Could fruit flies be responsible for the nice smell of most wines? This is a really interesting idea suggested by a research paper just published in scientific journal Ecology Letters….
Some thoughts on GM technology
So yesterday I took part in a careers session for the brightest and best undergraduates in plant sciences at the Gatsby summer school. Held at the lovely Hawkhills centre near…
Introducing my new book, Wine Science, with a short video
Here’s a short video in which I introduce my new book, Wine Science/The Science of Wine The UK version is available now; The US version will be available in April….
The new edition of my book Wine Science/The Science of Wine
I’m delighted to say that if you are as nerdy about wine as I am, there’s a new book coming out next month that will be just up your street….
Wine and music, a scientific study
It is well known that context can affect our experience (and enjoyment) of wine. But how do you measure this? In a paper published in open access scientific journal Flavour,…
What is a grape variety? What is a clone?
We talk a lot about clones and grape varieties. But what, precisely, do these terms mean? Let’s first define ‘variety’. A new grape variety is produced when a grape seed…
More on the MW dissertation claims about screwcap damage
I posted a few days ago on an article in a trade publication based on an MW dissertation by Alison Eisermann-Ctercteko that examined the extent of screwcap damage in the retail…
MW dissertation claims that screwcaps cause more wine damage than cork
The rise in screwcap use in Australia since 2000 has been remarkable. Now they are by far the majority closure, for fine wines as well as more commercial ones. But…
Ceilings for wine quality in Bordeaux
I’ve spent a few days in Bordeaux, during which I’ve had a chance to speak to a few knowledgeable people and also to walk through quite a few vineyards. (And…