Wine 101

Originally published February 26, 2016. Updated in 2026. You would think the path from vine to glass would be an easy one: grape, bottle, glass. Right? In reality, that path is a long and winding road, as complex as wine itself. Take my hand as we travel the road from vine to glass. First stop: [...]

So why do you need to care about the type of glass from which you drink wine? A water glass, a Mason jar, or even a coffee cup can do the job. Right? Well, maybe if you are on a camping trip, but if you are learning about and enjoying wine more and more, then [...]

Ah, the colors of wine, a romantic idea with a world’s worth of detail behind it. There is not enough time in a glass to share all the secrets of wine colors, but a quick taste will prepare you for your next pour. Wines take their colors from the skin of the grape, sort of. [...]

Originally published April 15, 2016. Updated in 2026. Pop a cork and you immediately know what sound you're hearing. For generations, natural cork has been so closely associated with wine that opening a bottle became part of the experience itself. But cork isn't the only way to seal a bottle of wine. Screw caps and [...]

Originally published March 1, 2016. Updated in 2026. Tasting, shmasting. Tasting wine is just like drinking wine, right? Well, there are some differences. A wine tasting gives you an opportunity to try several wines, compare them side by side, and discover what you like before choosing a glass or bottle. If you've never been to [...]