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!

Where Did The Wine Rating System Come From?

Brian Branco

95-point Chardonnay! 97-point Pinot Noir! 100-point Cabernet Sauvignon! Where did this whole rating system come from and when did it become a thing?

What Is A Blended Red Wine?

Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine

Wine drinkers tend to gravitate towards what they know, and the wine industry has done a great job of marketing varietal wines. But what about blended wines?

Why Does Wine Taste Better In A Wine Glass?

Samantha Sanchez

Let’s Talk about wine Physics, Baby! If you’ve ever wondered why wine glasses are so expensive (ahem, Riedel) and why you shouldn’t just pull out a red solo cup, the answer is: physics.

Petite Sirah vs. Syrah

Megan Fitzgerald

Lexicon(fusion). A case of wine or a case of mistaken identity? Discover the origins, descriptions, characteristics, and more of Syrah and Petite Sirah. Are they one in the same or actually different varietals?

Top 10 Spring Wines

Salvador Jimenez

Making their debut is our list of recommended top 10 best wines for Spring! Enjoy these wines (plus a few bonus suggestions) that are ideal for the approaching season.

Spring Vineyards: Field Grafting

Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine

Early spring in the vineyard may seem like a quiet time, but this season presents grape growers the unique opportunity to make major changes to their crops. Grafting is the horticultural process of combining the tissues from two separate plants so that they grow together into one.

Wine Tasting At Home

Brian Branco

Wine tasting at your local winery, wine bar, or restaurant has been difficult these days. Many states still have restrictions in place but that doesn’t mean you can’t have different themed wine tastings at home!

Does Wine Go Bad?

Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine

The wine in your glass exists in a temporary state, somewhere between grape juice and vinegar. All wine will eventually go bad, but there are a few tricks you can use to keep it fresh longer.

Wine Wear: The Unauthorized Wine Tasting Style Guide

Meghan Fitzgerald

In a world and a time where options seem just short of limitless, it is safe to assume that there isn’t a person out there reading this who hasn’t asked or been asked the question: What should I wear? And, if you're a wine lover, the same goes for "what to wear while wine tasting?"

What are Whole-Cluster Wines?

Brian Branco

As Spring approaches and temperatures begin to warm up, many of us are seeking new wines to sip outdoors with friends. A good companion for patios and picnics may be a wine made via whole cluster fermentation. Many are easy to sip chilled, bursting with energy and freshness.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Saint Patrick's Day doesn't really scream wine, but there's no need to choke down any green liquid this year! Any number of these wines would be a perfect addition to your Irish dinner.

Let's Talk Mythology: Who Are The Gods of Wine?

Samantha Sanchez

If you’re like me, you may often have a transcendental experience when you have a deliciously smooth red blend or delightfully acidic Chardonnay in hand. It’s almost like you’re holding the elixir of the gods in your hands...