The 30 Second Wine Advisor

The 30 Second Wine Advisor

Home
Notes
Chat
Archive
Leaderboard
About
Warmer climate, warmer wine?
The Tuscan red I picked up the other day listed 15% alcohol. Whoa! That, as the saying goes, "ain't natural." But does this potent dose hurt the wine?
 • 
Robin Garr
Virtue signaling, or simply virtue?
"Virtue signaling," boasting of your good works to brag or to show an example, is controversial. Is it good or bad? Can it happen on a wine label?
 • 
Robin Garr
What’s in your wine? The labeling debate
“Ingredients: wine grapes & potassium metabisulfite.” These aren’t words we often see on a wine label.
 • 
Robin Garr
2

May 2025

David, Goliath, and tariffs
After months of uproar, the case that halted President Trump’s broad-based tariffs, at least for now, was led by a small New York importer of wine.
 • 
Robin Garr
Wine tasting: Art or science?
How much of what we taste in wine comes through our nose and palate, and how much of our tasting experience do you think sneaks in through our active…
 • 
Robin Garr
It’s bitter! Yuk or yum?
Some people can’t stand bitter tastes.
 • 
Robin Garr
4
Pinot Noir stands alone
A grape question: Why is Cabernet Sauvignon usually blended with other Bordeaux grapes, while Pinot Noir, Burgundy’s pride, always stands alone?
 • 
Robin Garr
2
Gulpable … and good
When it comes to wine, the French usually have a word for it. Today's word, "gouleyant," means "gulpable." It's rarely used to denote high praise.
 • 
Robin Garr

April 2025

Location, location, location
Location! The old advice about real estate works for wine too. The specific location on a wine bottle label can guide us to quality ... and value.
 • 
Robin Garr
How many glasses in a bottle?
How many glasses of wine can you get out of a bottle?
 • 
Robin Garr
A fine NZ Sauvignon Blanc
Last summer I praised New Zealand's Cloudy Bay, still a value in the $30s. Today let's delight in an even better value, a $20-something NZ Sauvignon…
 • 
Robin Garr
French rosé value … for now?
Whiplash: I bought a tasty Rhône rosé on a balmy spring day last week.
 • 
Robin Garr
2
© 2025 Robin Garr
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture