Merlot Vegetarian Food Paring: 10 Great Options
Merlot is one of my all-time favorite wines, which is a good thing because I make Merlot every year and have a lot to drink! The best vegetarian dishes to pair with Merlot don’t have to be difficult. Food pairings that have earthy flavors and rich fat cheese or oil will compliment Merlot’s plump, plummy […]
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, […]
A Good Red Wine for Beginners
Red wines are a little intimidating. They come in such a divergent range of profiles and flavors, that it’s no wonder you can stand in front of an isle of 100 different wines and decide it’s better to walk away empty handed. A good red wine for beginners helps you learn about different grape profiles. […]
11 Strong Red Wines to Try Tonight!
So, you’re looking for a red wine with a little brawn to it? Something that will bite back with your BBQ brisket? Climate and grape variety both play a role in crafting strong red wines. Widely available good strong red wines with high alcohol include Zinfandel, warm climate Cabernet Sauvignon, and new world Syrah (Shiraz). […]
12 WSET Diploma Test Taking Strategies: Unit 3
If you’re a WSET Diploma student, you know that the Unit 3 Exam, Wines of the World, is a beast of a test. As soon as I walked out of the exam room, I wrote down EXACTLY what I would have done differently to better prepare myself. While there’s no substitute for actually knowing the […]
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 […]
Are Wine Grapes Edible?
Not only are wine grapes edible, but tasting wine grapes is actually one way that winemakers decide when to harvest. Wine grapes are much smaller, much softer, and much sweeter than table grapes – and you’d be surprised by the size of their large seeds. If you ever get the chance to try fresh wine grapes, go ahead and give them a munch.
What Does Vintage Mean on Wine?
If you hang around wine people long enough, you’re bound to hear a wide range of strange new vocabulary bandied about: sur lee, grippy tannins, and legs. One noteworthy word is vintage, which technically refers to a number. While numerically expressed as a year, the vintage actually refers to the growing conditions over an entire […]
What Is Carmenere Wine?
Originally from Bordeaux, the best Carmenere wines are from Chile. Check out this dry red wine’s quirky backstory and tips to find delicious Carmenere wines.