Wine Tasting - deborahparkerwong

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.”