Light Red Wines
If the thought of a teeth-staining, tannic Cabernet leaves you wanting to order iced tea instead of wine, then you’ll want to check out these lighter styles of vino. Light red wines have lower tannins, a lighter body, and usually less alcohol than fuller-bodied reds. Light styles of red wine include Pinot Noir, Gamay, Schiava, […]
Best Red Wine for Casual Drinking
Confession. I drink wine. A lot of wine. Most of the wine I drink I’d consider ‘casual’… and also red. The best red wine for casual drinking is one that doesn’t need to be aged or decanted. These red wines need to be easy to find, affordable, and easy to pair. The best red wines […]
8 Types of Red Spanish Wine to Try Tonight
If you’ve recently discovered Spanish wine, or are just starting to decant this historic wine producing country, then you’re in for a treat! Famous types of Spanish red wine include Rioja, Priorat, Ribera del Duero, which are regions and wines. Mencía, Bobal, Monastrell, Mazuelo, and Listán Negro are delicious Spanish red wine grapes. Red Spanish […]
Gewürztraminer Wine: Quick Guide
If you’re ready to move beyond Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, then I’d like to introduce you to Gewürztraminer (pronounced guh-VERTZ-trah-mee-ner), one of my favorite grapes. Gewürztraminer makes dry to off-dry, aromatic white wines that smell like lychee and spice. Originally from Germany, Gewürztraminer today grows widely in Alsace, France. Pair Gewürztraminer with soft cheeses, […]
Chablis Wine
Wine naming conventions can be confusing, especially when the wine goes by a growing region and not a grape. Chablis (shah-blee) wines are made from 100% Chardonnay grapes in north-central France. Chablis is a dry white wine with high acid, green apple and citrus notes. Chablis is typically unoaked with a mineral quality making it […]
Does Champagne Have Sugar?
Champagne’s one of those complicated wines where a simple answer never suffices. Champagnes can be sugar-free (e.g., Brut Nature) or have varying sugar levels (e.g., Doux). Most contain 9-12g/L to balance high acidity. A standard glass of Champagne has around ½ tsp of sugar (0.42 – 0.56 tsp). But why does Champagne even have sugar? […]
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 […]
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 Is Medoc Wine?
Shopping for French wines can be a little cryptic. The wine labels often have regions instead of grapes on them, making it hard to figure out what wine style you’re buying. If you have a label with ‘Medoc’ on it, here’s what that means. Medoc wine is a red wine from the Bordeaux region of […]
Is Spumante a Champagne?
Ah! The world of wine seems to swirl with more jargon than wine in your glass! The vocabulary specific to sparkling wine is no exception and can be particularly tricky. Spumante isn’t Champagne. Spumante is an Italian wine word for sparkling wines made in Italy that are greater than 3 atmospheres of pressure (ATM). Examples […]