WineSpectator.com: Q&A's

Why are white wines served in smaller wineglasses? (Wine Spectator)
Dear Dr. Vinny, Why are white wines served in smaller wineglasses? —Manoj, Oman Dear Manoj, I’m one of those wine lovers that doesn’t have the desire (or cupboard space) for multiple sets of wineglasses. I prefer a set of all-purpose glasses. But you're right that there are a lot of grape- and region-specific wineglass shapes out there, and that wineglasses for reds tend to be larger. All those stemware shapes are designed to cater to each wine type, to best collect its aromas and allow it to "breathe," or benefit from exposure to oxygen, as needed. White wines are typically lower in both alcohol and tannins than red wines, so they don't need all that room to breathe that benefits some red wines so much. —Dr. Vinny
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Why are white wines served chilled? (Wine Spectator)
Dear Dr. Vinny, Why are white wines served chilled? —Manoj, Oman Dear Manoj, Everyone’s personal preference should be their primary guide, but different styles of beverages will taste better to people at different temperatures. Serving wine on the warmer side, closer to room temperature, amplifies our perception of acidity and alcohol. Of course, cold temperatures can also suppress and mute flavors and aromatics too. For a full guide to wine-serving temperatures, I suggest checking out Wine Spectator's "Tips on the Perfect Serving Temperature." In short, light, crisp whites and sparkling wines are best served at 40 to 50 F, full-bodied whites and lighter reds at 50 to 60 F, and full-bodied reds at 60 to 65 F. Keep in mind that most refrigerators are around 35 F, which means that if you’re storing your white wines in there, you might want to give them a few minutes to warm up and become a bit more expressive. —Dr. Vinny
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How soon after a concussion can I start drinking wine? (Wine Spectator)
Q: How soon after a concussion can I start drinking wine?—Hal, Cresco, Iowa A: A concussion is an injury to the brain that alters normal neurological function, and adding alcohol to the equation complicates matters. Concussions are caused by direct physical impacts to the head. In the case of severe impacts, such as from a car accident or a fall, the typical symptoms of headache, confusion and memory loss, impaired coordination, nausea and dizziness can make the injury fairly simple to diagnose. But with concussions caused by successive lower-impact blows, the sufferer may not be aware that neurological damage has occurred, and that's a potentially dangerous scenario for drinkers. "The recovery process after a concussion is highly variable and you should carefully monitor your symptoms with the help of your physician," says Dr. Rocío Norman of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. "In addition, the timing of the recovery process is not straightforward; individuals can experience a quick recovery lasting two weeks or less or can experience symptoms for many years after the initial injury." "One important fact to consider is that alcohol is a neurotoxin," she adds, "a substance that kills brain cells and crosses the blood-brain barrier, which is an impediment to the recovery process after brain injury. Furthermore, alcohol impairs our decision-making skills and can place an individual at risk for engaging in behavior that can place them at risk for further injury; cumulative injuries are not uncommon after concussion. Lastly, individuals with concussion are at high risk of developing depression, and alcohol is a depressant and can counteract with many anti-depressant medications." Recovering from a concussion can take time and the healing process can differ greatly among individuals. Work closely with your physician to determine the best course of action.
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Was Burgundy the only wine region impacted by Napoleonic Code? (Wine Spectator)
Dear Dr. Vinny, Was Burgundy the only wine region impacted by Napoleonic Code? —Jessica, Sydney, Australia Dear Jessica, Let me start with a quick history lesson for those who aren't familiar with the Napoleonic Code and how it shaped the wine regions of Europe. Most French land, including vineyards, was in the hands of the Catholic Church or the nobility prior to the French Revolution, which resulted in the confiscation of much of the land belonging to those institutions. Most of the vineyards were divided up and sold off. The Napoleonic Code of the early 1800s, which spread well beyond the modern-day boundaries of France under Napoleon's French Empire, required landowners to divide their holdings equally among their heirs. So generation after generation, the land was further subdivided. Why does this matter to wine? It’s one explanation for how complicated Burgundy has become. For example, the grand cru vineyard Clos de Vougeot, which was owned by the Cistercian monks until the late 18th century. It's now broken up into more than 80 individually owned parcels, some comprising just a few rows of vines. This practice happened all over, but not every region went the way of Burgundy. Some Bordeaux châteaus were owned by wealthy families, who decided to eliminate the issue of heirs by incorporating their estates. They developed a system of shareholders for their estates, and shareholders weren’t subject to the same succession laws. As a result, many Bordeaux châteaus remain large and have even grown over time. The Napoleonic Code took its toll on other wine regions around France (and in Germany). But some properties were pieced together with trusts and other shareholder-type systems. There is a lot of emphasis on the Burgundy's history vineyards, which is why the Napoleonic Code is most often cited in reference to Burgundy, but if you look carefully, you’ll find evidence of it’s influence elsewhere. —Dr. Vinny
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What's the difference between wine labeled as "private bin" and "cellar selection"? (Wine Spectator)
Dear Dr. Vinny, What's the difference between wine labeled as "private bin" and "cellar selection"? —Allan, Brisbane, Australia Dear Allan, There aren't any legally defined requirements for wine label that include reference to specific bins or cellar selections. But both terms suggest a special wine—something that stood out in the cellar and was bottled separately because of that. You can add these to the list of legally undefined terms that wine brands use to make their wines stand out—like “old vine,” “reserve” or "natural"—and which can range from pure marketing to indications of truly special wines. —Dr. Vinny
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