What Is Madeira Wine?
Madeira offers wine lovers a unique drink that has a rich connection to the past worthy of exploration. Madeira is a sweet, fortified wine made on Portugal’s island of Madiera. Madeira’s unique winemaking process heats the wine during aging, creating flavors of caramel, dried citrus peel, hazelnut, and praline. Here’s an overview of what Madeira […]
How Is Port Made?
Port wines have a prestigious heritage in the world of fortified wines and should definitely be in your wine-drinking repertoire. Port is made by adding distilled grape spirit called aguardente during the fermentation process. This results in a sweet fortified wine. Only wines made in Portugal’s Douro Valley can be called Port. There are many […]
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 […]
What Is Tinta Roriz Wine?
If you know only a little bit about wine, you’ve heard of Tinta Roriz (even if you’ve never actually heard of Tinta Roriz). Tinta Roriz is the name used for Tempranillo in northern Portugal. The grape is polyonymous and goes by different names in different regions. Tinta Roriz makes dry red wines and is also […]
Touriga Nacional: Quick Guide
Pronounced: tore-ee-gah naw-see-oh-nahl If you’re holding a bottle of Touriga Nacional right now, please invite me over. Seriously. Touriga Nacional is a black wine grape native to Northern Portugal. Winemakers use Touriga Nacional as a main blending grape in age-worthy sweet fortified Port wines, as well as fine dry red table wines. Touriga Nacional wines […]
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). […]
White Spanish Wine: 9 Must-Try Whites
We all know and love Spanish red wines – the famous Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Rioja, but what about Spanish white wines? If you want to try white Spanish wines, look for Albariño, Godello, Rioja Blanca, Verdejo, Macabeo, and Cava. Don’t overlook Andalucia’s traditional Sherry. Spanish white wines pair well with tapas. Looking for a unique […]
Albariño Wine Guide
Honest confession time. Albariño is the one wine that I always have challenges with on blind tasting exams. Albariño (al-bah-reen-yo) is a refreshing, light-bodied white Spanish wine from the northwestern corner of Spain in the region of Rias Baixas, Galicia. Albariño wines showcase lemon zest, apricot, melon, grapefruit, white peach, nectarine, and honeysuckle. You may […]
What Is Vin Doux Naturel Wine?
Sweet wines have something of a tarnished reputation in today’s popular drinking culture. Perhaps it’s an unfortunate hangover from the cheap sweet plonk that flooded the markets in the ‘70s and ‘80s. But not all sweet wines should be so easily dismissed. Vin doux naturel, or ‘natural sweet wine’, is a traditional sweet wine from […]
What Does Old Wine Smell Like?
Old wine will smell like dried fruit instead of fresh fruit and have an intoxicating mix of savory qualities, like tobacco, jerky, and balsamic vinegar. Here’s what you need to know!