Wine Shops’ Biggest Mistake
On Reddit, there’s an interesting thread by a retail manager seeking advice about what consumers want in a wine shop. There’s a lot of replies focusing on selection, staff training and holding frequent tastings–which all good wine shops should do. But the biggest mistake that wine shops make, regardless if they’re a boutique indy or big box retailer, is not hiring the right people. Too often wine shops think they need to hire either: A.)…
60 Second Wine Review — Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée NV Brut
A few quick thoughts on the Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée NV Brut Champagne. Note: This wine was a sample. The Geekery Bruno Paillard founded his eponymous house in 1981 when he was just 27 years old. Right away, Paillard forged his own path, pioneering the use of back label disgorgement dates in 1983. He also took a considerable gamble for a young house by forgoing the tricky 1984 vintage because the quality didn’t meet Paillard’s…
Geek Notes: Top 5 YouTube Videos on Sherry Wine
When it comes to studying wine, I’m a fan of taking a multi-prong approach to learning. Reading wine books and crafting flashcards are great, but your goal should be more than just rote memorization. To have the info really stick with you, you need to make it meaningful. That involves connecting the concepts to something else that you’ve already learned or experience. For me, that “experience” part is vital. Of course, the very best way…
Terroir Sundae
As a wine student, I’m always knee-deep in terroir. Working through the WSET Diploma, the enduring question that runs through every wine is: Why are you the way you are? The TL;DR answer is usually “Terroir”-that vague French word which encapsulates all the natural elements of a vineyard and vintage. Over the last couple of decades, that term has evolved like the ice cream sundae from a soda float of “somewhereness” to 3 scoops of…