Category Archives: Articles

There are three methods that may be used to make sparkling wine. These methods are: the Transfer Method, Charmat Bulk process and Methode Champenoise. Methode Champenoise is the most labor-intensive and costly of these. Before we get into how sparkling … Continue reading →

Australia s wine industry has boomed in the past ten years. Employers have had to triple their staff numbers to cope with the demand for Aussie wine. Considering the lower average national population of Australia, compared to say the United … Continue reading →

That little piece of bark (yes, cork is bark harvested from a kind of oak tree) is the focus of much controversy among today’s winemakers. Here at Ross Valley Winery, we think there is something more to the discussion than … Continue reading →

What is wine? Wine has been made for centuries from just a two simple ingredients: yeast and grape juice. Actually, just about any fruit juice can be used, but by far the majority of all wine is made from the … Continue reading →

Keeping a wine bottle sealed is probably the most important factor when it comes to maintaining a good wine. A cork is essential, as it keeps oxygen out of the wine bottle. If a bottle of wine is not airtight … Continue reading →

Living the Good Life by Jim Bogaty owner Veramar Vineyard The case of the wine cellar or a dozen wines for all times It s cheaper by the dozen, for an everyday wine cellar, all you need are strong shelves, … Continue reading →

When it comes to making alcoholic beverages at home, wine making and home brewing is considered sort of a ‘niche’ market. You either know how to do it or you don’t! This is very hard to believe as wine making … Continue reading →

The French Wine Laws The production of wine in France is tightly controlled by two organisations. The Instituit National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO). This body succeeded the Comite’ National des Appellations d’Origine after World War II and controls the hierachy … Continue reading →

One of the great joys of wine is being able to select a bottle from your own cellar, perhaps one that you’ve been storing for some years, draw the cork and enjoy it with friends. You can marvel at the … Continue reading →

Wine Tasting Component I: Look The first step you have to undertake in wine tasting is visual. 1. Fill up the glass up to 1/3 of its volume; never fill it more than half;2. Hold the glass by the stem. … Continue reading →