There are many reasons to love wine. When we sip from a glass, inhale the aroma and feel the myriad flavors dancing on our tongue, we often find ourselves transported to another place. Drinking a good Tuscan wine is like lazing in the mid-afternoon Italian sunshine, Bordeaux takes us into a hazy world of scintillating conversation and rustic, French joie de vivre, Californian wines are full of the spirit of the breezy Pacific coastline. For those of us interested in wine, we can explore the … [Read more...]
Some of the most loved wines in the world are not 100% varietals, but blends of numerous grapes. Take Burgundy or Rioja, for example, both of which are prized by collectors to a huge extent and can often fetch quite a bit of money per bottle. Bordeaux finds itself on this list as well, and some Bordeaux can be impossibly expensive. This leads many people to believe that such winds simply aren’t for them, which is a true shame. If you’re looking for value and similar flavor profiles to what comes … [Read more...]
If there’s one thing that turns many people away from wine, it’s the fact that so much of the world’s great wine can carry extremely high price tags. It’s true, as anyone who has worked to build a collection of Burgundy knows all too well, but that’s not to say that excellent values can’t be found if you know where to look. What if we were to tell you that it was possible to find benchmark examples of reds and whites for under $20? If you’re willing to leave France and shop wines from Portugal, … [Read more...]
Anyone who has ever driven across America knows that the country is filled with incredible vistas and sights that beg to seen. California’s Sierra Foothills fall into this category splendidly, and wine lovers have a lot to gain from learning more about the area. The epicenter of the California Gold Rush, the Sierra Foothills region is full of wineries, many of which are putting out some of California’s best products. Not familiar with the Sierra Foothills region of California? There are … [Read more...]
Spain is one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Millions of tourists flock to Spain every year, many of whom are primarily concerned with tasting some of the incredible food and drink the country is known for. It’s no secret that Spanish wine offers some of the best values in the industry, and many people come to fall in love with the handful of regions spread out throughout the country. While every region throughout Spain has something to offer, there are some that stand apart as being … [Read more...]
Wine - it’s a magical, wonderful drink. The essence of the land, some might say, preserved in a set of endlessly variant liquids, which range from the palest green to the deepest, inkiest purple. Wine has been drunk for a very, very long time - indeed, it’s been one of the few constant and continuing products in circulation since the very dawn of human civilization - but the wine we drink today doesn’t bear a huge amount of resemblance to its ancient forebears. It wasn’t so long ago that all … [Read more...]
New York City is considered by many people to be the cultural center of the universe, and for good reason. There’s plenty to love about living in or visiting NYC, chief among the benefits being some of the best dining and drinking establishments the world has to offer. Wine lovers will understandably find themselves at home in the big city—especially those who have a penchant for nightlife. If you find yourself out and about in NYC, be sure to make your way to one of the following wine bars, … [Read more...]
Meritage is one of the newest words in wine. You may have seen it while browsing through your local wine shop, especially if you favor Californian wines. But what exactly can you expect from a Meritage wine? The answer is a New World style of one the world’s oldest and most beloved styles of wine, Bordeaux. Given its popularity and relative affordability, Meritage is a blend you don’t want to miss out on. Keep reading to find out more! History of Meritage Wine In the 1980s, even though New … [Read more...]
Anyone who finds themselves learning more about wine will eventually find themselves encountering Bordeaux. For some, Bordeaux is the ultimate expression of terroir and quality, which is why bottles can sell not for hundreds of dollars, but for multiple thousands. Learning this is often a point of division for those who want to start collecting Bordeaux, as it can seem as if bottles that cost under a certain price point aren’t worth buying. That is, until you realize that there are countless … [Read more...]
Champagne is synonymous with sparkling, effervescent wines, and it’s no wonder. Over the course of more than a century, the big Champagne houses have spent billions of dollars in advertising to make sure that when people think of celebration, luxury, and bubbles, they immediately think of Champagne. But the wines of Champagne were not born sparkling, and there are several non-effervescent wines that are traditional to the region. From sophisticated vin clairs to vin de liquors, these wines … [Read more...]
Now, we’re all wine lovers here. We all love this beautiful drink, and take pleasure in navigating our way through its many wonders, its eccentricities, quirks and oddities. However, I’ve recently found myself speaking to members of my family who don’t share my enthusiasm for fine vino, and I was a little saddened (although not really surprised) to find that one of the main factors which puts them off is the language of wine. Why would this be the case? Well, for some reason, wine is unlike … [Read more...]
It’s becoming easier with each passing year for people to learn more about wine through hands-on experience. More and more wineries are opening up their doors to the public, offering tours, tastings and a bit of historical background to help inform their customers about what they’re drinking. As the proliferation of wineries continues to increase, “wine trails” that connect wineries along a path throughout a state or region are forming inadvertently. A new type of wine tourism is popping up, and … [Read more...]
As with anything else that gets people engaged in heated conversation, the subject of wine is one loaded with misinformation. Be it out of superstition, confusion or otherwise, wine “experts” often make strong assertions that pigeonhole the way people end up enjoying the beverage. One of the most common misconceptions that all red wine needs to be served at room temperature, and all white wine needs to be chilled. There are plenty of instances when these guidelines make sense, until you … [Read more...]
Riesling is one of the most divisive wines on the face of the planet. There are just as many people who absolutely hate Riesling as those who adore it, and the vast majority of those who think they don’t like the grape have only been exposed to overly sweet versions of the wine. The fact is that Rieslings can vary dramatically in sweetness, with some finishing bone dry and being the perfect complement for cuisines that are typically hard to pair. While most people associate Riesling with Germany … [Read more...]
Wine is almost unique in the world of food and drink. It is one of the only things in this particular sphere which comes with a seriously lengthy list of rules, regulations, guidelines, suggestions and points of etiquette attached. While this can be equally annoying, bewildering and intimidating, It isn’t actually as bad as it used to be; the rules surrounding wine have actually relaxed considerably over the past couple of decades, and a lot of the elitism surrounding vino has eroded and … [Read more...]
The amount of vineyards scattered across the world has grown significantly over the course of the past hundred years. Today, there are countless options to choose from for those who are interested in seeing some of the world’s most beautiful wineries, many of which offer stunning views that are ideal for taking in while relaxing with a glass of wine. Whether you’re planning a full-stop vineyard tour or are simply looking to take a trip to somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit, there’s a winery … [Read more...]
Ah, Provence. The sheer mention of the name brings with it an Old World mystique that makes wine lovers drool and lose sight of what they’re focusing on at the moment. Within Provence, however, are a number of different sub-areas that characterize the region, many of which are responsible for the proliferation of some of the world’s finest wines. The fishing village of Bandol, west of Toulon, is case in point. If you’re new to Bandol wines, there’s a lot to learn, but only one thing you need … [Read more...]
When it comes to European wines, some countries seem to hog the limelight. Every wine store in the world stocks French wine, and like it or not, this is unlikely to change. The French have long held something of a monopoly on our understanding of sophistication, and their wine is part and parcel of this. Italy, too, is featured on the shelves of shops and supermarkets the world over, as is Spain, with their fiery, passionate red wines bursting with deep, earthy complexities. One country … [Read more...]
When people think of wine producing regions in America, California (particularly Napa Valley) is the first the first place to come to mind. It should come as no surprise, either, as some of the best wines in the country are produced in Napa and the surrounding area. The unfortunate side-effect of a focus on Napa, however, is that some of the many other great wine producing areas go overlooked. For wine lovers who aren’t afraid to learn more about America’s “deep cut” wine destinations, … [Read more...]
It would be fair to assume that most people, when asked, would categorize wine as a beverage. After all, its main function is to be savored, sip by sip, perhaps alongside a meal or simply on its own at the end of a stressful day. Wine is more than just a simple libation, however, it’s a secret weapon in cooking and can be found in all of the world’s best kitchens alongside stocks and spices. When used properly in a culinary manner, wine can elevate any cuisine to new heights and create flavors … [Read more...]
When it comes to wine regions that are household names among enthusiasts, no part of America can compare to Napa Valley. California is known as a wine producing giant pretty much across the board, but the name recognition associated with Napa Valley wine is something that cannot go overlooked. Needless to say, the area is loaded with top-notch wineries, many of which offer facility tours and tastings either upon appointment or for walk-ins. While you’ll have a hard time finding bad wine in … [Read more...]
