Picking Out a Bottle of Wine

  You're in a retail shop looking at many wine labels and it might be a bit overwhelming. Where do you start? Most begin with a particular varietal as in, "I want a chardonnay tonight." But after that?

  Some ideas to help you make a selection:

Tough Loses in Sonoma County this Week

Local obits with a bit of Sonoma County history.

Covid and Drinking Behavior

  Yeah, I think we already knew this, but alcohol consumption is up since the Covid-19 epidemic started. A study by RTI International, a non-profit research institute, polled 1,000 in the U.S. about their drinking habits pre-Covid compared to during Covid. The research was done last May.

  The number of drinks per day, amount consumed, and even binge drinking all increased by about 25% during Covid. The biggest increases were with women, Blacks, and anyone with children at home. That last one should be no surprise. Plus you figure women are carrying the burden of the child duties in the house, including schooling. There's even the new Sober Mom Squad to help. Sober Moms say they aren't against drinking, but I guess they'd like you to be sober when trying to figure out 8th grade algebra. Though thinking back I was sober for algebra class and it didn't really help.

Old Time Family Wineries of Sonoma County

Sonoma County has an interesting wine history with the first grapes actually planted by Russians(!) in 1812 near the Pacific Coast. The wine biz in Sonoma County goes back to the mid-19th century just after the start of the Gold Rush. That's not really very long by European standards, but there were only about 500 settlers in the entire county when California became a state in 1850. 

The Impact of Smoke Taint on Wine

  Smoke damage from wildfires is a reality for wineries in Oregon and Northern California for the 2020 harvest. This following article from the Oregon Wine Press delves into the subject of wine changes brought about by smoke. The takeaways for consumers has to do with how widespread the problem may be, what wines are more likely to have smoke traits, and how you would describe those smells and flavors.

  Realities of Smoke, Oregon Wine Press

Covid and Your Sense of Smell

For those unlucky enough to have had Coronavirus, or may get it in the future, it could be bad news for your enjoyment of food and wine. The following article, originally from the Washington Post, looks at the problem.

Covid-19 May Steal or Warp Your Sense of Smell

Cool Facts About Old Vines

There's an interest in, and maybe even a passion for, wines labeled as old vine. In California it's mostly old vine Zinfandel though you occasionally see other old vine wines. I suppose the interest comes from the same idea of people interested in redwood trees that have been around for so long -- they've survived fires, wars, and pandemics.

Tasting Rooms Might Be Changing Permanently

  Covid rules changed the way we eat and drink outside the home. No more elbow-to-elbow dining or drinking. Wine tasting rooms have adjusted. It was a fairly easy change for some wineries that were already doing much of what Covid rules require.

Restaurant Wine Post-Pandemic

  So whenever things lighten up and it's safer to go out and socialize how many people will actually partake? It's looking a little iffy for restaurants and therefore restaurant wine sales.