Wine - deborahparkerwong

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.

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.

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.[…]

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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[…]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 –

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.

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.

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.

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[…]

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.

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[…]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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.

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.

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.

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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.