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About Joshua Farrell
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I can answer most any question about wine- types, styles, grape varieties, regions, vintages, proper storage, production, wine and food pairing, wine service, decanting, proper glassware, serving temperatures etc. I can't answer questions about spirit valuations.

Experience
I have over 20 years of experience. I was a wine buyer and sommelier in NYC for many years including 4 years at Windows on the World which was NY's number one wine restaurant. I created and taught a Wine Appreciation Course at Borough of Manhattan Community College. I have worked for the past 15 years for the Wine Enthusiast Cos. as Editor, Columnist, Wine Storage Consultant and am currently Wine Director and Buyer for their online wine website wineexpress.com

Publications
Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Diversions Magazine

Education/Credentials
Windows on the World Wine School- completed all courses from beginning to advanced. Former member of the Sommelier Society of NY. Competed in the Food and Wines of France Sommelier Competition. Traveled to wine regions in Europe including, Bordeaux, Rhone Valley, Alsace, Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, Rioja, and Jerez. Visited wine regions in NY's Finger Lakes, California's Sonoma, Napa and Central Coast and Oregon's Willamette Valley.

   

You are here:  Experts > Food/Drink > Liquors > Wine

Questions Answered By Expert  Joshua Farrell 
In Category  Wine

SubjectDate Asked

Shelf Life8/11/2008
  Q: I have my sons Bar Mitzvah in May 2010. To spread the cost a little I would like to buy a few wines, ...
  A: Sharon, Well then you have your work cut out for you. I can give you some advice on the wine ...
Shelf Life8/11/2008
  Q: I have my sons Bar Mitzvah in May 2010. To spread the cost a little I would like to buy a few wines, ...
  A: Sharon, In terms of the various beverages and the quantities needed, that's really a question you ...
shelf life of champagne8/9/2008
  Q: I have a magnum of Moet/Chandon champagne which I have stored in a horizontal postion on the bottom ...
  A: Maria, Since the CO2 in champagne prevents it from oxidizing it can keep better that still wine is ...
Muscadine Wine8/9/2008
  Q: I saw the post from a woman asking where she could obtain Muscadine wine in Florida. I was ...
  A: Kevin, I know MA is a restricted state for wine shipments and so the southern wineries that produce ...
Wine Database8/8/2008
  Q: Joshua, Do you know where I can buy a database of all wines. We are designing a wine menu program ...
  A: Jeff, This is not really my area of expertise but I know that the major publications (Wine ...
Port8/7/2008
  Q: I have a bottle of port with a date of 1968 i bought this in portugal about 6 years ago as it was ...
  A: Ok, so It's a 25 year Reserve Port. Reserve Ports are very highly regarded and take many years ...
Port8/7/2008
  Q: I have a bottle of port with a date of 1968 i bought this in portugal about 6 years ago as it was ...
  A: Nick, 1968 was not a great vintage for Port and many houses did not even declare it (In Port like ...
Wine and Food8/6/2008
  Q: I will be shortly opening a bottle of Penfolds Grange and a Caymus Special Selection Cab. What food ...
  A: Okay so fairly young on both. They'll still show a lot of power and hints of tannin. Matching up ...
whats the vintage?8/6/2008
  Q: Need some help....I have an old bottle of Red Chassagne Montrachet, so old that the Vintage lable ...
  A: Shawn, You have only one hope of definitively determining the vintage for your bottle. Often the ...
Wine and Food8/5/2008
  Q: I will be shortly opening a bottle of Penfolds Grange and a Caymus Special Selection Cab. What food ...
  A: Mike, To really come up with the best food matches it's important know the vintaghes of the wines. ...
chianti superiore8/3/2008
  Q: i have 2 bottles of wine the first one is vintage 1961 tenuta affittacci giunti luigi chianti ...
  A: Mary, Of your two bottles, only one is wine. Creme de Menthe is a mint flavored liqueur. It is ...
Dom Perignon Champagne8/1/2008
  Q: I have a bottle of 1980 Cuvee Dom Perrignon Champagne, Moet et Chardon a Epernay. Product of France. ...
  A: Jeanette, I'm not sure where you live but in the U.S. selling alcohol directly to another person is ...
Travelling with Wine7/30/2008
  Q: I currently live in Kentucky, and I brought six bottles of wine home from a favorite winery in North ...
  A: Kathy, It usually takes longer than a few hours of bad storage (like a few weeks) to ruin a wine ...
Nuits St George 19767/28/2008
  Q: I have a case of Nuits St George Premier Cru 1976.Can you kindly tell me of its worth. Kind regards ...
  A: Derek, Ok, I'm very glad to hear that the wine has been well stored. Now, regarding the producer; A ...
flute vs champagne7/28/2008
  Q: Should I use champagne flutes or stems to serve champagne at my Parents 50th wedding anniversary ...
  A: Connie, The answer to this question may well be whatever your personal preference is. Personally, ...
auction house7/26/2008
  Q: that you could help me find a place to sell a few old bottles of wine that I recently came across
  A: Terry, The Chicago Wine Company in Wood Dale, IL is one of the best known wine auction houses in ...
Nuits St George 19767/26/2008
  Q: I have a case of Nuits St George Premier Cru 1976.Can you kindly tell me of its worth. Kind regards
  A: Derek, There are two things of the utmost importance regarding the valuation of your wine. The ...
1890 bottle of Port Wine7/23/2008
  Q: I have one bottle of 1890 Antonio Jose Da Silva, port wine from Portugal. It appears it was ...
  A: Ernest, In the late 1800's phyloxera had ravaged most of the vineyards in Portugal. Jose Da Silva ...
My bottle of Ice Wine is getting Cloudy7/16/2008
  Q: I have a bottle of IceWine ,Pinot Noir 1997 is getting cloudy, is it save to drink? I have not ...
  A: Chloe, I suspect your wines are in some kind of cooling cabinet, either a wine cellar or fridge. ...
Good 1969 Wine7/14/2008
  Q: I'd like to buy my wife a notable 1969 vintage for her 40th birthday. Can you recommend a good one?
  A: Jeff, In France the notable 1969's were Red Burgundies or Northern Rhones. A truly notable 1969 ...
1985 Bollinger7/10/2008
  Q: when we moved we came across a bottle of 1985 Bollinger and we were wondering whether it was worth ...
  A: Rebecca, Bollinger is a top producer and their vintage champagnes are always superb. With 1985 ...
Age of wines7/8/2008
  Q: I saw your response to another question about which wines age well. I have recently come into ...
  A: Liz, I feel comfortable saying you should trust your instincts. This list of wines is one which has ...
Dom Perginon7/4/2008
  Q: I have a 1993 bottle of Dom I have been hanging on to. It has remained in the box it came in, on ...
  A: Nelson, Champagne definitely can go bad if not stored properly. Like any wine proper storage ...
valuation &drinkability!6/13/2008
  Q: i have 1 bottle Vinho Maderia/Camara De Lobos, 1940 on label at neck also $16 price printed on same ...
  A: James, Sounds like what you have is a Madeira from a Solera started in 1940. A Solera is a system ...
vintage port 19776/12/2008
  Q: I have a bottle of vintage port named KOPKE QUINTA ST.LUIZ 1977 vintage port (portugal, its in good ...
  A: Lee, Kopke is a top producer and 1977 was a great vintage. I believe Kopke's vintage ports are all ...
champagne6/12/2008
  Q: i have a bottle of "reserve baron philippe de rothschild" 1971 it is in a black box with clear ...
  A: The bottle you describe is a very fine champagne; a rare special blend, produced in honor of the ...
Wine worth6/12/2008
  Q: I was given a bottle of wine some time ago. The wine is 1998 Carmel Merlot Private Collection. It ...
  A: Dave, Carmel is a well known Israeli winery producing kosher wines. Their Private Collection Merlot ...
wine stored at room temp6/6/2008
  Q: I have collected wines for about 12 years. I have stored them at room temp mostly for decoration. ...
  A: Susie, I can't say that I've never had a poorly stored bottle of wine I didn't like but, it becomes ...
aged wine expertise, please!6/4/2008
  Q: Good evening, I've come across a few aged wine bottles in storage, ranging from '88 thru 2001. ...
  A: Vicki, This quite a diverse list of wines you have here. If you've read any of my previously posted ...
Found this old 1977 wine in a chocolate factory6/3/2008
  Q: Josh i have this bottle of 1977 Chateau Kirnvan Grand Cru classe margaux looks to have two ...
  A: Marcel, It sound like what you have there is a 1977 Chateau Kirwan, Margaux. It is a Fourth Growth ...
drinkability of a older bottle of wine5/26/2008
  Q: I have a magnum of Rodney Strong Chardonnay (1996) that I've never gotten around to ...
  A: Ali Wines do age better in magnum than in 750ml bottles but even so I would expect that Chardonnay ...
Italian wines5/24/2008
  Q: I love wines like Bosc, Moscato & Saracco. Can you tell me where I can read more about these wines ...
  A: Tonja, These are Moscato d'Asti wines from Piedmont in Northern Italy. What makes them so appealing ...
celier des dauphins5/21/2008
  Q: a friend gave us a bottle of cellier des dauphins 1995to celebrate the birth of our daughter. it ...
  A: Deb, Your wine is modest one. The producer is a well know co-op that turns out thousands of bottles ...
Wine differences5/19/2008
  Q: is there any difference in taste, color, etc. between a wine from 2005 and 1950? PS these dates are ...
  A: Alan, I assume with your question you are trying to find out how wines change as they age, which is ...
Chateau Lagrange Wine5/19/2008
  Q: I was given a bottle of 1972 Chateau Lagrange Grand Cru Classe St-Julien (Medoc)Red Tqable Wine. ...
  A: Catherine, Chateau Lagrange is a Classified Bordeaux, which means it was included in the historic ...
Reisling5/14/2008
  Q: Should Reisling be drank cooled? I've just searched a lot online, and cannot find an answer to my ...
  A: Colin, The answer to your question is a resounding YES! Riesling like all good white wines should ...
Storing an opened bottle lying down?5/11/2008
  Q: I was recently told that an opened bottle of wine should be stored lying down in the fridge and that ...
  A: Elisabeth, You are correct. Once the bottle has been opened there is no advantage to storing it on ...
Chiroubles 19725/4/2008
  Q: I recently came across a bottle of wine with Chiroubles 1972 on the label. The label is in French ...
  A: Pamela, Your wine is a Cru Beaujolais from the village of Chiroubles. "Cru" Beaujolais are the ...
wine5/4/2008
  Q: I found and old bottle of 1982 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon in my cold cellar. Do you have any ...
  A: Jim, Even if your cellar is cold as your describe there is a very limited chance that your bottle ...
wine aging5/4/2008
  Q: I would like to give a gift of 3 bottles of wine to be opened long into the future, 5 years, 10 ...
  A: Marty, This sounds like a very nice gift, and the idea of opening a wine of a significant vintage ...
Marsala wine5/2/2008
  Q: How long will Marsala wine last in the refrigerator for cooking? Thank you.
  A: Maxine, Cooking wines for some people have to be just as good and pristine as drinking wines. In my ...
Muscadine wine4/27/2008
  Q: I want to buy a good muscadine wine, that has the best possible amount of resveratrol and ...
  A: Yvette, There are many wineries in the southeast that produce Muscadine wines. Interstate shipping ...
Discovering New Wines4/22/2008
  Q: I've been doing a little research on red and white wines and am curious to know if you might have ...
  A: Sean, Your question is by far the longest I have received so far. It’s good to see someone who is ...
Wine and age4/22/2008
  Q: I have a good friend of mine who has been storing a white wine for a very long time. It's a "1977 ...
  A: Jean, I have to agree with you entirely. As good as these wines may have been when your friend ...
marques de grinon crianza 20044/20/2008
  Q: my partner was give 6 bottles of wine, to which we drank one before looking at the label more ...
  A: Alison, Marques de Grinon is one of my favorite Rioja producers. Rioja is Spain's most famous wine ...
Wine....Shelf Life4/18/2008
  Q: I have the following: 1) Andre (California) Sparkling Burgundy (Over 15 years) 2) Gold Seal - New ...
  A: Debbie, If you were saving any of these for a special occasion the time has long since passed. The ...
Cranberry Juice4/17/2008
  Q: This may sound very strange, but there is nothing else I could find on the Internet. My boyfriend ...
  A: Chelsea, The answer to your question is yes, cranberry juice or any fruit juice can ferment and ...
value of bottle of wine4/14/2008
  Q: I have a bottle of wine my dad had before he passed away. It says: Vintage 1964, Mirafiore, ...
  A: Carol, Chianti Classico is a good wine and 1964 was an outstanding vintage, which may tell you why ...
wine of course4/12/2008
  Q: OK TWO PARTS. FIRST QUESTION, WHAT DOES VARIETAL MEAN? SECOND IN YOUR FRIENDLY OPINION, WHAT IS A ...
  A: Gabriel, In answer to the first part of your question, the word "varietal" means the grape variety. ...
ID a wine4/9/2008
  Q: I was given a bottle of 1969 Mouton-Cadet. At the top of the label it says "Baron Philippe de ...
  A: Gary, Mouton-Cadet is a generic Bordeaux wine produced by the owners of Mouton Rothschild. It is, ...
port wine4/4/2008
  Q: Does Port Wine need to be wine cellar stored after it is opened, and how long will it stay ...
  A: Bill, Once you've opened a bottle of Port it will not keep very much longer than any other opened ...
Vinitaly 20084/1/2008
  Q: My husband and I have intentions of opening a wine and gourmet food store in a few years but as for ...
  A: Julie, That's great. Be sure to schedule your time carefully. The event center is very large and ...
red wine4/1/2008
  Q: I have a bottle of wine that my wife mother gave to her its imported product of Madeira, Cossart ...
  A: Don, Cossart Gordon is perhaps the best and most famous producer of Madeira wines. Madeira's are ...
Vinitaly 20083/31/2008
  Q: My husband and I have intentions of opening a wine and gourmet food store in a few years but as for ...
  A: Julie, Unfortunately the answer to your question is no. Vinitaly is only open to people in the ...
Price of wines3/27/2008
  Q: I have several bottles of wines that I know nothing about and would like to have a little ...
  A: Johnny, You have three white wines and one red. The whites are all from Germanys' Nahe River Valley ...
What is the avg. shelf life of a bottle of unopened wine; and how long does wine last in decanter?3/25/2008
  Q: Assuming that I am storing my wine correctly (a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit, high humidity, no ...
  A: Lauren, This question is actually much more complicated than you may think. Because what it really ...
Pourers3/24/2008
  Q: This is a weird question, but I have recently jumped ship from buyer to distribution and I can't for ...
  A: Vannessa, Most bar supply places will have them. Here's one I found on the internet with a quick ...
Where to find wine3/23/2008
  Q: I was living in England for seven years and I was part of a club that I have seen mentioned on here ...
  A: Michelle, The laws are very different here than in Europe. In many states you're not allowed to ...
wine historyvalue3/23/2008
  Q: i have found a bottle of louis dubroco 1971 chateau des demoiselles red bordeaux wine at the back of ...
  A: Andy, The chateau is now owned by Heritiers Remy-M.Daut, who also own a property in Entre Deux Mers ...
refrigerator storage3/22/2008
  Q: I live in Miami, Florida, where there are no basements and homes have year-round air conditioning. ...
  A: Greg, Proper wine storage is all important for insuring that the wine you invest in will give you ...
wine3/20/2008
  Q: What wine would be good to bring to a dinner date.
  A: Matt, This is kind of a tough question to answer without some more information. Usually the first ...
Black tower wine3/16/2008
  Q: I have a bottle of Black Tower, imported white Rhine wine. Vintage 1977 from Germany. I was ...
  A: Rachel, Black Tower is an inexpensive German white wine produced for immediate consumption. It's ...
Beringer - White Merlot3/14/2008
  Q: What is the storage temperature for white merlot? Red is usually room temperature and rose' or ...
  A: Rita, Actually it's very simple. Ideal storage temperature for ALL wines (white, red, rose, ...
Paul Masson Rare Cream Sherry3/10/2008
  Q: I received a bottle of Paul Masson California Rare Cream Sherry. A label on the bottom of the bottle ...
  A: Larry, Paul Masson Rare Cream Sherry is a sweet California fortified wine. Fortified wines are ...
Wine Industry- New Wine3/10/2008
  Q: I have searched all over the internet and I am stumped as to where to start with my new wine. I have ...
  A: Jen, There are wineries that will produce wine for you for a price. There are generally minimum ...
i want to learn about a wine3/9/2008
  Q: i have a wine bottle that a friend gave me. it looks like a wickard basket made to the wine ...
  A: Lisa, Chianti is a wine region in Tuscany Italy. The wines produced there are named for the region, ...
Chianti Dante3/3/2008
  Q: i have just received a bottle of wine from 1975 called Chianti Dante a Italian red wine. It hasn't ...
  A: Chris, Although 1975 was a very good vintage for Chianti, the wines that are bottled in straw ...
How Old is my bottle of Mumm Brut?3/2/2008
  Q: I have an unopened bottle of G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut. Label # 23040471. How old is this? From ...
  A: Val, Non-Vintage Champagne is produced in great quantities every year. NV is a wine that is not ...
wine bottle3/1/2008
  Q: We have a large bottle in the shape of a rifle or gun approx 1 metre tall of unopened red wine. It ...
  A: Judy, This question isn't really about wine but about novelty glass and ceramic ware. Many of these ...
Age of a G.H. Mumm & co Cordon Rouge bottle2/26/2008
  Q: I found at an estate an unopened bottle of G.H. Mumm & co Cordon rouge. It appears very old but ...
  A: Val, Mumm Cordon Rouge is a non-vintage Champagne of average quality. It is not a wine that would ...
spiced wine2/25/2008
  Q: My roomate brought home some spiced wine in a big jug, not something i would normally ever have, ...
  A: If it tastes fine to you then enjoy it. The worst thing that happens to an open bottle of wine, is ...
Cognac2/23/2008
  Q: I have an old bottle of Cognac. We are unsure what date it is. We have tried researching this for ...
  A: Derek, Cognacs can be very special and exceptional spirits, although most commercially available ...
When to drink2/22/2008
  Q: I have a very special dinner tonight with my girlfriend and have some wines I've been saving for ...
  A: Brad, I hope this answer gets to you on time. If it didn't I hope your dinner was fabulous, any of ...
opening wine2/22/2008
  Q: what is the proper steps in opening wine for guests?
  A: Frank, Opening and serving a bottle of wine for guests or yourself is really very simple. If it is ...
Barolo2/16/2008
  Q: I have discovered a bottle of Cantine Villadoria Barola 1974 Special Reserve Candle bottle. Is it ...
  A: Eric, 1974 was a very good if not great vintage in Piedmont where Barolo is produced. Cantina ...
Good year for wine2/15/2008
  Q: Was 1968 a good year for any type of red wine? A friend turns 40 this year, and thought a nice ...
  A: Jennifer, A birth year wine is always a nice and special gift, but it poses two challenges. First, ...
Wine prices2/12/2008
  Q: i inherited 2 bottles of red wine & would like to know what it's worth, from south Africa: KWV ...
  A: Eloise, We get many questions about the value of older bottles of wine that people have either come ...
Wine Box2/11/2008
  Q: I have a box I assume it's a wine box, that has on the side of it Borges Oporto, Vintage Port, 1945, ...
  A: Sheree, The box itself only really offers whatever value you'd place on a wooden box of its size ...
champagne2/10/2008
  Q: we got a 1975 bottle of perrier-jouet for a wedding present 25 year ago and were going to open it ...
  A: Margaret, Vintage champagne is a wine that is very ageable. It develops richness and complexity ...
wine with seafood manicotti2/8/2008
  Q: what would be the best kind of wine to serve with seafood manicotti?
  A: The best wine to pair with this dish will depend on a couple of things. If the dish is served with ...
Empty Chianti bottles2/6/2008
  Q: I'm looking for empty Chianti bottles to use as decorations. Any chance you might know where I ...
  A: Well Colleen, since wine bottles aren't something you can run out and buy (unless they have wine in ...
Is Secondary fermentation necessary for making wine at home?1/27/2008
  Q: Is Secondary fermentation necessary for making wine at home?
  A: If you're making wine at home you want primary fermentation to take place by adding yeast to your ...

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