Peter Wearing, Author at The Small Winemakers Collection

An Insider’s Guide To Merlot Wine: All You Need To Know About This Grape Varietal

Peter Wearing Featured, Grape Profiles 1 Comment August 12, 2021August 4, 2020

Merlot is considered extremely versatile and adaptable. Great when used as part of a blend but also delicious on its own, this grape varietal has left a lasting impression on the wine industry.

Merlot is a grape varietal that is praised and loved by many all over the world. But what exactly makes this grape so special? In this article, we look at the origins of merlot wine, the main regions where it is grown and it’s most defining characteristics. Merlot: The Origins Of This Beloved Grape Variety The earliest mention of this grape varietal was recorded in the French wine region of Bordeaux in approximately 1784. It is believed that during this …

Chilean Wine 101: The Regions, Grapes And More

Peter Wearing Featured, Regional Profiles Leave a comment January 28, 2021June 29, 2020

Chilean wine is characterized not only by its rich and bold red grape varietals but also, its crisp and fruit-forward white grapes, offering something for everyone.

A Brief History Of Chilean Winemaking Chile may fall under the category of a New World wine region but its winemaking traditions and industry certainly aren’t young. Over the last 30 years, quality Chilean wine has competitively made its mark on the modern global wine industry but its history of wine production dates back to the 16th century. In the early 1500s, Spanish monks brought wine grapes to New World regions including Chile. Upon discovering the perfect soil and climate …

Giacomo Fenocchio: A Radical Traditionalist

Peter Wearing Uncategorized, vWinery Profiles January 13, 2023June 2, 2020

Giacomo Fenocchio: A Radical Traditionalist One of the advantages of working in the wine business is meeting remarkable people from around the world who eventually become close friends. One such person is Claudio Fenocchio, a true gentleman farmer, passionate about his land, his wine and his family. This post will look at the history of the estate, wines produced and some of the great vineyard holdings. History The Fenocchio family has been making wine in Monforte since 1864. But it …

What Is Tempranillo? An Insightful Guide

Peter Wearing Featured, Grape Profiles Leave a comment December 14, 2022May 6, 2020

Tempranillo, the quintessential Spanish grape, is known for its thick skin and beautiful juxtaposition of both earthy and fruity characteristics.

Examining This Spanish Grape: The History Of Tempranillo Tempranillo is the quintessential Spanish grape. The third most planted varietal in the world, it is most famous as being the primary grape of Rioja reds where it is blended with a bit of Graciano, Mazuelo or Garnacha. Originating in the Iberian Peninsula, it dates to at least the ninth century, and Spain is responsible for 80% of the world production. Tempranillo now grows in most of the Spanish red wine regions, …

Top Ontario Restaurants To Order Wine & Food From Right Now

Peter Wearing Featured, Tasting Tips Leave a comment January 28, 2021May 1, 2020

Although we can’t physically dine at Ontario restaurants during COVID-19, we can still do our part to support them by continuing to order food and wine online.

While all industries are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant and hospitality industry certainly has been one of the hardest hit since the beginning of this crisis. According to the latest news reports, social distancing restrictions in Ontario will be effect until potentially halfway through the summer season. Yet, there is still uncertainty as to how and when measures will be loosened. As the isolation period rolls by, a number of restaurants in cities like Toronto and …

What is the Best Closure, Cork or Screw Cap?

Peter Wearing Featured, Tasting Tips Leave a comment January 28, 2021April 28, 2020

What is the Best Closure, Cork or Screw Cap? We were recently part of an interesting experiment in our office. With considerable foresight, two New Zealand producers had bottled their 2002 Sauvignon Blanc under both cork and screwcap and tucked them away in the cellar. Eighteen years later we were able to see what the impact of these two closures was on the wines. Which was the better closure, cork or screwcap? Certainly, the wines were very different. The ones …

Wine in Vienna – A Streetcar to the Vineyard

Peter Wearing Featured, Regional Profiles 2 Comments January 28, 2021April 24, 2020

Wine in Vienna – A Streetcar to the Vineyard We were lucky enough to be in Austria for an extended weekend last September to explore wine in Vienna. On a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, we decided to visit our friend, winemaker Alex Zahel at his winery in the 19th district. From our Airbnb in the center, we hopped on the streetcar and rode through the city for 30 minutes. As easy as that, we were at the winery, ready to …

Lambrusco, the Misunderstood Red Sparkling

Peter Wearing Featured, Wine Styles January 13, 2023April 19, 2020

One of my favorite memories of drinking Lambrusco happened many years ago during Vinitaly. After a busy morning of tasting Brunellos and Proseccos, we left the show early and headed for lunch on a sunny patio in Verona’s centro storico. As plates of culatello (cured ham from Parma) and bottles of chilled, frothy Lambrusco kept flowing, I thought to myself “can it get any better?” Needless to say, I was hooked on this refreshing, earthy sparkling wine. This article will …

What Makes Napa Valley So Special?

Peter Wearing Featured, Regional Profiles Leave a comment August 13, 2021April 9, 2020

What Makes Napa Valley So Special Sunshine, warmth, elegance, and opulence. These are words that come to mind when describing Napa Valley, what many consider to be one of the world’s greatest wine producing regions. What makes Napa so unique? Location, climate and terroir: mountains, benchlands and valley floors, diurnal temperature swings, fog and marine air flow, over 100 types of soil… these features and more combine make this the special place that it is. Relatively small in size, Napa …

A How-To Guide To Decanting Wine

Peter Wearing Featured, Tasting Tips Leave a comment January 28, 2021April 3, 2020

Decanting wine is a great way to open up a wine to its full potential and elevate the overall tasting experience. With the right tips, this is a process you can do easily from your own home.

All wine connoisseurs will have heard of the term ‘decant’ and it is not unusual to see a sommelier in a fine dining restaurant decanting a bottle of wine before serving to a table. However, many are still unaware as to what this process is or why it is carried out. Below, we walk you through a how-to guide to decanting wine. Wine Decanting: What Is This Process? Simply, the process of decanting wine is the act of slowly transferring …