Things you wanted to know about wine... but were afraid to ask
Things you wanted to know about wine... but were afraid to ask
How to make Red Wine
A brief history of red winemaking covering the basic steps to take the grape to your table in liquid form.
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The #1 Wine Pairing Rule
Pairing food and wine of any sort, tends to come down to a simple rule: to match the body and style of the wine to the body and style of the food, and if you take into consideration a few straightforward factors, wine pairing becomes easier than you think.
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What is a Bin-End?
When there are only a few bottles remaining in a line, or there are minor imperfections on the outside of the bottle, such as a scuffed or scratched label, we occasionally sell these wines at a great discount and call them 'bin-ends'.
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Which wine glass should you use?
Of course, it doesn’t matter which glass you use to drink wine – we have all drunk wine from a toothmug, enamel cup or an array of other vessels including from the bottle itself (yes, really!) But if you want to get the most out of good quality, well made, artisan and fine wines, the experience will be enhanced by using a suitable glass.
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Organic or Biodynamic?
In today's market, words like organic and biodynamic are everywhere. But what do these terms actually promise? For thoughtful drinkers, understanding the true story behind each label brings you closer to the people and places in your bottle.
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Champagne Matters
We have introduced a fast moving list of Grandes Marques Champagnes, including premium bottles from Pol Roger, Dom Pérignon, Krug and Ruinart, among others. To celebrate, here's a run down of some of our most asked Champagne questions!
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Wine tasting hacks to make you sound like an expert
Are you worried about what to say when the wine waiter asks you to taste the wine? Or just want to join the conversation at a dinner party when everyone else is throwing wine words around? Take a look at these simple hacks and learn what you love.
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What's in a Vintage?
What is a vintage wine, a vintage year or a vintage Champagne? We unpick the nuances between all these commonly used terms and look at which wines you should be drinking now, and which are best to keep.
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When are red grapes green?
All young grapes are green, but from late July and August they start to change colour. Find out more about why grape skins matter and how they influence the finished wine.
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The importance of old vines
You may have seen the terms Vielles Vignes, Vinas Viejas or Vecchie Viti on a wine label - all of which mean Old Vines - but what does this mean for a wine and why is it important to know the age of the vines?
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Is Pale Rosé better?
Many people believe that a pale rose is better, and an indication of both quality and sweetness of the wine. Neither of these things is true. Read on to find out more about how rose is made and what gives it its range of distinctive pink colours.
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Is my wine corked?
Have you ever been asked to taste the wine in a restaurant, and you suspect it may be corked? We shine a light on the whole issue of corked wines – what causes it, what corked wine tastes like and the difference between screwcaps, natural and synthetic corks.
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