Corné van Nijhuis
Can We Taste Minerality In Wine?
When taking the first nip of a new glass of wine one almost instantly tries to figure out which flavors and aromas we are tasting. It is often almost impossible not to do so. It just happens. It looks as if our senses and brain are programmed that way. So when for example we sip…
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Does Authentic Wine Exist?
One of the great marketing promises, especially in selling fine wine, is the claim of authenticity. The idea that a certain wine still is fully in accordance with the original nature and quality of the wine in question. The suggestion is then, that the wines are something like ‘identical’. So being made from grapes which…
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Can Wine Be Balanced?
As wine enthousiast we all once in a while read just another wine review and come along one of those typical qualifications like a balanced wine. And of course, we immediately think to understand what the idea behind this specification is. In a balanced wine all components of the wine are harmonious, complementing and well…
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Can Wine Breathe?
We all know the situation as avid wine lovers that now and then you go for a gourmet dinner just to have the excuse to order some great wine. These are the moments you celebrate the good life, especially the good wine life. As you have chosen the courses as well as the accompanying wine,…
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Do Wine Legs Indicate Quality?
We all know the evenings when, just after a nice bottle of wine has been opened and poured, we look at each other and say: great legs! But what do these wine legs really say about the wine? Can we read something from those streaks formed on the inside of the glass when it comes…
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Can Wine Have ‘Body’?
Wine tasters use a large arsenal of terms to express what they taste. One of those that are used with pleasure is the term ‘body’. But what is wine with body? Technically body means ‘having a physical structure’. So if we ask ‘Can wine have body?’, the answer will definitely be: of course, it has,…
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Does ‘Simple Wine’ Exist?
As winter approaches, the weather becomes colder and the days grow shorter. Changes like these ensure that we spend a little more time behind the fireplace and philosophize about what life has to offer us. And sometimes these reflections (in my case) inevitably revolve around wine, especially when you’re gazing into the open fire with…
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Does wine numb our consciousness?
One of the great benefits of drinking a good glass of fine wine is the relaxing effect it has (for most of us). Of course, this only applies as long as you drink in reasonable moderation. But what really happens mentally when we use something like an alcoholic beverage? Does it impact our consciousness in…
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Does Champagne Sparkle?
It looks almost a too simple question, an open door: Does Champagne sparkle? But if we look at it more deeply we might come to surprising insights. Going back to the word ‘sparkle’ we can retrace it to the Old English 16th century word ‘spearca’ which meant ‘throw off glowing or fiery particles’. This concept…
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