tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73301021627922101622024-03-17T20:03:45.137-07:00Gerald D Boyd On WineGerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-59170072632526113722024-03-14T16:43:00.000-07:002024-03-14T16:43:37.205-07:00Sonoma & Napa ChardonnayLately, I've had the feeling that Chardonnay has eased into complacency. Twenty years ago, Chardonnay was a major item of discussion in wine circles (dare I say on everyone's lips). Now, it seems as though Chardonnay has settled in as the self-assured dominant white wine, in most of the world's wine regions. There was a time when Chardonnay was synonymous with white wine. This was a Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-20410321280830609802024-03-07T16:32:00.000-08:002024-03-07T16:32:58.598-08:00The Temptation of TempranilloWhat would you say is Spain's most dominant red wine grape...Garnacha? Good guess, but the grape planted in more places is Tempranillo; a favorite for its lush texture, ripe aromas and flavors of blackberry and black cherry. Not for nothing is Tempranillo the most popular red wine grape in Spain. It's also Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-33808612492456206892024-02-29T16:55:00.000-08:002024-02-29T16:55:23.337-08:00Trentino-Alto Adige In the late 18th century, the noted English essayist Samuel Johnson wrote these insightful lines: "A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see." Johnson's thoughts were memorable and prescient since he could not have known how Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-7756113605630915682024-02-22T16:45:00.000-08:002024-02-22T16:45:08.867-08:00The Many Kinds of MuscatOne of the oddities of wine culture is that very few wines taste of the grapes they are made from. Noted exceptions are two of the many Muscat varieties: Muscat Hamburg and Muscat of Alexandria. These versatile Muscats are used to make wine and are good to eat out of hand. However, the grapes are generally thought to be better as table grapes than wine grapes, although the ancient Muscat ofGerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-57155337918122959572024-02-15T16:54:00.000-08:002024-02-15T16:54:19.781-08:00New Zealand Pinots To say that Pinot Noir is not considered a "big" wine, like Syrah, begs a few words of explanation. Describing a red wine as "big," usually means that feeling of weight and texture of the wine on your tongue.With New Zealand Pinot Noir, it's not the weight of the pinot that Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-40004863384396123522024-02-08T16:44:00.000-08:002024-02-08T16:44:26.505-08:00Look to Lake CountyStand anywhere in the Napa Valley, face to the northeast and in the distance is a line of low hills, known as the Vaca Mountains. The hills are dotted with wineries and huge homes, while beyond is Lake County, the lesser known wine region in the quartet of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. Getting to Lake County is a bit of a driving chore, more so than it is driving to the Napa ValleyGerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-42872190480634149412024-02-01T16:46:00.000-08:002024-02-01T16:46:20.519-08:00SemillonNote: I was one key stroke from finishing a piece on the wines of Lake County, when like a magician's disappearing trick, the words vanished from the screen, presumably into the ether. So, enjoy this essay on Semillon and look for my Lake County posting next week. One of the many pleasures of Semillon is how time forces you to think the wine has transformed, through aging, into something Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-86564359744631652542024-01-25T16:37:00.000-08:002024-01-25T16:37:35.206-08:00Pinot Blanc What do Pinot Blanc and Rodney Dangerfield have in common? Neither one gets any respect. Okay, so you don't remember Rodney Dangerfield, the standup comedian. He had great timing, especially when uttered the line, "I tell you, I don't get any respect." Well, I tell you, neither Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-50082579963462589742024-01-18T16:43:00.000-08:002024-01-18T16:43:49.077-08:00The lighter side of wineOne of the knocks you hear about wine from people who don't drink wine (and even a few who do) is wine people are too serious. They claim there's no humor in wine. Hang on! What about the hilarious jabs taken Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-83911280647413287702024-01-11T16:36:00.000-08:002024-01-11T16:36:41.390-08:00Lodi: "There's Something Happening Here" In the late 1990s, Lodi was not a name high on my list of wine regions to visit. There was a reference to Lodi in a bluesey song that bounced around in my head, but nothing much about Lodi and wine. Then, one day, in early 1998, I got a call from Mark Chandler, Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-23189557022851160152024-01-04T17:07:00.000-08:002024-01-04T17:07:31.951-08:00Oz ShirazIn a Cabernet-centric wine world, it may come as a surprise to hear that Australia's premier red wine is Shiraz, aka Syrah. Aussies do make Cabernet Sauvignon, but
since 1951, Shiraz has captured the attention of Australian wine
drinkers, as well as fans of red wine with personality, everywhere. There are six states in Australia (Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia,
New Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-78812959095490173742023-12-28T16:29:00.000-08:002023-12-28T16:29:11.948-08:00Dry Creek Valley & RockpileThere was a time when I was almost as passionate about baking bread as I am about tasting wine. My passion was so strong that I bought a baking stone for my home oven, a baker's peel to move the loaves in and out of the oven, and I made a sourdough starter for that authentic flavor and texture in my breads. Then I read an online article about Lou Preston, owner of Sonoma's Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-28225626757688678452023-12-27T16:22:00.000-08:002023-12-27T16:22:20.774-08:00Past and FutureDear Readers, Do you remember, in the last weeks of 1999, when excitement was palpable about Y2K and the coming of the new century? Worriers swore that when the final second of the departing year ticked off, we would be doomed. But the new year began, like every other year, and now here we are nearly a quarter of the way into the 21st century. When this blog debuted in 2019, my Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-53594792126509341342023-12-21T16:43:00.000-08:002023-12-21T16:43:47.507-08:00See how they sparkle!Every year, at this time, wine writers struggle to think of different ways to write about Champagne and other sparkling wines. So, this post is intended as a basic buying guide to Champagne, Cava, California sparkling wine and Prosecco, the four most popular bubblies. As
reported in the e-zine "Seven Fifty Daily," the growth in sparkling
wine, across all categories, continues to go Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-14974514434772097152023-12-14T16:26:00.000-08:002023-12-14T16:26:51.286-08:00PortugalIn these heady times, when the demand is for more wine, there are still some growers and winemakers who find it difficult not to succumb to the pressure for more Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Among the holdouts is Portugal, an important wine producer that has resisted the international clamor for more of the same. In recent years, however, the Portuguese wine industry has yielded to Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-32768811445638301832023-12-07T16:16:00.000-08:002023-12-07T16:16:30.379-08:00Muscadet & Affordable WineIn his 1951 book, Wines of France, Alexis Lichine had this brief comment about Muscadet: "Pleasant and dry, the wines are most appealing with oysters and sea food."Not much there to entice a reader to Muscadet, but then, Lichine added this interesting tid bit: "Prior to the control laws (no doubt, meaning AOC regs.), they (Muscadet) were openly blended with Chablis, to stretch the supply of that Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-78687802238505481252023-11-30T16:34:00.000-08:002023-11-30T16:34:03.955-08:00The Purpose of WineThis week's post was intended to be about Muscadet. But a few things came up over Thanksgiving that I think merit a few words. Wine SurprisesOne of the opposing realities of being an avid wine drinker is that shortly after recognizing your passion, you become a hoarder. The number of wines multiply, and before you know it, you have more wine than you can drink. Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-77266128050694097102023-11-23T16:04:00.000-08:002023-11-23T16:04:40.782-08:00Wine Touring in ItalyAnyone who knows me is aware of my love for Italy. Mention vacation in my family and I'm sure to say Italy. There's something about the Italian land and the people and the wine and food that resonate with me...and with thousands of others as well. When I was a boy, my mother worked for an Italian-American family that owned an Italian deli and sandwich shop in a suburb of south Philly.Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-69790504948752718672023-11-16T16:41:00.000-08:002023-11-16T16:41:04.368-08:00Turkey wineThe title of this post could have been,"the wine of Turkey," (there are some), or maybe a smarmy statement, like, "This wine is a turkey!" What I'm saying with the title, though, is it's time, once again, for the annual suggestions of which wine or wines to serve with "The Bird" on Thanksgiving. Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-85675365653565797132023-11-09T16:36:00.001-08:002023-11-09T16:36:39.473-08:00The Other Red Cabernet If you mention Cabernet, I'm likely to ask, Cabernet Sauvignon? My response makes sense since the market is saturated with Cabernet Sauvignon. But I could have said the other red Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, a red hot wine right now. According to wine industry statistics, Cabernet Franc jumped from 16th to 7th place among the most shopped wines, an Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-8769642734143399452023-11-02T16:28:00.001-07:002023-11-02T16:28:58.401-07:00Reflections of a Former Wine Judge (My California Wine Adventures 7) Had you asked me, five or six years ago, if there was a future for wine competitions, my answer would have been that it doesn't look good. Criticism has been on and off about the value of wine competitions and the expertise of those people selected to judge the wines. In its original form,Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-65892534859186983442023-10-26T16:16:00.001-07:002023-10-26T16:16:25.106-07:00A Pair of Veneto Reds Here's a multiple guess question: What two popular Italian red wines are made from the same four grapes? a. Barolo and Barbarescob. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Vino Nobile di Montepulcianoc. Bardolino and Valpolicellad. None of the aboveGive yourself points if you picked option C. Both Bardolino and Valpolicella, produced not far from each other in Italy's northeast region Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-69245375182334764112023-10-19T16:47:00.002-07:002023-10-19T16:47:57.860-07:00Lodi Rising It's not easy to be competitive today in the growing market that is the California wine business. But using imaginative marketing and grit, the growers and wineries of Lodi are not just keeping pace with the big boys but Lodi wine is risingGerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-50160614729398116862023-10-12T16:40:00.000-07:002023-10-12T16:40:53.547-07:00My California Wine Adventures 6 If you can remember back to the late 1960s, and that was a lifetime ago, you might remember the Smothers Brothers. Musicians, comedians and social activists, Thomas and Richard Smothers, known to their fans as Tom and Dick, were on the verge of fame as entertainers. In 1967, "The Smothers Brothers Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330102162792210162.post-15093559615226734532023-10-05T16:26:00.000-07:002023-10-05T16:26:23.211-07:00Consider Chenin BlancThere was a time in my early years of wine collecting that I now refer to as the "BC" years. That is, "Before Chardonnay." And what white wine was I drinking then? Why, Chenin Blanc! Chenin Blanc on the vineIn the 1960s, the selection of California white wine was limited: French Colombard, Malvasia Bianca, Johannisberg Riesling, (California) Chablis. And, if you were Gerald D. Boyd On Winehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431424604048387035noreply@blogger.com0