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!

Behind wine marketing...What goes into a label?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Check out the many ways savvy marketers influence your wine buying decisions.
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Why do winemakers choose different types of barrels to age their wines in?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Oak is one of the few tools a winemaker has to shape a wine’s style, so it's no surprise that when it comes to barrels, winemakers have a lot to say.
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Sensory Characteristics of Wine as it Ages
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
You can understand what happens to wine as it ages based on its different structural components and sensory characteristics.
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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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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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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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Champagne and Chocolate
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Pairing Champagne and chocolate takes things to a whole new level! Take a minute to learn more about matching up sparkling wine and chocolate.
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What Is Amphora Wine?
Erin O'Reilly - Certified Specialist of Wine
Before oak barrels, winemakers depended on terracotta jars. These vessels, called amphora, have played a role in winemaking and wine storage since antiquity.
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