Merlot vs Zinfandel

When it comes to red wines, comparing Merlot vs Zinfandel makes sense. These are two widely available (and popular) red wines. Zinfandel is fuller-bodied with higher alcohol and tannin than Merlot. Zin has raisin notes. Merlot has a medium body, tannins, and alcohol, and plum notes. TL;DR: Zinfandel’s a bigger wine than Merlot. If you […]

Food with Wine Pairing: 6 Simple Flavors

If you’ve found this post, you’re probably a wine lover and also a bit of a foodie. I often get asked how to pair wine and food, or what wines I like to serve with food, so I thought I’d share. A food’s dominant flavor will affect your perceptions of wine. 6 flavors – bitter, […]

Why Blend Wines? 7 Practical Reasons

You’re used to seeing wine labels that list wines by grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Chardonnay. You’ve also seen the more generic ‘blend’ on a label, with nary a mention of the grapes inside. But why do winemakers blend wine in the first place? Blending is one of the few practical tools a winemaker has […]

Wines for Beginners: 6 Great Picks

If you’re just getting started with wine, fear not! Here are 6 bottles anyone can find if you’re starting at square one: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Zinfandel, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon – and here’s why you want to start with these wines.