Why does a typical French wine label not name the grape variety, like wines from Australia, the USA or Chile? Here – in an extract from our introductory book Exploring & Tasting Wine – we explain a little about French wine law The red wines from Chinon and Bourgueil are made from Cabernet Franc but […]

The 2015 vintage has been praised far and wide – producing remarkable wines from Germany to Burgundy, but what has made it a good year? What makes any vintage better than another? In an extract from our introductory book, Exploring & Tasting Wine, Mark Pardoe MW explains Sometimes Bordeaux is even busier than usual for […]

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, this extract from our introductory wine book tells you how to pop corks like a pro (and without losing half the bottle) Standing on the Winner’s Podium, the triumphant athlete shakes the Champagne bottle and releases a fountain of fizz… This image of celebration (or shocking waste, if […]

If you’ve ever been served a luke-warm glass of Merlot, or fine white Burgundy with an icy chill, you know that having a great wine doesn’t necessarily mean people drink one. This quick guide from our introductory wine book Exploring & Tasting Wine tells you which wines to serve at what temperature Most people do not use […]