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. […]
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 […]
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). […]
Negroamaro: A Comprehensive Guide
I was in the local bottle shop the other day talking to a man hanging out in the Italian wine section. He was looking for a one-off Italian red wine, and I suggested a Negroamaro-based Salice Salentino DOC wine. Never heard of Negroamaro or Salice Salentino before? You’re not alone! The thick-skinned Italian black wine […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Is Prosecco Just Cheap Champagne? Nope
If you’ve gone shopping for a bottle of bubbly, you already know that the price difference between bottles can make your eyes pop! The two famous sparkling wines, Prosecco and Champagne, differ in more ways than just price. Champagne’s marginal growing climate and strict regulations for limited yields, hand harvesting, and involved winemaking processes all […]
Uncorking Nebbiolo Wines of Northern Italy
Nebbiolo, at home in northwestern Italy, is a classic grape first referenced all the way back in the 1200s! Today, this red grape crafts some of the world’s greatest food-friendly wines. Here’s what you need to know about this dry red wine of Italy.