The two grapes that really steal the show in your Bordeaux reds are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. There’s a big difference in style between the two. So, how do they taste different, and how do you know which one you’re getting (cause it won’t say on the label)?

What is a Bordeaux? How did it get so popular? Is there more to Bordeaux than just reds? Do you know these three surprising facts about Bordeaux?

There seems to be lots of trepidation about storing, serving, and drinking sparkling wine the right way. We have a few opinions about this. But before I get on a little soapbox about what I think is of the utmost importance…Here are the three most common mistakes people make when drinking sparkling wine.

Champagne! No other wine has the reputation champagne does. In fact, champagne has become such a global icon that the word ‘champagne’ has become an eponym for any and every bubbly. Which brings me to our first, and the most important, thing you must know about Champagne…

Depending on what your Thanksgiving looks like it could include an array of different food menus. What if I told you I had a magic wand that could make one wine pair with (nearly) every single food item imaginable?

But for now, we’re going to talk about the glory days of Beaujolais, how this paved the way for its fall and (to put it bluntly) its subsequent shi*t reputation. And all of that has to do with Beaujolais Nouveau.

Hopefully in Beaujolais 101 we’ve convinced you all to love Beaujolais and you’re ready to run out and buy one (or two or five) right now! Great, so what do you look for? How do you shop for it? 

We’ll be starting in France with a region that is commonly misunderstood and has quite the tumultuous history. However, in recent decades it’s been subject to something of a revival, with the region and the grape variety associated with it becoming a bit of a fashionable pin-up in the wine world.

Grape varietal doesn’t matter! Ok, ok. This isn’t 100% true. But, what is true is that where a wine is from (aka region, aka a wine’s terroir) is just as important, if not more important than the varietal.

So now that you’re a Txakolina expert, I'm gonna take you to the next level. This is advanced stuff, so get ready. Put on your learning hats.

Alright, true story, my friends: Txakolina is my summertime wine dream come true. ☀️ You know when you’re in the mood for something refreshing because…

And this week, speaking of easy peasy, I’m going to tell you the SECRET TRICK to finding a wine from Savoie. For realzies, you won’t even hardly need your brain.

Why would a producer want to leave the Chianti DOCG, declassify their wines, and label them as IGT Toscana instead, foregoing the word “Chianti” altogether?

As with most regions, you can totally nerd out and dig into all the different crus and soil types and explore the dozens of native grape varieties—however, the real reason I love it is because you don’t *have* to!

Here is Part 2 of our three part series where I’m telling you the THREE MUST-KNOW FACTS about Chianti. This one will make your life so easy, it’s not even funny.

Here is Part 2 of our three part series where I’m telling you the THREE MUST-KNOW FACTS about Chianti. This one will make your life so easy, it’s not even funny.

Back in 2008, before I knew anything about wine, I got a job at a winery tasting room. (I still don’t know why they hired me.) I was frantically studying and trying to become up to par with the formally-trained somms I would be working with.

Last week I told you that Malbec is spicy, tangy, and punchy, like a donkey kick. This is generally true (especially compared to other familiar grapes like Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). However, what’s much more important in influencing the taste of wine is…