Debunking Popular Wine Myths
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Even seasoned wine lovers are often misled by popular myths. Let’s set the record straight with a few facts:
Some wine enthusiasts follow the biodynamic calendar, which divides days into fruit, flower, root and leaf days based on lunar cycles. While it’s a fun talking point, scientific studies have not shown consistent differences in wine taste across these days. Feel free to taste your wine any day of the year!
Biodynamic Calendar & Tasting
The world of wine is full of myths and misconceptions, but that’s part of what makes it fun. Taste widely, challenge your assumptions and enjoy the journey!
- Older wine is always better: Not all wines are meant to age. While some red wines can develop complexity with age, most wines (including many whites and rosés) are designed to be enjoyed young, when their fruit character and freshness are at their peak.
- You shouldn’t chill red wine: Serving red wine slightly cooler than room temperature (around 55°F/13°C) highlights fruit flavors and keeps alcohol in balance. Very cold temperatures can dull flavors, but a slight chill is perfect, especially for lighter reds .
- Wine “legs” indicate quality: The streaks that form on the side of a glass after swirling are called legs or tears. They result from the alcohol and sugar evaporating at different rates (the Marangoni effect) and simply indicate higher alcohol or sugar content—not quality .
- Screw caps mean cheap wine: Screw caps keep wine fresh by preventing cork taint and oxidation. Many top-quality producers use them for both whites and reds, especially those meant to be drunk young .
- Boxed wine is always bad: Advances in packaging technology mean many boxed wines stay fresh longer and offer great value. There are plenty of award-winning boxed wines on the market today .
- A silver spoon keeps Champagne bubbly: Placing a metal spoon in an open bottle doesn’t preserve carbonation. The bubbles in sparkling wine will dissipate over time regardless.