Riedel Winewings Sauvignon Blanc Review: Are Riedel Glasses Worth It?

Flat-bottomed crystal wine glass with a small pour of white wine
The flat-bottomed Winewings glass genuinely makes Sauvignon Blanc smell louder. The Australian price is the problem. An honest review, tested against two ordinary glasses.
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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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Mint Simple Syrup: The Easy Recipe, Without the Bitterness

A jar of homemade mint simple syrup with fresh mint and sugar on a marble bench
Sugar, water and mint leaves in ten minutes. The trick is taking the pan off the heat before the mint goes in, which is where most batches go wrong.
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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.
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Red Wine With Soda Water: How Spain Actually Drinks in Summer

A tall glass of red wine and soda over ice with a lemon slice
Half red wine, half fizz, over a lot of ice with a slice of lemon. Tinto de verano takes seconds, and the only thing to get right is which fizzy thing you use.
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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.
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Riedel Cabernet Decanter Review: Is It Worth the Hype?

Wide crystal decanter half filled with red wine on a timber table
About $73, machine-made crystal, dishwasher safe and built around one bottle. What the Riedel Cabernet Decanter does well, and what it does not.
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How to Dry a Decanter Without Water Spots or Streaks

Crystal decanter drying upside down on a wooden stand
Drain it, rinse with filtered water and stand it upside down on a rack. Here is how to dry a decanter properly, and why hard water leaves those white spots.
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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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Best Wine for Risotto: What to Cook With and What to Drink With Mushroom Risotto

Bowl of mushroom risotto beside a glass of Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir to drink, a cheap dry white to cook with. The best wine for mushroom risotto and every other risotto, what to avoid, and a bottle under eleven dollars.
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