The Cork Dork | Giggly Grapes

Best Red Wine for Mushroom Bourguignon: What to Pour (and What to Avoid)

26/08/2024

Bowl of mushroom bourguignon with a glass of Pinot Noir

The best red wine for mushroom bourguignon is Pinot Noir, with Gamay and Grenache close behind. Why the meat-free version needs softer wine than the beef one, and what to avoid.

Wine Savant Bottle Aerator Review: Pretty, but Does It Work?

24/08/2024

Hand-blown glass bulb aerator in the neck of a red wine bottle beside a glass of Shiraz

The Wine Savant bulb aerator is the best-looking aerator we own. Here is what it does to the wine, what it does not, and what to pour in it.

Miso and Wine: What to Pour (and What to Avoid)

23/08/2024

Bowl of miso soup beside a glass of white wine on a timber table

Miso is salty, sweet and full of umami, which is hard on red wine. What to pour with miso soup, miso black cod and miso ramen, and the reds to keep off the table.

Pinot Gris vs Pinot Grigio: What Is the Difference?

22/08/2024

Two glasses of white wine of different depths of colour beside greyish pink grapes

Same grape, two names, two styles. Grigio is crisp and citrusy, Gris is fuller and rounder. How to tell which is in the bottle before you buy it.

Vintorio Wine Aerator Pourer Review: Is It Worth Double the Price?

21/08/2024

Black wine aerator on its stand beside a bottle and glass of red wine

We tested the Vintorio against a cheap pourer on the same bottle. The extra money buys a better object, not a better glass of wine.

Mushroom Ravioli and Wine: What to Pour (and What to Avoid)

17/08/2024

Bowl of mushroom ravioli beside a glass of red wine on a timber table

Mushroom ravioli flattens big reds. Here is why, plus the wines that actually work, what to avoid and one stock-checked bottle to try tonight.

Vinturi V1020 Wine Aerator Review: Is It Worth It?

17/08/2024

A clear acrylic wine aerator on its stand beside a glass of white wine

The V1020 is the white wine version of the Vinturi Essential aerator. It works, it is quick, and the case for it is smaller than the marketing suggests.

Best Wine for Spicy Food: What to Pour (and What to Avoid)

13/08/2024

Spicy red curry with a cold glass of Riesling

The best wine for spicy food is low in alcohol, a little sweet and served cold. Off-dry Riesling leads, with Gewürztraminer, Moscato and chilled Gamay behind. What to avoid and why.

Cedar Plank Salmon Wine Pairing: What to Pour With the Smoke

31/07/2024

Salmon cooking on a cedar plank beside a glass of light red wine

The plank does half the cooking, and the smoke changes the wine. Pinot Noir, lightly oaked Chardonnay and dry rosé, plus one stock-checked Tasmanian pick.