Gamay: A Comprehensive Guide
Pronunciation: gah-MAY Gamay, a red wine varietal, finds itself at home in the Beaujolais region. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or a curious beginner, this comprehensive guide introduces you to Gamay. What Kind of Wine Is Gamay? Gamay is a light-bodied red with moderate acidity, soft tannins, and moderate alcohol. It offers a style that […]
Cabernet Franc: A Comprehensive Guide
Pronunciation: kah-buhr-NAY FRAHNK Cabernet Franc, a red wine varietal, embodies rustic charm. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or a curious beginner, this comprehensive guide introduces you to Cabernet Franc. What Kind of Wine is Cabernet Franc? Cabernet Franc is a medium-bodied red with medium acid, medium to pronounced tannins, and medium alcohol. It often falls […]
Beginner’s Wine Terminology Guide
Understanding wine terminology will help you pick wines you love. Wine terms cover structure, flavors, winemaking, and vineyard vocabulary. Here’s a quick wine terminology guide to get you started. Wine Tasting Terminology If you head out for an afternoon of wine tasting, or swirl and sip with enough wine lovers, you’ll start to pick up […]
Easiest Appetizers for Wine Tasting: 14 Great Picks
If you’re in the habit of hosting last-minute wine tastings, or just not that into cooking, then you’ll want super easy appetizer options. The easiest appetizers for wine tastings are pre-packaged, shelf-stable, or easy to grab and go. Foods like popcorn, chips, cheese, olives, and even sushi are great appetizer options that complement wine tastings. […]
Touriga Franca Wine: Quick Guide
Pronounced tore-EE-gah FRAN-kah. Anyone who’s a fan of big red wines should take the time to learn about Portugal’s unique red wine grapes. Like Touriga Franca. Touriga Franca (also called Touriga Francesa) is a native grape of northern Portugal in the Douro and Dão regions. Touriga Franca’s primarily used as a blending grape in Port […]
Is Malbec the Same as Cabernet Franc? Malbec vs Cabernet Franc
Characteristics Malbec Cabernet Franc Hue Deep purple to black Ruby red to deep purple Color Red to black Red Aromas Blue fruits, plum, cocoa Red berries, violets, peppery Tannins Medium to Medium +, smooth Firm, grippy Acid Moderate Moderate to high Alcohol (%) 13-15% 12-15% Body Medium to full Medium to full Intensity Pronounced Moderate […]
What’s Better? DOCG, DOC, IGT, and VdT Italian Wines
Reading Italian wine labels can feel a little cryptic, especially if you’re standing in the wine aisle of your local store and holding two bottles that look essentially the same. If you want the highest quality Italian wines, then choose a DOCG Italian wine, sometimes written out as Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita. DOC […]
30 Second Tasting Tip: How Do You Identify Red Wine Flavors?
You can divide red wine fruit flavors into 3 broad categories: red fruits, black fruits, and blue fruits. Here’s your 30-second tasting tip to get you started.
Exploring Priorat Red Wines
Tucked away in the northeast corner of Spain, Priorat boasts an ancient wine-growing culture rooted in Catalunya’s history. Priorat red wine blends use Garnacha Tinta and Samsó (Cariñena), producing high alcohol, deep, rich red wines with red fruit, black fruit, and spice. Priorat employs the “Els Noms de la Terra” classification system, featuring five wine […]
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 […]