Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And don't forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.
Dear Dr. Vinny,
I recently opened a bottle of red wine that seemed to have a bit of “sparkle” to it. It wasn’t fizzy like Champagne, but one could feel the bite of carbon dioxide on the tongue. Is this a badly made wine, is it too young, or what?
—Fernando G., Waterville, Maine
Dear Fernando,
When a wine seems fizzy or spritzy (and it’s not supposed to be that way, like a sparkling Shiraz would be), it’s usually considered a flaw. Either some carbon dioxide was trapped inside when the wine was bottled, or the wine started to re-ferment while in the bottle, and the bubbles are a byproduct. A little fizz won’t make you sick, but I find it unpleasant, and it usually comes with a yeasty stink.
—Dr. Vinny
