finished style of a wine, the color of all[…]

Third Year’s a Charm for Willamette: The Pinot Noir Auction

April 13, 2018 deborahparkerwong Auctions, Oregon, Pinot Noir, SOMM Journal, Wine

Seventy eight lots of barrel-selected 2016 Pinot Noir and three collaborative lots of Chardonnay were auctioned by the Willamette Valley[…]

Climate change a double-edged sword for Amarone producers

February 22, 2018 deborahparkerwong Amarone, Blind Tasting, Botrytis cinerea, Climate change, Italy, Trends, Unique Varieties, Veneto, Volatile Acidity, Winemaking

This year the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella marks its 50th anniversary, a milestone that coincides with the release of the[…]

The pursuit of luxury

February 21, 2018 deborahparkerwong Champagne, France, Luxury, SOMM Journal, Wine

Considering the benefits of spending more on wine. Luxury wine brands rank among a handful of product categories that are[…]

Aszú revolution: Modern styles redefine Hungary’s historic elixir

February 19, 2018 deborahparkerwong Botrytis cinerea, Hungary, SOMM Journal, Unique Varieties, Winemaking

From grapes desiccated by noble rot in the Tokaj wine region of Hungary burst forth a plethora of traditional and[…]

The Myth Buster: Dr. Paulo Lopes dispels long-held beliefs about cork

February 13, 2018 deborahparkerwong cork, Education, Packaging, Portugal, Research, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Technology, wine faults

When it comes to wine storage, old habits are hard to break. But Dr. Paulo Lopes, Research and Development Manager[…]

Twelve months of bubbles

December 27, 2017 deborahparkerwong California, Cava, Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Italy, minerality, Pinot Noir, Prosecco, Rosé, Sonoma, Spain, Sparkling wine, Terroir, Veneto, Winemaking

From Asti to Champagne, bubbles were a bright spot in 2017. While sparkling wine is no longer confined to special[…]

The gifts of Bacchus: Gilding the lily with Bordeaux Gold

December 24, 2017 deborahparkerwong Bordeaux, Botrytis cinerea, France, Germany, Italy, Wine & Food Pairing

The Gifts of Bacchus: Gilding the lily with Bordeaux Gold

The dark matter of dirt

December 15, 2017 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Spain, Sustainability, Terroir, Wine, winegrowing

With millions of unknown species existing in a ton of soil, biologist Edward Osborne Wilson has called bacteria “the dark[…]

Incredible bulk: The changing nature of the international bulk wine market is creating opportunities

December 4, 2017 deborahparkerwong Bulk wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, France, Italy, Spain, Spirited, Spirits, Wine

It’s estimated that roughly 25 percent of the world’s wine production is sold as bulk wine, a segment that’s described[…]

14 Michael David Earthquake Lodi Wine Fr

November 15, 2017 deborahparkerwong Uncategorized

14 Michael David Earthquake Lodi Wine Fresh, ferrous mineral nose, deep boysenberry, cinnamon, black tea, licorice and plum tracing a[…]

Red blends: Greater than the sum of their parts

October 11, 2017 deborahparkerwong Argentina, Bordeaux, Bulk wine, California, Featured, Italy, Languedoc, Portugal, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, SOMM Journal, Spain, Trends, Winemaking

While researching the current popularity of blended wines in preparation for a talk at the 2017 International Bulk Wine and Spirits[…]

Edetària: Benchmark wines of Catalonia’s Terra Alta DO

September 18, 2017 deborahparkerwong Spain, Terra Alta, Terroir, Wine

Terra Alta is the most westerly of Catalonia’s DOs which are clustered around Barcelona and include Alella, Conca de Barberá, Costers del Segre, Empordà (on the border of France), Montsant, Penedés, Plà de Bagés, Priorat (DOPQ) and Tarragona. Both Cataluña and Cava are broader designations that also apply to the Catalonia region.

Sicily’s native grapes and the dawn of Italian wine culture

September 5, 2017 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Education, Italy, Native varieties, Sicily, winegrowing

Sicily’s native grapes and the dawn of Italian wine culture.

Rioja’s Enotourism Ready

August 23, 2017 deborahparkerwong Enotourism, Rioja, Spain, Wine

Interested in exploring the Spanish wine region of Rioja? I’ve got some firsthand, no-fail recommendations for tasting, dining, accommodations and[…]

IBWSS Recap: a first for California

August 14, 2017 deborahparkerwong Bulk wine, California, San Francisco, Spirits, Wine

The IBWSS was the first-ever bulk and private label wine and spirits event in California Close to 1500 wineries, distilleries,[…]

The trilemma of primary, secondary and tertiary aromas

August 12, 2017 deborahparkerwong Education, sensory, SOMM Journal, Wine

Primary wine flavors (the combination of aromas and tastes) come from the grape variety itself and are almost always fruity except when they’re not. Secondary aromas are those associated with post-fermentation winemaking and include yeast, lees, yogurt, cream, butter or cheese and a full spectrum of flavors derived from oak. Tertiary flavors are defined as deliberate oxidation, fruit development, bottle age or any combination thereof.

Campania Update: Focus on Falanghina del Sannio DOP

July 31, 2017 deborahparkerwong Campania, Falanghina, Italy, minerality, SOMM Journal, Unique Varieties, Wine, Wine Competitions, Wine Reviews

If you’re keeping tabs on wine quality in Southern Italy with its myriad indigenous grape varieties and oftentimes limited access to distribution, this update on the Sannio DOC should prove to be useful. Through a combination of research trips to Campania and the opportunity to judge the Radici del Sud “Roots of the South” wine competition which has been held in different venues in the town of Bari, Puglia since 2006, it provides a look at the key factors for the region and a snapshot of wine quality.

Day 1 of the IBWSS

July 28, 2017 deborahparkerwong Bulk wine, Spirits, Trends, Uncategorized, Wine

The International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show (IBWSS) kicked off in San Francisco on July 26 with a packed exhibition hall and a keynote address from Bobby Koch, President and CEO of the Wine Institute. That led to a full day of presentations, workshops and master classes from some of the top names in the bulk wine and spirits industry.

Horizons left to chase: Q & A with One Mind Institute’s Brandon Staglin

June 27, 2017 deborahparkerwong California, Napa Valley, Research

Brandon Staglin, recipient of the Mental Health Association’s 2017 Clifford W. Beers Award, has been recognized as the nation’s leading[…]

Q & A with CEO Sid Patel, The International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show

June 26, 2017 deborahparkerwong Bulk wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Carneros, Central Valley, Chardonnay, Languedoc, Lodi, Partnerships, Portugal, Provence, Restaurants, Rosé, San Francisco, Sauvignon Blanc, Sommeliers, Sonoma, Spain, Sparkling wine, Spirits, Trends, Veneto, Wine

San Francisco continues to be one of the world’s most important destinations for leading players in the wine industry, so it’s no surprise that a major conference dedicated to the private label and bulk trade is making its way to the city on July 26-27.

A Sparkling Continuity: Jordan Cuvée Champagne by AR Lenoble

May 31, 2017 deborahparkerwong Champagne, France, Packaging, Partnerships, SOMM Journal, Sonoma, Trends

In more ways than one, Champagne has begun infiltrating wineries in Sonoma and Napa counties. With several unprecedented examples that include Napa cult wine producer Sinegal launching its brand in conjunction with a prestige Champagne house, Sonoma’s Buena Vista Winery–branded Champagne and the unique partnership between Jordan Winery and the grower Champagne house of AR Lenoble, there’s a trend in the making.

Pyrazines: A double-edged sword

April 17, 2017 deborahparkerwong Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, sensory, SOMM Journal, wine faults

Pyrazines—too much of a good thing and they’re a fault; absent in varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and they leave something[…]

It’s a small world

March 16, 2017 deborahparkerwong California, Nanobioscience, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Spirited, Technology, Terroir

Microbial fingerprints leave their mark on winery and vineyard sites — and on finished wine.

The good, the bad and the ugly

February 9, 2017 deborahparkerwong Blind Tasting, Brettanomyces, Nanobioscience, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Technology, Trends, Volatile Acidity

Many who consider the sensory evaluation of wine to be a purely subjective exercise cite our differences in perception as[…]

In hot pursuit of terroir

January 5, 2017 deborahparkerwong France, minerality, Organic, Terroir, Trends, Vineyard & Winery Management, Viticulture, Wine

What are your beliefs about terroir? Researchers across multiple disciplines find some common ground at the 2016 Terroir Congress XI.

Go with the flow

November 29, 2016 deborahparkerwong Filtration, Italy, Technology, Trends, Veneto, Vineyard & Winery Management, Wine, Winemaking

To filter or not to filter? You’ll find winemakers in both camps. But when filtration is called for, cross flow[…]

Your glass is half full

October 28, 2016 deborahparkerwong minerality, Portugal, sensory, SOMM Journal, Terroir, Wine, wine faults, Winemaking

Minerality — Without question the most controversial and elusive of wine descriptors. This comes as no surprise given that the[…]

Customizing for the curated economy

September 26, 2016 deborahparkerwong CRM, POS, SaaS, Technology, Trends, Vineyard & Winery Management, Wine

Just a few short years ago, integration was one of the biggest hurdles facing wineries of all sizes as they[…]

Sparkling Toast to a Still Future

August 23, 2016 deborahparkerwong California, Carneros, The Tasting Panel, The Tasting Panel 2016, Trends, Wine

The Los Carneros was pioneered twenty five years ago by sparkling wine producers who brought cache and joie de vivre[…]

Veneto Consortium Debuts at 2016 Wine Bloggers Conference

August 7, 2016 deborahparkerwong Italy, Lodi, Unique Varieties, Veneto, WSET

The Prosecco wines of Italy’s Veneto region, home to the country’s greatest concentration of winegrowing areas designated as DOC and[…]

Wine Bloggers Conference to Take Place in Lodi, California from August 11-14

August 3, 2016 deborahparkerwong Uncategorized

Thanks for the summary, Kristy DeVaney! Wee you in Lodi!

The Dawn of Agtech

July 30, 2016 deborahparkerwong Bordeaux, Burgundy, France, Japan, Robots, Technology, Vineyard & Winery Management, Viticulture, winegrowing

Agricultural drones may be creating plenty of buzz, but their terrestrial cousins — the robots — are poised to make[…]

Riedel celebrates 260 years of glassware expertise

June 28, 2016 deborahparkerwong glassware, Napa Valley, sensory, SOMM Journal

There’s no question that glassware can alter our perceptions of wine. It’s a phenomenon experienced by every resourceful consumer who[…]

The Entourage Effect of whole plant medicine

June 23, 2016 deborahparkerwong Cannabis, CBDs, Medical Marijuana, The Clever Root

Within the last decade, scientists have discovered hundreds of biologically active nutrients called phytochemicals, which are found in whole, unprocessed foods. There’s pterostilbene, a[…]

Bitterness: Examing the chemistry behind the taste sensation

June 22, 2016 deborahparkerwong Education, sensory, SOMM Journal, Viticulture, wine faults, Winemaking

Humans are particularly sensitive to bitterness. Thanks to a small but novel family of 30 genes, we can perceive thousands[…]

Bronco’s Bright Green Future

June 10, 2016 deborahparkerwong Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Central Valley, drought, Organic, Sustainability, Vineyard & Winery Management, Wine

A focus on sustainability
drives progress as Bronco
Wine Company hits a
1 billion bottle milestone.

The Quality Threshold

March 16, 2016 deborahparkerwong Blind Tasting, Education, Millennials, Restaurants, Wine, Wine Reviews

On Either Side of the Andes

March 9, 2016 deborahparkerwong Argentina, Pinot Noir, The Tasting Panel, The Tasting Panel 2016, Wine

Visits by two winemakers who work on either side of the Andes provided some perspective on the terroirs being targeted in Chile and Argentina for ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and cooler-climate varieties, including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The Minor Components of Wine

February 14, 2016 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Wine, Winemaking

Wine is, for the most part, water and ethanol which in turn become vehicles for the minor components that are[…]

What’s next for Australian vineyard machinery?

February 4, 2016 deborahparkerwong Uncategorized

Source: What’s next for Australian vineyard machinery?

Franzia’s Unified Keynote Speaks to Past, Present and Future

January 28, 2016 deborahparkerwong California, Central Valley, Uncategorized, Vineyard & Winery Management, Wine, winegrowing

In a rare and much anticipated public address, Bronco CEO Fred Franzia delivered the January 26 keynote speech and, with[…]

The Taste of Scent

November 18, 2015 deborahparkerwong Berkeley, perfume, Scent, Uncategorized

As anyone who has held their nose in an effort to swallow something unpleasant is aware, our ability to taste is inextricably linked to our sense of smell.

Wine Oh TV Honors Jose “Pepe” Galante’s 40th Harvest

October 15, 2015 deborahparkerwong Argentina, Wine

. 40 years of dedication to a craft is a life’s work and a milestone that demands to be celebrated. That’s exactly how[…]

Lugana’s Turbiana Isn’t Trebbiano

September 7, 2015 deborahparkerwong Italy, Unique Varieties, Wine

The gentle, rolling terrain and southern shores of Italy’s Lake Garda are home to a unique indigenous white grape variety—Turbiana. Mistakenly referred to as Trebbiano di Lugana, the Turbiana grape is a relative of both Verdicchio and Trebbiano, but it’s genetically different from both, and the wines
produced from it differ as well.

UV Tank Sanitation a Viable Conservation Strategy

September 4, 2015 deborahparkerwong California, drought, Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Technology, Vineyard & Winery Management

A new method for sanitizing stainless steel tanks and barrels using ultraviolet light is finding a receptive audience in California. The BlueMorph technology has been in development for four years and is coming to market at an opportune time. According to founding partner Alex Farren, a biochemist and toxicologist, the method known as Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) uses little or no water, no chemicals and only takes 30 seconds to install. Depending upon size, tanks can be sanitized in less than 30 minutes.