Happenings at TWC
Ester Aromas & Flavors in Wine
Wines can exhibit a number of wonderful aromas and flavors that result from tiny quantities of chemical compounds created in the grape growing or winemaking processes. Modern science has greatly improved our understanding of the chemical or biological processes that create these aroma and flavor compounds, and essentially all of them found in wine have been identified and categorized through advanced analytical capability. This Carl’s Corner was influenced by two informative articles (1,2) and focuses on the role that a special group of compounds, known as esters, play in both winemaking and our enjoyment of wine. Continue »
Nov 11, 2020 at 10:00 AM
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Now We Really Can Rosé All Day!
My husband and I have spent many hours in the past two months poring over interior design and furniture websites. While I’m certainly no designer and my husband surely would prefer to spend his time doing many other things, lately we’ve both felt compelled to change our home environment. Continue »
Nov 4, 2020 at 11:50 AM
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November Wine Club Selections
It’s holiday time, again, and that, along with cooler weather, is exciting. Although Corona virus issues linger on, winery tasting rooms are more open now and visitation has significantly increased as folks just need to get out and have some sort of entertainment and social interaction. 4.0 Cellars has enjoyed a busy and exciting October, and is now preparing for the November Wine Club releases and pick-up events. These November, 2020, Wine Club pick-up events will resemble those held in September with limited attendance (reservation only) and following Social Distancing guidelines. Continue »
Oct 28, 2020 at 5:52 PM
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Wining and Dining Our Way Into Fall
If you read my posts, then you know that that I prefer some of our 4.0 events over others. Basically, if an event involves dogs and/or food, then I’m all in…because wine is already assumed. Though it lacks dogs, Wine & Dine remains one of my favorites. Continue »
Oct 21, 2020 at 11:12 AM
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Natural vs Cultured Yeasts
Winemakers today are talking about and using natural or indigenous yeasts for fermentation of their grapes, this topic seemed appropriate for a Carl’s Corner discussion. Making wine requires yeast, and there are two sources available to the winemaker, commercially developed cultured yeasts from various supply companies, and natural, wild, or native yeasts that cling to grape and equipment surfaces, or just fly through the air in and around the vineyard and winery. Continue »
Oct 12, 2020 at 2:38 PM
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Halloween Isn’t Just for Kids: Costumes, Candy, Traditions, and Wine!
Halloween was a big deal when I was growing up. Our street included several families with children, and each year, my family hosted our neighborhood Halloween party. About six families would gather in our garage to compare costumes, share snacks, and play games involving gross-feeling stuff like cold spaghetti and wet olives. And then, all the parents would send us kids out to hit up our other neighbors for candy (and let the “adult party” begin). There were LOTS of houses to hit up. Our Halloweens lasted late into the night, and always ended with a mega candy swap during which I got rid of anything containing coconut. Continue »
Oct 7, 2020 at 1:01 PM
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Corks versus Screwcaps – Does it Matter?
This update of a 2015 Carl’s Corner was prompted by a recent article by Dave Green in WineMaker Magazine, Virtual Edition, For nearly two centuries, cork has been the preferred closure for wine bottles. Cork is a natural product cut from the bark of a cork oak tree that is flexible and only a tiny bit porous. By properly shaping a cork to fit snugly inside the neck of a wine bottle, one can produce a very sturdy, long-lived stopper that is almost impervious to air intrusion. So, what is wrong with having cork closures for wine bottles, and why have screwcaps become more common and more popular? Continue »
Sep 30, 2020 at 9:57 AM
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Caution! Fun Times Ahead!
I still use a paper planner. I’ve tried using the calendar tool on my laptop and an app on my phone, but being able to flip through the pages of my planner appeals to me. I’ve kept my planners over the years and enjoy looking back through them to find notes that I jotted in them and contact information for people I met along the way. My planners are my diaries, marking how I’ve spent my time and tracking my work days and social life. Continue »
Sep 23, 2020 at 11:03 AM
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Maceration in Winemaking
I recently enjoyed an article by Bob Peak posted in WineMaker Magazine, Virtual Edition (Sep-2020) entitled Maceration Tips and Techniques. Maceration is a term often tossed out when discussing the wine making process. It is critically important in producing red wines since most red grapes, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Tempranillo, have colorless pulp (the juicy inside part of the grape) and red-black skins. Maceration is the technical term for soaking grape skins in grape juice, a necessary step in order to extract color (plus flavors and tannins) from those dark skins into the juice from the pulp to ultimately make a red wine. Continue »
Sep 16, 2020 at 1:20 PM
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Virtual Club Wine Tasting - September Sweets!
Caroline and Bobbi taste and discuss the new sweet wines for September Club! Continue »
Sep 14, 2020 at 9:20 AM
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