Philip Hinerman

Author

Philip Hinerman

A wine and spirits lawyer headquartered in Sonoma, California and Devon, Pennsylvania. Certified wine instructor by the Society of Wine Educators and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Named by Chambers Best Lawyers for Business annually for the past 12 years

Sorry, been away for research – Top 10 findings!

The best thing about claiming to write about wine is that you can call drinking “research”. And you can tell people that you are not a lush. You are a professional drinker.

So, my research has taken me far and wide. The only thing that I have concluded is that I need more research. Why?

Every year, wine is different from the year before
Wine changes in the bottle, so we need both to consider more than the annual changes and to stock up on more bottles of the same wine.
The search for bargain wines is never ending as the number of available wines expands.
Consider that wine tastes different with different foods. So, you need to have multiple wines nightly with the same food in order to see differences.
Wine improves your appearance. Really. I look better in the mirror after several glasses.
Varied wine experience is good party conversation
Wine makes politics more bearable
Wine makes bad TV better
I had my teeth cleaned and they were too white. Red wine has helped tone it down.
Forgot what 10 was, but I could not say “Top 9 Findings” so I had to have a 10

November 16, 2016 0

Rethinking Reds in Provence – More Than Failed Rose

Just got back from two weeks in Provence. Of course, I drank Rose. You can’t get away from it and everyone assumes that, if you are American – you want Rose. Several winemakers told me that Rose has to be salmon colored. Even at the expense of taste. And the way to make it that way is to reduce maceration to 3 or 4 hours.

Maceration is done early on in the wine making process. Normally, grapes are soaked so that the color and tannin of the grapes can be extracted. The wines become more red. So, naturally, reduce the time in maceration and you reduce the red. And the flavor. But, almost all of the Provencal winemakers told me that it had to be done for the market.

However, when it is not done – when the wine becomes red – the results are surprising for a wine region that has a Rose reputation.

Quality was a huge surprise. Many of the Rose wines use grenanche, mouvedre and syrah. So, it is almost a natural that some producers are making quality red wines. In fact, in several of the cooler areas, like Coteaux Varois, former Rose producers are expanding their offerings. No wonder that winemakers like Louis Latour are now planting pinot noir in Provence.

Your author with Provence wine legend Emmanuel Gaujal

Will Americans accept something other than Rose from Provence?

June 12, 2016 0

Buying Wine from Rudy

In the ultimate of ironies, the US Magistrate will begin selling authenticated wine from the collection of Rudy Kurniawan, one of the most (temporarily) successful counterfeiters in the history of wine. So, how do you know for sure you will be buying an authentic bottle of wine? Continue reading “Buying Wine from Rudy” →

November 24, 2015 0

Sometimes, Wine “Trumps” Politics

No, this is not a post about a certain Republican millionaire running for office. Instead, it is about a much more important political event with religious overtones. Yes, I am talking about Continue reading “Sometimes, Wine “Trumps” Politics” →

November 11, 2015 0

Traveling to Overrated Wine Areas

I just finished some research in advance of my trip to Burgundy and the Rhone. Finally, I am taking the French Wine Society’s Masters Program in Rhone wines after a short trip to Beaune in Burgundy. So, Business Insider tells me that I should not visit and taste the overpriced wines of Burgundy. I might agree that many Burgundies are overpriced. But where to go instead? Business Insider has the answer: Continue reading “Traveling to Overrated Wine Areas” →

October 6, 2015 0

October 1, 2015 0

What’s in the Vineyard? Red versus White

Following on yesterday’s post about the general snubbing of white wines by many wine aficionados (see Are White Wines Still for Amateurs?), I thought I would write about red versus white wine Continue reading “What’s in the Vineyard? Red versus White” →

September 25, 2015 0

Are White Wines Still for Amateurs?

The old saying around wine instructors is that white wines are for amateurs – reds for professionals. And the world has loads of amateurs, Continue reading “Are White Wines Still for Amateurs?” →