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The Science of Wine Tasting might help you figure out what wine flavors you prefer.

Analyzing the Science of Wine Tasting: Does DNA Play a Role?

Enjoying Wine, NewsBy Vinfolio Staff October 5, 2017

What if scientists could pinpoint the perfect bottle of wine for your palate, based only on the genetic makeup of your DNA? A Silicon Valley technology company, Helix, claims that they can do exactly that. Using a DNA sequence and a short quiz, the company says that they can help their customers find their ideal wine style without ever picking up a glass of wine. But how reliable is this new technology, and could it really replace a wine tasting session? The science of wine tasting is still a complex and rarely-studied field, so before you get your genome analyzed, take some time to learn about why we prefer the wines we love, and what you can do to find your own perfect bottle from the comfort of your home.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Buying a Bottle of Wine At a Restaurant

Buying Wine, Enjoying WineBy Vinfolio Staff September 28, 2017

One of my friends has been a wine collector for 20 years; he owns at least a dozen bottles of fine Latour and Haut-Brion, and is immensely knowledgeable about the wine industry. Knowing how much experience he has with wine, you can imagine my surprise when I learned that he had never bought a full bottle at a restaurant. He told me that he could spend hours in a wine shop looking at obscure vintages and know exactly which bottle to pick, but when he tries buying a bottle of wine at a restaurant, he is too nervous to commit to a single full bottle. Because of this, he would always bring wine to restaurants instead; that way, he’d know exactly what to expect.

Your Comprehensive Guide to Tasting Wine from the Barrel

Enjoying Wine, TastingBy Vinfolio Staff September 22, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Le Pin -Ogier -Alesia -Pine Ridge -Krupp Brothers -Ausone 2009 -Ausone 2016 My first barrel tasting experience was a massive success, in part because I had a knowledgeable mentor walking me through the process. The head winemaker was a close family friend, and he offered to take me and four of…

Do Hybrid Wine Grapes Have a Place in the Fine Wine Industry?

Wine Markets, WinemakingBy Vinfolio Staff September 21, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Raveneau -Beaux Freres In the fine wine world, terroir is king. This is perhaps why hybrid wine grapes have earned such a sour reputation among top critics and collectors. Unlike sensitive vinifera grapes, which require very specific weather conditions and soil to thrive, hybrids can grow just about anywhere, and withstand…

Promoting Oxidation in Winemaking: Black Chardonnay Could Prevent Premox

Wine Markets, WinemakingBy Vinfolio Staff September 14, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Coche-Dury -Bruno Clair -Montelena Making Chardonnay is usually a delicate process that requires a gentle hand–you have to carefully sort the fragile fruit into a nearly-airtight grape press, then slowly squeeze each cluster just enough to let the juice run out. But modern wineries are beginning to embrace a darker, more…

The Essential Guide to Reading a French Wine Label

Wine RegionsBy Vinfolio Staff September 8, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Chateau Margaux -Chateau Ausone -Chateau d’Yquem -Maison Louis Jadot -Domaine Henri Jayer When I first started collecting wine, I assumed I knew everything about reading a French wine label. As long as I recognized words like “Chateauneuf du Pape,” “Grand Cru,” or “Margaux,” I thought that I could tell whether a…

How to Collect Good Wine with High Alcohol Content

Buying Wine, CollectingBy Vinfolio Staff September 7, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -2009 Dal Forno Amarone -2011 Beaucastel -2009 Alvaro Palacios -2005 Cheval Blanc If you’re just getting started as a wine collector, you might have noticed that wine critics and other enthusiasts rarely, if ever, talk about wine’s intoxicating effects. They’ll praise a wine’s soft fruit, residual sugar, and long finish, but…

Wildfires in California Wine Country: What Collectors Need to Know About the 2017 Fires

Wine RegionsBy Vinfolio Staff August 30, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Sine Qua Non -2005 Ojai Syrah Melville Vineyards -2005 Jonata El Desafio de Jonata This July, a massive wildfire scorched through hectares of riverbeds and grapevines along the edge of North Canyon Vineyard in southern California. Winemakers at the neighboring Bien Nacido Vineyards feared that the fire would make its way…

The Ultimate Strategy for Getting on the Best California Wine Mailing Lists

Buying Wine, Wine MarketsBy Vinfolio Staff August 25, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Kapcsandy -Harlan -Sine Qua Non -Scarecrow -Rhys -Schrader -Saxum -Shafer -Abreu -Bryant Family -Marcassin -Dalla Valle -Screaming Eagle Would you wait 10 years to get on the best California wine mailing lists? For collectors wishing to buy directly from the state’s top producers, spending a decade trying to get onto a…

Hidden Gem of the Month: Why a 2001 Yquem Investment Is a Foolproof Choice

Bordeaux, Buying WineBy Vinfolio Staff August 24, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Yquem -2001 Yquem -2007 Yquem -2011 Yquem Chateau d’Yquem’s 2001 vintage nearly breaks our rating system. It’s one of those rare wines that already tastes perfect in its youth, and only seems to get remarkably better as the years wear on. Many critics who have tried this wine aren’t even sure…

Why Millennial Wine Drinkers Need More Space to Store Their Bottles

Storing Wine, Wine MarketsBy Vinfolio Staff August 18, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Taittinger -Rhys Wine seller Tom Natan recently noticed a major difference between millennial wine drinkers and older generations: millennials usually buy far more wine, and in greater variety, than their older peers. Over the past few years, he’s seen young wine enthusiasts order case after case of mixed wine from every…

Global Warming’s Impact on the Wine Industry Could Mean More Expensive Wine

Buying Wine, NewsBy Vinfolio Staff August 11, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Hourglass -Screaming Eagle -Ornellaia Earlier this year, Hourglass had a close call with a handful of pine trees in their vineyard. Months of unusually heavy rain in the late winter caused massive flooding in the vineyard, which caused several 150-foot pine trees to rip right out of the ground. Vineyard proprietor…