De-Bunking the Top 5 Wine Myths

Every now and then I hear an interesting "fact" about wine that is simply not true. Time to de-mystify the top 5 wine myths

1. Myth: Merlot is a bad wine

If you've ever seen the movie "Sideways" there is a infamous quote "“If anyone orders merlot, I'm leaving. I am not drinking any f*ck*ng merlot.” The character Miles thought Merlot was a common, uninteresting grape, whereas he touted Pinot Noir as the champion of all wine. Believe it or not, after this films release the sale of Merlot had a marked decline, and Pinot Noir rose exponentially in sales.

Truth: Merlot is actually a phenomenal grape! Just like with all wine, the quality of the Merlot relies on the place it's grown and the winemaker's choices in molding it. It is the highest planted red grape in France, famous in Bordeaux as a blending grape. Chateau Petrus is a wine that's 100% Merlot made on the right bank of Bordeaux and is known to be one of the most expensive and incredible wines of the world; Prices ranging in the thousands for one bottle. So next time you spy a merlot at the store, give it a shot and enjoy the lovely supple tannins, black cherry and chocolatey finish merlot has to offer.

2. Myth: Screw Cap Wines cannot have Cork Taint

What is cork taint? That moldy, musty smell when you open a bottle of wine or when flavors seem to be muddled, flat or uninteresting in a wine that is normally known to be exciting. It is scientifically known as TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole) and is a compound that forms when chlorine comes in contact with wood creating a kind of mold. This mold can carry over into the cork and infect the wine, muddling the flavors and eventually ruining the wine.

Truth: TCA is most common in corks made of wood since that is where this kind of mold thrives, but it is possible, although super rare, to have "cork taint" in a screw cap bottle since this mold could have originated in the winery and infected the wine before it was sealed with it's screw cap. So heads up, before you completely write off a wine for being totally bad or boring, always make sure it's the wine you're tasting and not this sneaky little mold!

P.S. - Wines sealed with screw caps are NOT always lower quality wines than those sealed with nice corks. Corks are more common simply because of tradition and their oxidative elements that help with aging, but many great producers (especially in New Zealand and Australia) are switching over to screw caps to reduce the chance of cork taint or unwanted oxidation and to tightly seal in all the wine's lovely freshness.

3. Myth: Sediment is a Wine Fault

What is sediment? Sometimes you open a red wine and notice sludgy looking gunk at the bottom of the bottle. These "dregs" are spent yeast, and are usually a sign of a well aged red wine. Yeast cells are used in the fermentation process, and although most is filtered out, some is left in the wine, and if aged for months or years, eventually these used up yeast cells can float to the bottom of the bottle.

Truth: Sediment is natural and totally safe to drink. However, many people would prefer to not have these little dregs in their glass and in that case you can easily decant the bottle with a filter (even a kitchen strainer would do) to enjoy your wine sediment free!

4. Myth: All wine gets better with age

It's a common thought that if you buy a nice bottle of wine, the fanciest thing you could do is stick it in your cellar (or let's be real, you're bedroom closet) to age and wait for that special occasion a couple of years away to pop it open.

Truth: On the contrary, only 1% of the wine produced in the world is meant to be aged. The small percentage of age-worthy wines are usually big bold reds from great vintages like Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, and Syrah for reds and sweeter, higher acid whites like Chenin Blanc, Sauternes, and Champagne. High tannin, high acidity, high sugar, and balanced alcohol are all factors that act as natural preservatives for aging wine. If you ever are wondering whether you have an age-worthy wine, try researching online or asking the wine expert from where you bought it!

5. Myth: The more expensive, the better the wine

Although yes, price can usually be a good hint in determining the quality of the bottle, it is certainly not the end all be all. Price can be determined by many factors other than quality including location, ratings, production size, supply and demand, and marketing.

Truth: You can usually find your best value wines from countries or grapes that aren't as well known. A nice Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley or Bordeaux, France will usually always be more expensive than a lovely Cabernet from Chile or South Africa. The same way a great Champagne from Champagne, France will always be more expensive than a great Cava from Spain even though Cava employs the same traditional process as Champagne in making their Sparkling wine.

Happy Drinking!