top of page
Search

Paso Robles Daily News: Paso wine educator debunks 6 uncommon myths—and invites you to taste the difference 


– Debunking popular wine myths is a topic I love to explore in my WSET classes in Paso, where I’ve been teaching for over 7 years, helping nearly one thousand wine professionals and enthusiasts achieve their certifications. The good news is that many wine myths have been thoroughly unraveled (i.e. screw top wine is always low quality, all wines benefit from aging, expensive = quality, etc.), but here are a few that could use a bit more debunking!


1) Wine has tons of sugar!

’Skinny’ wine is a great marketing ploy, but the very definition of a dry wine is that the yeast has consumed almost all the sugar in the grapes – i.e. the wine has been fermented to dryness. Most table wines average about 5 grams per liter of residual sugar, or less, which is not much at all, and opting for a ‘skinny’ wine will only save you a few calories, if any. 


2) Brut Champagne and wedding cake are a perfect match….

While traditionally coupled at wedding receptions around the world, the combo of very dry acidic champagne with teeth-achingly sweet wedding cake is not optimal. The sweetness in the cake will make the champagne taste less fruity, more acidic, and drier – basically killing what is beautiful about a dry vintage Champagne. A better choice? An off-dry Prosecco, a Moscato d’Asti or a Sauternes.


3) Sherry is just for grandma!Sherries are among the most diverse, fabulous and hip wines of the world – and most of them are dry and match beautifully with food! It is important to note that they are fortified, so higher in alcohol than most wines – 17 – 20% ABV.  Enjoy delicate Fino with sushi, nutty Amontillado with meatballs, or dark rich Oloroso with chicken mole. (Bonus: students in my class will receive a special Sherry tasting!)


4) Varietal means grape variety

One of my pet peeves! Using ‘varietal’ to describe a kind of grape or grape vine (i.e. Cabernet Sauvignon) is incorrect. When referring to a type of grape, it is grape ‘variety’ NOT ‘varietal’ – Merlot is a grape variety!  Varietal describes a wine made from one grape variety – i.e., a wine made from only the Merlot grape variety is a single varietal wine. This one is a losing battle, but a favored cause of grammarians!


5) All sparkling wines are Champagne.

Only wines produced in Champagne, France, can be called Champagne. These wines are fantastic…but expensive. There are terrific, less expensive alternatives that are made with the same process as Champagne, including Spain’s Cava, Italy’s Franciacorta, and Crémant from France. There are also many excellent ones from Australia and California; just look on the label to see if it says Traditional Method or Méthode Traditionnelle. If so, you’ll know it was made with the same process as Champagne.


6) Wine education is just for snobs…

Some of my best teaching experiences have been watching the world of wine open up to students who know nothing about wine – broadening knowledge beyond ‘vino’ to geography, culture, history, science, viticulture, and the magical alchemy of grape and yeast. Rather than turning students into snobs, wine education enables a deeper appreciation of what’s behind the wine label, enhances curiosity, and creates enthusiasts who want to share their knowledge with others so they can enjoy their wine experiences even more. 


Want to Learn More? Taste With Us This Spring


Paso Robles Daily News readers can enjoy 10% off course registration. Promocode: PASO10

Explore the joy of wine at MWWine School at Wines on Main in Templeton

 

These classes aren’t just educational—they’re fun, interactive, and designed to change the way you experience wine forever, plus you can achieve world-class wine credentials.


Spots are limited, and classes fill quickly—register soon.


Comments

bottom of page