Wine 101

Wine 101 is about offering and garnering knowledge for those of us non-wine snobs. It’s about debunking wine myths. And explaining what means what and why things are done a certain way in the wine world.

The vendage is what France calls the grape harvest that makes wines. Join in at Pumpjack & Piddlewick

A few years ago, due to a bad experience, I said, ‘never again’. And there is a saying ‘never say never again’. How very true. Fast forward to now and I find myself once again undertaking The Vendange. The vendange is a French term for the grape harvest here inRead More →

when to harvest the grapes is a tricky thing to decide - let's delve at PumpjackPiddlewick

As we head into August, it’s time to start testing the grapes in earnest to determine and decide when grapes might be ready to be picked. But how do you know when to harvest the grapes?  There are a number of factors, and various tests. On a simplistic level, it’sRead More →

Want to be able to afford good wine - Start a Wine Cellar

How can one afford, let alone drink good wine year-round unless you are rich? That’s easy, start a wine cellar.  Anyone can do it, it’s easy. And it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. But what is a Wine Cellar? A wine cellar is, simplistically, a placeRead More →

More wine 101 - learning what a wine negociant is at PumpjackPiddlewick

I make no secret that Pumpjack is my very own, personal wine maker. Am I lucky, or what?  I’ve detailed our adventures in finding a vineyard after moving here to France in our Whatnots about Our Wine. I have also outlined (monthly) what’s involved in working a vineyard (read backRead More →