The Wine Curmudgeon archives — one of the Internet’s most honest and straightforward wine sites

wine curmdugeon in his hat
A hat, Bugs Bunny, and 21st century technology — how can any wine drinker want more from a wine writer?

You’ve found the Wine Curmudgeon website

For more than 16 years, this was the home of some of the most honest and straightforward writing about wine and the  wine business. Best yet, it was one of the few sites on the Internet that focused on the wine most of us can afford to buy. That’s $15 a bottle or less, and usually much less. As one reader said, “No one is paying you for favorable press.”

The bog ended on Jan. 15, 2024, after more than 4,700 posts, as well as a three-year run on Substack. I ended the blog (the full answer is here), because, “sadly, I don’t think it’s relevant anymore,” given the decline in wine drinking, and especially among younger consumers; the wine business’ addiction to making expensive wine for the sake of  making expensive wine; and the continuing attacks on moderate drinking by those who want to bring back Prohibition.

I wrote about all of those things over the years, as well as some 2,000 wine reviews, a glossary of wine terms — common and uncommon — and sharp, relevant commentary about all things wine. Two of the accomplishments I’m most proud about: The blog’s commitment to U.S. regional wine and writing about the joys of rose. I’d like to think I played a role in helping each become accepted parts of the wine business.

And there was humor — lots and lots of wine humor, whether it was the voyage of the USS Wine Curmudgeon, a Star Trek parody, or the almost annual April Fool’s posts, which made fun of the wine business in all of its foolishness.

The blog’s archives are open to anyone who wants to take a look. There’s a search box on the upper right hand side of this page, and well as a category drop down lower down the page. Take look, have a smile, and enjoy.

And remember — wine should be fun, no matter what everyone else says.