Organic, Biodynamic and Natural Wines… What’s the Difference?

There are lots of labels thrown around in the wine world these days…organic…biodynamic…natural… but lots of wine drinkers are confused. If your eyes have already glazed over with the complexity of the wine vocabulary, more technical terms can feel like an overload. So, let’s get clear and simple. In general, all of these terms refer to using less intervention in the vineyard and in the cellar and to protecting and enriching the soil. For simplicity sake, you can think of “organic” to “natural” as a range with “biodynamic” somewhere in the middle even though there can be overlap. (Some wines are organic, biodynamic and natural all at once.)

Choosing the Right Wine Glass

In the world of wine, you may be surprised to learn, not all glasses are made equal. If you want to get the best out of your red, keep the bubbles in your champagne or give your next rose the respect it deserves, you may well need to pay more attention to the glass you decide to use. Here’s our quick guide to four glasses that should just about cover everything and should be in your cupboard. One rule you should always observe, first of all, is to buy wine glasses that taper inwards towards the top.

Sommelier Tips: Choosing Wine for a Dinner Party

It’s customary when you’re invited to a dinner party to bring something along as a gift. For most people, traditionally this usually means buying a bottle of wine. This can cause all sorts of problems, especially if you want to impress but don’t know your fellow guests very well. Different wines go with different meals and some people prefer reds to whites and vice versa. Ideally, you don’t want to head down to the supermarket and choose the cheapest bottle of plonk you can find (unless you’re a student). So what’s the best thing to do?

A Quick Guide to American Wine

Did you know that Americans have been making wine for centuries? Vines were first planted in the 16th century by European settlers but international acclaim for American wine is fairly recent. A major event in 1976, known as the Judgment of Paris, changed it all for American wine. Bringing together the crème de la crème of the French wine establishment, the blind tasting put Bordeaux’ biggest names and top Burgundies up against Californian Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays. To the surprise of all judges, a Californian wine took the top spot in each category. This amazing result changed the course of American wine forever.

How to Drink Wine Sustainably? Cans, Pouches & Boxes

While glass bottles can be recycled, there are other options with eco-credential that you may not have thought about. From bag-in-box, to bagnums and cans, here’s our round up of some green packaging alternatives you should consider.  Often conjuring up images of student parties or music festivals, bag-in-box wine is going through a change and deserves a rethink.  Synonymous with cheap wine in the eighties, the quality of boxed wines has come a long way since with more choice available than ever before.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Storing Wine at Home

Everyone knows that wine gets better with age, right? What many people don’t know is how to properly store wine so that it actually does improve with time — and doesn’t turn into expensive vinegar. In an ideal world, you’d have access to a wine cellar for your precious bottles. But since most people don’t — and, let’s face it, even the most avid wine collector probably doesn’t have enough to fill a cellar — you’ll have to find ways to store your wine at home. Read on for the do’s and don’ts of storing wine.

Pairing Wine With Fish: It’s Not All About White

Pairing wine and food is easy, right? Red wine with red meat and white with chicken and fish. While those often repeated ‘rules’ might hold true in most cases, there is a little more to it. 

There are many white wines that are perfect for fish and seafood dishes. For example, you can’t beat a crisp Muscadet and moules marinières, or a lemony Picpoul de Pinet and oysters. Even richer Chardonnays can work wonders when paired with hearty dishes like fish pie. But there are so many delicious red and rosé wines out there that make for surprisingly tasty pairings.

A Quick Guide to American Wine

Did you know that Americans have been making wine for centuries? Vines were first planted in the 16th century by European settlers but international acclaim for American wine is fairly recent.

A major event in 1976, known as the Judgment of Paris, changed it all for American wine. Bringing together the crème de la crème of the French wine establishment, the blind tasting put Bordeaux’ biggest names and top Burgundies up against Californian Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays. To the surprise of all judges, a Californian wine took the top spot in each category. This amazing result changed the course of American wine forever.

Over forty years later, here are America’s five key wine regions that you should know about. 

The Do’s and Don’ts of Storing Wine at Home

Everyone knows that wine gets better with age, right? What many people don’t know is how to properly store wine so that it actually does improve with time — and doesn’t turn into expensive vinegar. In an ideal world, you’d have access to a wine cellar for your precious bottles. But since most people don’t — and, let’s face it, even the most avid wine collector probably doesn’t have enough to fill a cellar — you’ll have to find ways to store your wine at home. Read on for the do’s and don’ts of storing wine.