Marsanne (mar-SAHN)

The main white grape of the northern Rhône in France. Makes big-bodied wines. Often blended with the aromatic and elegant grape roussanne which may either be its parent or its offspring. It is also grown in the Languedoc Roussillon, as well as in California.

University of Washington was the first entity in the United States to bring in the famous Dijon clones of chardonnay.

Answer: False.

The University of Oregon in Eugene was the first to bring the Dijon clones (clones are genetic subtypes of a variety) of chardonnay into the United States in the 2000s. The Dijon clones are named after Dijon, the city in Burgundy where France's ONIVINS plant materials laboratory is located. These clones—with such exciting names as 115, 667, and 777—are heralded for their complex flavors and ability to ripen fully in cool climates. Obviously, this was a match made in heaven for Oregon wine country, which has a mostly cool climate.

BIG BOOB Claret

It’s called BIG POUR but maybe the wine should be called BIG BOOB. The label shows a blond woman—face obscured by shadow—whose right breast pokes out through a gauzy top, as if the breast itself… Continue reading

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