If you need a wine that works for a mixed group, stop looking for a magical bottle that literally everyone will love. That wine does not exist. What does exist is a shortlist of styles that are much less likely to divide the room. In most cases, the safest picks are crisp whites, soft reds,…
Wine barrels matter because they do far more than just hold wine. They change texture, shape aroma, soften structure, and influence how a wine develops over time. But “barrel-aged” does not mean one single thing. The type of oak, the size of the barrel, the toast level, and whether the barrel is new or already…
Wine bottles look simple until you start paying attention to them. Then you realize they are full of clues. Shape, size, shoulder line, glass thickness, and even the bottom of the bottle can tell you something about tradition, region, style, or intended use. Not everything about a bottle is deeply meaningful, but not everything is…
Pairing wine with fish sounds simple until you actually try to do it well. “White wine with fish” is not wrong, but it is far too broad to be useful. Delicate white fish, oily salmon, raw tuna, buttery lobster, spicy fish tacos, and fried cod do not all need the same bottle. If you treat…
This article is not sponsored by, nor affiliated with, Coravin. Coravin is a trademark of Coravin, Inc. The Coravin wine preservation system can be brilliant, but it is not automatically for everyone. If you like opening expensive bottles without feeling forced to finish them, compare wines over time, or serve premium wines by the glass,…
If you need to chill wine fast, do not just throw the bottle in the freezer and hope for the best. The quickest reliable method is usually an ice bucket or bowl filled with ice, water, and a little salt. It chills the bottle more evenly, works faster than plain ice on its own, and…
Grape harvest is one of the most important decisions in winemaking because it sets the tone for everything that follows. The moment grapes are picked affects sugar, acidity, tannin ripeness, flavor, alcohol potential, freshness, and even how the wine will age. By the time the fruit reaches the cellar, many of the biggest stylistic choices…
Orange wine is not made from oranges. It is white wine made like a red wine, with the juice left in contact with the grape skins for far longer than in standard white winemaking. That one decision changes almost everything. It deepens the color, builds tannin, alters the texture, and often pulls the wine into…
Wine critics still matter, even if their power is not quite as absolute as it once was. A strong review can raise a producer’s profile, influence what collectors chase, shape restaurant buying, and push curious drinkers toward bottles they might otherwise ignore. But not all critics do the same job, and not all of them…
“Meditation wine” is one of those wine phrases that sounds vague until you experience it properly. It does not mean a wine that magically relaxes you or turns a glass into a wellness ritual. It means a wine that invites slow drinking, focus, and attention. A wine you do not rush. A wine you come…
