Alsace Wine Region: A Moving Border and a Mountain Wall
French drinkers once found Alsace's wines too green, too acidic and too expensive. This guide to the Alsace wine region covers the border that moved four times, the Vosges rain…
Loire Valley Wine Guide: Four Regions Along One River
A guide to Loire Valley wine: the four regions along the river from Muscadet to Sancerre, their grapes and styles, how to read the labels, and where the sources disagree.
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.
Types of Wine: A Complete Guide to Every Style
Red, white, rosé, sparkling, fortified, and orange: how each of the six main types of wine is actually made, what it tastes like, and which grapes define it.
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…
How Long Does Wine Last Once Opened? A Complete Guide
Most wines last 3 to 5 days once opened — but sparkling wines go flat faster and fortified wines last weeks. Here is the complete guide by wine type, with…
Chenin Blanc: The Complete Guide to the World’s Most Versatile White Wine
Chenin Blanc produces more wine styles than almost any other grape: bone-dry, off-dry, sparkling, sweet, and botrytised wines that age for half a century. This is the complete guide to…
Wine and Cheese Pairing: Rules, Principles and the Pairings That Actually Work
Red wine and cheese is one of gastronomy’s most persistent myths. This guide explains the real principles behind great wine and cheese pairing — by cheese type, with the eight…