Winemakers

We’ve talked about Pinot Noir in the past: anyone who loves wine is capable of talking about this grape until their faces turn blue. We know it makes amazing reds, whites, and takes part in some of the most popular sparklers of all time. But what about rosé? Is rosé wine, so often relegated to

Is it true that Syrah by any other name would taste as… uh… good? We’re going to put that to the test today with Syrah’s Australian nom de plume, Shiraz. That’s right: like Zinfandel (Primitivo), Grenache (Garnacha), and Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris), Shiraz is one of those grapes that has an alias depending on where

When it comes to French sparklers, Champagne gets all of the attention. But anyone who’s looking for sparkling wine that’s just as lovingly crafted can find it all over France in the form of Crémant. And while Crémant is often largely known for being a more affordable alternative to its expensive cousin, its many styles

Can you drink wine on a diet? Some of us can and some can’t. Let’s find out which wines work for a healthy diet and some other important facts about wine versus your health. [embedded content][embedded content]Wine might not have a nutrition label but that doesn’t mean it is calorie-free. Can You Drink Wine on

Is there any wine in the world more argued over than Chardonnay? It’s one of the only grapes that has a cleverly negative acronym assigned to it: ABC (“Anything But Chardonnay”). And yet, it’s responsible for some of the greatest wines in the world (Chablis, Champagne, etc.). Let’s taste one of its more popular iterations

Pairing wine and spaghetti is one of the best food experiences you could possibly hope for – rich spices, fresh vegetables, endless variety. It’s delicious eating Italian for the day, so dive in and explore the best wines for spaghetti. The Best Wine For Spaghetti Of course, you don’t need a holiday like National Spaghetti

You’ve got to love the classic tale of the underdog who gets out from under their parents’ thumb and makes a name for themselves on their own terms. Maybe that’s why Malbec’s so popular. It’s a grape that went far from its roots and still made one heck of a splash. It’s a French wine

Different countries and cultures ring in the New Year with the same hopes for luck and prosperity, and each has delicious traditions that demand a perfect wine. Find your favorite New Year’s wine pairing tradition! Try pairing wine to these classic New Year’s cuisines. New Year’s Wine Pairings From Around The World Every culture around

Drinking deliciously aged fortified wine sounds great, but what happens if you haven’t had a bottle in the cellar since you were a teenager? Not to fear, because the makers of Tawny Port have done the aging for you. All that’s left to do is choose the style that fits your palate. How To Choose

This week, we’re tasting a truly iconic New World wine: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. With this popular style, you’re going to see exactly how big of a roller coaster a seemingly simple white wine can be. What is the Tasting Challenge? The challenge is a way to improve your wine palate each week with 34

When you look back on 2020, you may not be able to fight the urge to drink directly from the decanter. No one’s judging you. [embedded content][embedded content]What really happened in wine in 2020? Reality is stranger than fiction. There’s Never Enough Wine – Year of Wine In Review (2020) You can’t hurry through a

Ever fall in love with a diva? Then you might know a thing or two about Pinot Noir. It’s fickle, it’s difficult to work with, and it’s been known to throw in the towel at the first sign of trouble. So why do so many winemakers put up with its crap? Because this diva can

In this week’s tasting challenge we’re sipping on Bordeaux. Through one of the world’s most popular blends, you’ll discover how different grapes complement each other to make something exciting and unique. What is the Tasting Challenge? The challenge is a way to improve your wine palate each week with 34 wines from 12 countries —

This 12-bottle wine advent calendar of France doesn’t have a fancy box, but it’s not about the box–it’s about the wine inside! [embedded content][embedded content]The secret to French wines starts with the regions. Discover France with Wine Folly Madeline Puckette from Wine Folly and Master of Wine Vanessa Conlin from Wine Access worked together to

Time to expand your palate again, with the grape that put Germany on the map: Riesling. During the tasting challenge’s 4th week, you’ll learn about the careful partnership between sweetness and acidity that leads to a well-balanced wine. What is the Tasting Challenge? The challenge is a way to improve your wine palate each week

Have you ever had a wine that tasted like eating the entire menu of an Italian restaurant all at once? That’s what you’ll get out of this week’s challenge. What is the Tasting Challenge? The challenge is a way to improve your wine palate each week with 34 wines from 12 countries — The Wine

Few things are as exciting as the come-from-behind winner, the one you didn’t expect – the dark horse. In that spirit, these red wines from Southern Italy aren’t well-known, but once you’ve tried them, you just might give them the crown. 8 Dark Horse Red Wines From Southern Italy This region is where Greek and

Challenge your palate this week with France’s best-known Gamay-based wine: Beaujolais. You’ll learn that even the highest quality wine of a region can balance complexity with accessibility and fun. What is the Tasting Challenge? The challenge is a way to improve your wine palate each week with 34 wines from 12 countries — The Wine

Wine body is defined by how heavy and rich a wine tastes. It’s a combination of several factors: grape variety, alcohol level, and even sweetness level. If you’re trying to find new favorites, wine body is a great way to differentiate grape varieties to find your style preference. Let’s break down the different body styles

Expand your palate with Spain’s answer to Champagne: Cava. This week’s tasting challenge explores a delicious bubbly that offers surprising value. What is the Tasting Challenge? The challenge is a way to improve your wine palate each week with 34 wines from 12 countries — The Wine Tasting Challenge. This week we taste a Cava

Whether you’re just starting your wine journey or are WSET certified, one of the best ways to sharpen your palate is through the Wine Tasting Challenge. The goal is to taste a new wine each week for 34 weeks to super-charge your wine smarts. Complete The Wine Tasting Challenge It’s important to start with good

Despite what might look like a classic dogs vs cats alley fight to some, wine people vs beer people actually have plenty in common. But you can’t deny that these two tribes have some pretty obvious differences. In the interest of not taking either of these libations too seriously, let’s take a look at 7

For a wine region built on tourism, Napa Valley has had a rough vintage. Let’s take a deeper look into what happened this year and how to help. (PS it involves our favorite thing: wine!) Napa Valley: Quench The Wildfires With Wine In Napa Valley, COVID-19 shuttered businesses for 81 days straight. Then, tourism was

It has been quite a year for all of us. Tasting close to two hundred 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape wines has certainly made the year much more bearable. Overall, I was surprised at how much I liked the vintage. Having been in Chateauneuf in June 2018, I saw the incredible toll the mildew was having

Looking for clean wines? Let’s explore some of the fears around wine additives and sulfites and find out what’s actually giving you a headache. Are “Clean Wines” Really Clean? Many wines claim to be “clean” but are they? Also, are natural wines clean? As we’ll soon find out, there’s very little transparency about this topic,

For those looking for wine-buying inspiration, the 2020 Wine Buying Guide is a handy overview organized by style so you can find what you like. This year we honor the classics. Learn what varieties and regions are known for excellent quality along with a few added examples to get you started. 2020 Wine Buying Guide

Special Classification: An AOC might be further specified for quality at this point, indicating a Cru, which refers to a specific vineyard or group of vineyards typically recognized for quality. Where Did the AOC Come From? In an effort to control the reputation of wine and other cultural foods, France established the INAO in 1935.

For those who love a rich Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc-Sémillon blends are a rare white wine well worth investigating. In this video we compare two regions (Bordeaux and Washington State) that make Sauvignon Blanc-Sémillon blends into a lusciously rich style. [embedded content][embedded content]The secret to French Wines starts with their wine regions Most people know Sauvignon

Hummus and wine pairings is just the beginning. Middle Eastern food provides a variety of dishes containing many fresh ingredients that work for an array of wine pairings. It’s also incredibly versatile! For example, while some dishes contain meat, there are many that are vegetarian and vegan-friendly. And with that variety, you bet you can

Unless you want its fruity and floral aromas to become those of cooked cabbage, wet cardboard and wet dog, make sure your wine and sunlight stay far away from each other. Keep reading for more on this and what else you can do to protect your wine. Does Sunlight Effect Wine? Did you know that