The 5 S’s of Wine Tasting: See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Savour

Hand tilting a glass of red wine over a white napkin to check its colour
See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip and Savour, with the physical reason behind each step, plus the two myths the ritual carries and one cheap bottle to practise on.
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Off-Dry Wine: What It Means and How Sweet It Is

Three glasses of white wine in a row from pale to deep gold
Off-dry means 4 to 12 grams of sugar a litre. Here is the full sweetness scale in numbers, why off-dry often tastes dry, and why Extra Dry sparkling is sweeter than Brut.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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What Is Champagne and Shackles? The Party Theme Explained

Two flutes of sparkling wine, a bottle, gold confetti and novelty handcuffs on a party table
Handcuffed to your date until the bottle is empty: what Champagne and Shackles is, where it came from, the usual rules, what to wear, the bubbly to bring and how to do it safely.
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Bucks Fizz vs Mimosa: What Is the Difference?

Two flutes side by side, one pale gold and one orange, with halved oranges on a timber table
Same two ingredients, different ratio. A Bucks Fizz is champagne-forward, a Mimosa is equal parts. Here is the history, the taste and what to pour.
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What Is a Riddling Rack? The Champagne Tool Explained

Wooden riddling rack holding sparkling wine bottles neck-down in a cellar
A riddling rack holds 120 bottles neck-down so the yeast slides into the neck. Here is how it works, who invented it, and why machines replaced it.
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Moët vs Veuve Clicquot: Which Champagne Is Better?

Two Champagne bottles and two glasses side by side on a timber table
Same region, same method, same parent company, two different personalities. The grapes, the history, the taste and which one to buy for which night.
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