Gamay vs Pinot Noir: The Child a Duke Banned
Gamay and Pinot Noir are parent and child, and a medieval duke banned one to protect the other. Here is how they differ in the vineyard, the glass and the…
Viognier: The Perfumed Grape That Almost Vanished
In the 1960s the whole world had fewer than 10 hectares of Viognier. By 2016 it had about 16,000. Here is what it tastes like, why it nearly disappeared and…
Why New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Tastes Like Passionfruit
Yeast, not the vineyard, makes the passionfruit in New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. How a country that paid farmers to pull up vines ended up planting two-thirds of its vineyards with…
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris: One Grape, Many Wines
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same grape. What it tastes like, why the styles split so far apart, where the good bottles come from, and what to eat…
Chardonnay: The Blank Canvas of White Wine
One grape sits behind flinty Chablis, buttery Napa, the backbone of Champagne and the most expensive dry white wine in the world. Here is how to read a Chardonnay.
Nebbiolo: The Grape That Refuses to Leave Home
Nebbiolo explained: why it looks nothing like it tastes, why Barolo and Barbaresco differ, and why this grape barely grows outside Piedmont.
Cabernet Sauvignon: The Accidental Wine Grape
The full story of Cabernet Sauvignon: its accidental 17th-century origin, the 1976 tasting that changed its reputation forever, and what it tastes like today.
Malbec Wine: Taste, Regions and Food Pairings
Malbec grapes explained: flavour profile, the Argentina versus France divide, key growing regions, and the food pairings that suit each style best.
Pinot Gris vs Pinot Grigio: What Is the Difference?
Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same grape variety. But a light Italian Grigio and a rich Alsatian Gris taste almost nothing alike. Here is why, and which to…
Tempranillo Wine: Taste, Regions and Food Pairings
Tempranillo is Spain's most planted red grape — the backbone of Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Port. Here is what it tastes like, how the regions and ageing classifications work,…
Malbec vs Cabernet Sauvignon: Key Differences Explained
Malbec is plush, approachable, and built for tonight. Cabernet Sauvignon is structured, complex, and built for the cellar. Here are the key differences in taste, tannin, food pairing, and value.
What Does Sangiovese Taste Like? Flavour, Structure and Styles Explained
Sangiovese tastes like sour cherry, dried herbs and tomato leaf — with high acidity and firm tannins that make it one of the world’s great food wines. From basic Chianti…