Chardonnay vs Sauvignon Blanc: What Will You Drink Tonight?
If you’re exploring white wines, then Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are an obvious starting point. These two French white wines couldn’t be more different. Chardonnay is richer with fuller body, while Sauvignon Blanc has medium body, intense fruit, and high acid. Chardonnay offers citrus, apple, peach, and pineapple flavors, while Sauvignon Blanc has gooseberry, passionfruit, […]
Chenin Blanc vs Chardonnay: Which Is Better?
Both Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay are classic French white wines, but just what sets them apart? Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay produce dry white wines. Chenin Blanc is versatile, offering off-dry and dessert options, with higher acid, lighter body, and intense aromas of pear, melon, and quince. Chardonnay, softer in acid and heavier-bodied, exhibits citrus, apple, […]
Touriga Nacional: Quick Guide
Pronounced: tore-ee-gah naw-see-oh-nahl If you’re holding a bottle of Touriga Nacional right now, please invite me over. Seriously. Touriga Nacional is a black wine grape native to Northern Portugal. Winemakers use Touriga Nacional as a main blending grape in age-worthy sweet fortified Port wines, as well as fine dry red table wines. Touriga Nacional wines […]
What’s Vermentino? Everything You Wanted to Know About Vermentino Wine
Vermentino (pronounced vur-men-tee-no) I recently enjoyed a Vermentino as an afternoon aperitif ahead of a large family meal. Our little bottle of Vermentino hailed from Napa, of all places, which was unexpected. Vermentino, a thin-skinned Italian white grape, is grown in Sardinia, Liguria, Corsica, and Provence (known as Rolle). It shares a high-acid style with […]
15 Fun Champagne Facts
Whether you’re getting ready to host your next wine trivia night, or are just curious about the sparkles in your glass, here are 15 fun Champagne facts to pair with your next bottle of bubbles. 1. Champagne wine can only come from Champagne, France The European Union takes its trademarks seriously, and Champagne is a […]
Malbec Wine: A Comprehensive Guide
Everyone loves the story of an underdog. An endurance trial to come back against all odds, winning favor and acclaim. Malbec (pronounced Mal-beck) is the underdog of wine. Once a widely-planted grape throughout France, this grape suffered catastrophic losses in the mid-20th century due to frost damage and was left by the wayside. But across […]
What Makes a Wine a Bordeaux?
When someone says ‘Bordeaux’, what exactly do they mean? Bordeaux (Bore-doh) can be a place, a wine, or even a wine style. Bordeaux wines, mostly red blends, originate from France’s Bordeaux region on the Atlantic coast. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carménère, and Malbec in varying proportions, these wines […]
What Is Barossa Wine?
Australia’s Barossa zone is known for rich, powerful Shiraz wines that account for 50% of the region’s plantings, as well as elegant Rieslings grown higher up in the Eden Valley. Check out Barossa’s classic offerings.
Riesling: A Comprehensive Guide
Pronunciation: REE-sling If you’ve tried one Riesling, I guarantee you haven’t tried them all! Riesling makes high acid, aromatic white wines with notes of citrus, stone, and petrol. Riesling makes dry to sweet dessert wines and sparkling sekt. Riesling pairs well with fusion cuisine that marries spice and flavor. Here’s what you need to know […]
What Is Phylloxera And Why Is It Important?
At some point in everyone’s wine journey, they run into cryptic references of phylloxera. What is it and why is it such a big deal? Phylloxera is an aphid-like insect (a louse) that feeds on grapevine roots, killing the grapevine. The insect traveled from Eastern North America to Europe, devastating vineyards in the late 1800s. […]