Aaron Winsor

Hello Prince Albert! One of the most interesting categories of wine is fortified wines which includes Port, Madeira and Sherry and what better time to discuss this style of wine then December, where the snow starts to cover the city and families and friends begin to prepare for holiday celebrations. For these cold times, nothing warms the body and soul like a sip of Sherry. What is Sherry and what are the differences between the different styles? Let’s take a look!

Hello Prince Albert! Most wine drinkers are familiar with the usual fortified wines like Port, Sherry and Madeira but one specific style of fortified wine often flies under the radar and like Port, it is also made in Portugal. I’m talking about a wine from the Southern Peninsula of Portugal known as Moscatel de Setubal which is a legally defined and protected production zone. Is it worth the money and time to search out a bottle of this fortified wine? Let’s find out!

Hello Prince Albert! I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year’s Eve and got a chance to taste a bit of wine, perhaps even a glass of bubbly or two. Our family celebration was small with tasty food, several types of beer and a variety of sparkling wines to choose from. This week, I’d like to share my thoughts on the three wines that we tried throughout the holiday week.

Hello Prince Albert! Each wine-producing region or country in the world has their own unique signature or imprint that they’ve made in the world with the wines they make. Argentina is known for Malbec, France is known for Bordeaux and Champagne (among many others), New Zealand has Sauvignon Blanc and Germany makes some of the most stunning Riesling on the planet.

Hello Prince Albert! When I want a good deal on a bottle of wine, the Spanish section is often one of the first places I look. Prices can vary from $12 a bottle (for the cheapest options) to hundreds if not thousands for the pricier wines. The key factor in Spanish wine is the consistency of the wine, no matter the price you end up paying. Besides this, there are many regional single varietals and unique wine blends to discover, so the only thing holding consumers back is a willingness to try new flavors/grapes that they may be unfamiliar with.

Hello Prince Albert! It’s that time again where I take two Chardonnays and put them face to face to see which reigns supreme. Of course, this is based on my personal taste, but I also take into account the technical aspect of each wine. In the end, the one I enjoyed most is crowned the winner. Are you a fan of Chardonnay? The only way to find out is to get out there and taste it!

Hello Prince Albert! After a brief hiatus to reflect and recharge my spiritual wine energies, I am back this week to talk about a deliciously fruity style of wine known as Sangria! If you’ve ever contemplated trying Sangria but don’t know where to start, this is the perfect place!

Hello Prince Albert! It seems that the theme this week is sour cherries. Unlike sour grapes which tend to indicate a person’s bitterness or sourness, sour red fruits like cherries are some of my favorite flavors to discover in ales or wines. I’ve talked about the Sangiovese grape before and its not surprising considering how much there is to find in the Italian section (and beyond). Let’s take a moment and refresh ourselves on this versatile grape varietal!

Hello Prince Albert! In order to make great wine, the vine must suffer! I’m heavily paraphrasing this French winemaking saying but these words (or the meaning behind the words) rings true for almost any winemaker in the world. You might be thinking: “But surely, the healthier and more nutrient-rich the growing region, the richer and more magnificent the grape!”. When it comes to simple table grapes (the type we eat as food), this may be true, but in relation to grapes for wine, it is the opposite. How is this so?

Hello Prince Albert! As you browse through the wine section for your next bottle to try, you are sure to come across two different, yet similar-sounding grape varietals: Shiraz and Syrah. While these two varietals are in fact almost genetically identical, they tend to have very different flavor profiles. This week, I tasted a Syrah and compared it to a Shiraz to get an idea of why they are different and which I preferred.