The book is out

Secrets From The Wine Diva is out and available at a bookstore or wine shop near you. You can order the book directly through The Wine Diva’s web site here.

To filter or not to filter

Some wines feature “unfiltered” on their labels when most don’t even mention it. What does it mean, and should you care?

Most Americans think a wine should be perfectly clear and would be very leery about drinking a red wine if it was hazy or there was sediment in the glass. So wines made in commercial quantities, for immediate consumption, are filtered.

The word “unfiltered” on a red wine label usually indicates a wine with some residual sediment in the bottle. Many wine producers who make fine wines intended for long-term aging promote the fact that they don’t filter their wines. They believe, as I do, that these extra particles of flavor should not be swept away by filtering prior to bottling. I equate filtering to making the gravy at Thanksgiving. I would never scrape away all the crusty particles in the pan where the turkey was roasted because when those particles are left with the drippings… the resulting gravy has much more flavor!

The gift of glass

When it comes to gift giving, I prefer to give wineglasses more than a bottle of wine. They give the recipients years of increased drinking pleasure, which is why I call them “the gift that keeps on giving.” Before you start giving them away, be sure you gift yourself! They come in all price points to fit all wallets.

Screw it?

You buy what you think is a “good” bottle of wine, bring it home, and fine no cork. Did you get screw capped?

Cork plays a vital part in ageing fine wines, but for everyday wines that are meant to be fresh, fruity and consumed within the first year or two of their release – bring on the caps!

Screw caps do not mean a loss in quality. To the contrary, screw caps ensure quality. Screw caps mean the wine will always be vibrant and fruity, plus they are easy to open and reseal.

Markdown madness

Buyer beware! Wine shops like to feature specials, which are sometimes actually loss leaders, wines the store makes little or no profit on just to attract business. The lure of a bargain always attracts shoppers. Wines that are on special and put out in baskets at the end of the aisles seem like a really good deal, but they could be marked down because the store owner knows these wines are not in good condition.

Be aware that many of the wines in end aisle baskets have a shelf life of sorts. It’s not stamped on the label like those on medications and certain foods, but young, inexpensive wines should be enjoyed when they are fresh, within one to two years of the vintage date on the bottle.