The Cork Dork | Giggly Grapes

Cabernet Franc Wine Guide: The Parent Who Got Outshone

05/09/2026

Glass and bottle of Cabernet Franc with dark grapes, violets and a green capsicum

The grape that fathered Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot: what Cabernet Franc tastes like, why sommeliers love it, where Australia grows it, and a bottle to buy tonight.

Riedel Mamba Decanter Review: The Hand-Blown Crystal Showpiece

10/07/2026

Riedel Mamba snake-shaped crystal wine decanter with a double S-curve, partially filled with red wine, on a dark timber table

The Riedel Mamba is part decanter, part sculpture. We tested whether the snake-shaped crystal showpiece earns its keep beyond the dinner-party theatre.

Best Wine Glasses in Australia 2026: Shapes That Actually Matter

10/07/2026

Four elegant wine glasses on a dark timber table: two stemmed crystal glasses with red and white wine and a matching set of universal glasses behind them

Four glasses worth owning: the Riedel Winewings pair for serious sipping, a crystalline Krosno set for hosting, and a German-made budget six-pack under $30.

Best Wine Decanters in Australia 2026: Tested and Poured

10/07/2026

Three glass wine decanters on a dark timber table: a wide-based crystal decanter with red wine, a curved sculptural decanter and a simple tall decanter

Three decanters worth your bench space: the everyday champion, the hand-blown showpiece, and the budget hero that proves decanting is physics, not luxury.

Best Drinks Subscription Boxes in Australia: Gifts That Keep Pouring

10/07/2026

An opened premium gift box on a dark walnut table containing three small amber spirit bottles in dark tissue paper, with a glass of whisky beside it in warm moody lighting.

The best whisky, gin and alcohol-free subscription boxes you can gift in Australia, tested against our no-dust-collectors rule.

Best Non-Alcoholic Wines in Australia (That Actually Taste Like Wine)

06/07/2026

A chilled glass of white wine, an aluminium can, and a wine bottle with a blank label are arranged on a wooden table with foliage and small red berries, set against a dark purple background.

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Best Wine Aerators in 2026: Tested, Ranked, and Poured

06/07/2026

A glass of red wine being poured from an automatic wine dispenser, with a corkscrew and a bottle of red wine in the background on a wooden table. The scene is dimly lit with a warm, elegant atmosphere.

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Mango Wine: What It Is, How It Is Made and Where to Buy It

23/08/2025

A glass of golden mango wine beside two ripe mangoes on a dark bench

Mango wine is fermented mango pulp, usually 6 to 12 per cent alcohol. Here is how it is made, why it does not taste much like mango, and where to buy it.

What Wine Goes With Truffle: The Rule Nobody Explains

18/04/2025

Fresh black truffle on slate beside a glass of light red wine

Older Pinot Noir for black truffle, Nebbiolo or aged Chardonnay for white. Here is why truffle is an aroma problem, not a flavour one, plus one stocked Tasmanian pick.

Residual Sugar in Wine: The Chart and What It Really Means

15/12/2024

Five glasses of wine arranged from pale dry white to deep golden sweet wine

Residual sugar is the sugar left after fermentation stops, measured in grams a litre. Here is the full chart for still and sparkling wine, and why the number on the sheet is not the sweetness you taste.