The 5 S’s of Wine Tasting: See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Savour
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.
Read moreOff-Dry Wine: What It Means and How Sweet It Is
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.
Read moreWhat Is a Fifth Growth Wine? The 1855 Bordeaux Ranking Explained
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 morePinot Gris vs Pinot Grigio: What Is the Difference?
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 moreDoes Vermouth Have Sugar? The Numbers, by Style
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 moreWhat Is Verjus? The Kitchen Acid That Does Not Fight Your Wine
Verjus is the juice of unripe grapes, pressed before it can ferment. It is sour without the sting of vinegar, and it is the one acid that leaves your wine alone.
Read moreCan You Freeze Vermouth? What Really Happens
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 moreProsecco vs Cava: The Difference, and Which to Buy
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 moreWhat Is Vermouth? Wine, Wormwood and Why Yours Tastes Flat
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 moreRed Wine and Coke: Kalimotxo, Katemba and How to Make It Properly
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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