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Mead is an ancient drink that brings about images of knights and Vikings in great dining halls, enjoying a feast with horns full of this mysterious beverage. Mead is thought to be the oldest alcoholic drink in the world and is an ancestor to both our modern versions of wine and beer. Today it is enjoyed throughout the world, in Europe, Russia, Asia, America, and it enjoys great success in Ethiopia. Though its heyday was hundreds of years ago, it is enjoying a renaissance these da …

Tempranillo wine comes from the soft red grape of the same name, which is Spain’s number one wine grape. Known as one of the world’s 18 noble grapes, Tempranillo has fruity characteristics, consisting mainly of cherry, plum, tomato, and dried fig.Tempranillo wine produces a medium to full-bodied red wine. It is typically aged between 6 to 18 months in oak. It is also known as Tinto del Toro and Tinta Fina in Spain, and Tinta Roriz in Portugal.The flavor of Tempranillo is very distinct. It is mor …

Beaulieu Vineyards, whose name means “beautiful place” in French, is the largest producer of Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley and has been at the forefront of quality wine making for almost 120 years. Founded in 1900 by French immigrants, Georges and Fernande de Latour, this winery in Rutherford, California started as a small area of land before becoming a global giant. Georges hope to create wines that rivaled those of his native France. In doing so, De Latour quickly made a name for him …

Napa Valley’s Inglenook, owned by Francis Ford Coppola, is set to expand its arsenal of stainless steel vats by 122. This expansion will be in time for the 2020 vintage. The winery is home to Coppola’s line of namesake wines.“The addition of 122 tanks will give each vineyard parcel its own place to develop,” said Philippe Bascaules, Inglenook’s director of winemaking. This will give the makers more control over the wine making process and the overall outcome of the product. This is jus …

May rainstorms stretching this late into the season hint at trouble, come harvest time. The grounds in many Napa Valley vineyards are still wet, causing vines to grow an inch a day. Usually, this would be good news, but not at this point in the season. “You want no rain, no wind, not too hot, not too cold,” Tom Davies, president of V. Sattui Winery, explained. “You want it just perfect.” Heavy rains interfere with self-pollinating vines like Chardonnay. Pollination interference means f …