This web site is a compilation of the articles I have written and had published. After graduating with a degree in Enology from UC Davis in 1989, I noticed wine writers, with some exceptions, were telling only part of the story. Winemakers spoke to them in sound bites, afraid of being misquoted.

They oversimplified complex topics, perpetuating myths about old vines, low yields, wild yeast and fining and filtration. I investigated these topics with winemakers from California, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Tuscany, Chile and Argentina as well as enology professors and my findings were frequently at odds with the conventional wisdom. The myth that great wines are made from stressed vines is a good example. When a grapevine is under prolonged stress, it does not produce sugar, color or flavor – how can that be good?

By interviewing winemakers from around the world, I demonstrate that the complexity of issues defy generalizations. This is not to say I have found the ‘truth’ but have presented viewpoints of individuals with considerable winemaking experience and where possible, drawn conclusions.