Category: Tasting Notes

Do you recall the first ultra-premium bottle of wine you purchased? My recollection is crystal clear—a 1989 Opus One. The woman ahead of me at the retail shop paid $25 for a case of value-priced wine. When my single bottle rang up at nearly $84, she asked, ”Where’s the rest of your case?” It’s fitting I bumped into another woman in line. Reportedly, women purchase 80 percent of wines consumed in America, which is what makes the Women’s International Wine Competition so relevant: it’s judged by women wine professionals for women wine buyers. Each year, the competition bestows Woman...

In addition to classic, expected wines, many beyond-the-ordinary varieties found their way into the spotlight at Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition this year—Diamond, Vidal Blanc, Gruner Veltliner, Valdiguié, Touriga, and Frontenac were among wines securing gold, alongside Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and other widely planted varieties. This year, 1,315 wines from around the world were entered. Those of you who follow Dan Berger and his weekly Vintage Experiences online-based commentary (www.vintageexperiences.com) know his strong connections with wine producers worldwide continue to expand. Live vicariously through his travels and gain knowledge of outstanding grape growers , winemakers, and...