Wine Club Blog
Welcome to the Gold Medal Wine Club Blog. Below you can peruse our most recent wine blog posts with engaging topics ranging from frequently asked Wine Wizard questions published in our Gold Wine Club newsletter, to even some fun wine tips and tricks! Discover wine tasting guides, recipes and more to grow your wine knowledge that will impress even the snobbiest of wine snobs.
Interested in a topic we haven’t covered yet? Email us with an idea or question about wine and you may see it appear in our next blog post!

This Weekend’s To-Do List: Start an Urban Winery
Natalie Burnham
Though we often think of winemaking as a somewhat rural activity, winemaking in the city is just as feasible.
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What makes wine grapes different from table grapes?
Erin O'Reilly - Certifed Specialist of Wine
Just like apples, tomatoes, and even corn or potatoes, farmers grow different varieties of grapes depending on their final destination as a food product.
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What is the best wine for beginners?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
The goal is to start with approachable bottles and move towards more complex wines that have nuanced personalities.
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The Primary Concerns For Vineyard Health
Kaylah Vasquez
The primary concerns in modern grape growing are water security, pest management, and grapevine disease.
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The History of Wine
Natalie Burnham
Though ancient winemaking techniques vary vastly from our modern winemaking, similar patterns run throughout both.
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Are More Countries Importing American Wine?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
American wine exports are a tiny fraction of the US wine industry, meaning that Americans drink more wine than they produce.
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Where Do Wine Varietal Names Come From?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Some varietals have been around for hundreds of years, others less than century. Check out the origin story for these unique grape varietal names.
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What is dessert wine and how is it made?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
If you’re looking to add dessert wines to your dinner menu, here are a few quick pointers to get you started.
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What Are Grape Hybrids?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Standard wine grape varieties come from the Vitis vinifera species, but researchers have worked hard to perfect new wine grapes with hybrid grape vines.
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5 Things to Know BEFORE Joining a Wine Club
Whether you’re looking to save on wine or want to build your personal cellar, it’s worth spending some time learning about wine clubs before signing up.
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4 Popular Vineyard Growing Methods for Wine
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Most modern vineyards use Vertical Shoot Positioning as a vineyard trellis system, but there are other grape cultivation methods, too.
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What is a "Green Medal" and How is it Awarded?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
The California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards, or simply the Green Medal Awards, recognize industry leaders in sustainability.
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