What Is a Fifth Growth Wine? The 1855 Bordeaux Ranking Explained

Three unlabelled Bordeaux bottles beside a glass of red wine on a timber table
A fifth growth is a Bordeaux château in the bottom band of the 1855 classification. There are 18, twelve of them in Pauillac, and the label says more about 1855 prices than today’s wine.
Read more

Pinot Gris vs Pinot Grigio: What Is the Difference?

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.
Read more

Dry White Wine Substitute: Best Options for Cooking

substitute for dry white wine
Discover the perfect substitute for dry white wine to elevate your cooking game. Explore savvy swaps that'll add a splash of genius to your dishes!
Read more

Does Vermouth Have Sugar? The Numbers, by Style

A pale vermouth and a deep red vermouth in two glasses on a marble bar
Every vermouth has sugar, but the amount is set by law. The five label terms, what they mean in grams, and how much lands in a Negroni or a Martini.
Read more

Can You Freeze Vermouth? What Really Happens

Chilled bottle of vermouth and a small glass on a timber table
Yes, your freezer will freeze vermouth, at about minus 7C. Here is what that does to the taste, and how long an open bottle really lasts in the fridge.
Read more

Prosecco vs Cava: The Difference, and Which to Buy

Two glasses of sparkling wine beside a bottle and olives on a timber table
One is made in a tank, the other in the bottle. The grapes, the method, the sugar levels, the taste and which one to pour for which occasion.
Read more

What Is Vermouth? Wine, Wormwood and Why Yours Tastes Flat

Two bottles of vermouth on a dark bar with an orange slice and dried botanicals
Vermouth is wine flavoured with herbs, sweetened and fortified, and it must contain wormwood. Here are the styles, the history, and the storage mistake ruining your Martini.
Read more

Red Wine and Coke: Kalimotxo, Katemba and How to Make It Properly

Tall iced glass of red wine and cola with a lime wedge beside a bottle of red wine
Yes, you can mix red wine with Coke. What it is called around the world, the right ratio, the best cheap red to use, and how many calories you are drinking.
Read more

What is Grape Must? Essential Winemaking Ingredient Explained

what is grape must
What is grape must? This is the freshly crushed juice from grapes that includes the skins, seeds, and stems.
Read more

Does All Champagne Taste the Same? No, and Here Is What Changes It

Three glasses of Champagne in different shades side by side
Two bottles both labelled Champagne can taste nothing alike. The four things that change it: the grapes, the dosage, the time on lees and the maker.
Read more