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ask dr. vinny

Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, or "Vinny" for short. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the technical aspects of winemaking to the fine points of etiquette. I hope you find my answers educational and even amusing. Looking for a particular answer? Check my archive and my FAQs.

Dear Dr. Vinny,

How can a winemaker ensure the consistency of a given wine when you take into account the amount of wine being produced, the vineyard conditions and the aging process that might vary from start to finish?

—L.R.H., Alpine, Calif.

Dear L.R.H.,

Don’t forget about the difficulties and variations of each growing season and harvest, too! You’ve just identified how winemakers earn their paychecks. Some winemakers are more successful than others, and it probably helps when they’re organized and take careful notes of their choices among all these variables. I think the best winemakers are creative and flexible when necessary, curious, willing to experiment and passionate about the wines they make. Being able to weather a few sleepless nights around harvest time also doesn’t hurt.

—Dr. Vinny

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