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!
How Do Viticulturists Know When It's Time to Harvest?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
If you’ve ever wondered, are wine grapes edible? The answer is: Yes! Not only that, but how the wine grapes taste acts as an indicator for overall ripeness. Winemakers collect samples of grapes from throughout the vineyard and taste the individual berries for any green notes from under ripe seeds. As the berries mature, the seeds turn nutty, and the seeds’ tannins move from the front of the mouth towards the back of the palate.
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How to Decipher Wine Tasting Terms
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Juicy strawberry? Racy acidity? Grippy tannins? Adjectives to describe wines may seem fanciful at first, but they offer a window into the bottle and something of a tease for the potential drinker. Anyone can improve their wine tasting skills and identify the colorful wine tasting terms so often found on tasting menus, wine bottles, or online.
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Summer in a Bottle of Wine
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Refreshing summer wines tempt the palate as a perfect pairing to rising temperatures and lighter food. Pasta salads, fruit salads, garden salads - all call for vibrant wines that bring charm to the summer season.
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Does Picking Wine Grapes By Hand vs. Machine Make A Difference?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Harvest season is a busy time in the vineyard. A coordinated series of decisions between the grower and winery initiates an intense burst of activity - often over a matter of hours. The grapes simply must get to the winery at the pinnacle of ripeness!
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As Small Wineries Open for Tastings Post Pandemic, Plan Ahead
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
The COVID-19 restrictions on businesses are slowly easing up and winery tasting rooms are open and ready to welcome guests once again. Whether you opt for indoor or outside seating, here are a few tips to make the most out of your next tasting room visit.
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The What and How of Vineyard Cover Crops
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Perhaps you’ve seen glossy pictures of vineyards with dancing wildflowers or silky grasses growing between the vines. While lovely to look at, their purpose is more than decorative. The vineyard manager is cultivating these versatile plants, called cover crops, to help improve and manage overall vineyard quality.
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Spring and Summer Means Rosé Wines!
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Rosé is having something of a moment. Less than a decade ago, serious wine lovers dismissed our jeweled pink friends. Today, with so many of us spending extended hours at home, we find that a bottle of Rosé pairs seamlessly with cocktail hour, an afternoon on the sofa, weekend brunches, and everything in between.
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Uncorking Unfined and Unfiltered Wines
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
For those who follow the natural wine movement, or who may be interested in natural wines, two terms crop up regularly: unfined and unfiltered. At first glance, the terms allude to a healthier, natural product. Understanding the role of finning and filtering in winemaking, along with current labeling regulations, can help you decide if seeking out unfined and unfiltered wines is right for you.
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How Winemakers Select Wine Yeast
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
All lovers of fermented foods - from yogurt to sourdough - enjoy the handiwork of yeast. Apart from deciding what grapes to use in a wine, decisions around yeast are arguably some of the most important a producer will make.
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How To Make A Charcuterie Board
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Wine and small bites have an affinity for each other. Add in good company, and you have all of the right ingredients for a relaxed gathering and easy conversation. Charcuterie boards are an effortless way to bring everything and everyone together. (Recommended grocery list and video below!)
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What Is A Vegan Wine?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
At first glance, dietary notices on wine labels may seem a bit over the top, but for wine lovers who follow a vegan lifestyle and for everyone else who is naturally curious about wine, a vegan label offers clues about how the wine was made.
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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?
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