Grape Varieties
Pinotage: South Africa's Red Grape, Taste and Food
Pinotage is South Africa's own red grape, a 1925 cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. Here is its story, its styles, how it tastes and what to eat with it.
7 min read
Wine guides
All wine guides · Page 12
Every Wine Blue Book guide in one place: wine basics, grape varieties, wine regions, food pairings, wine ratings and research-based value picks.
Wine Regions
Portuguese Wine: Regions, Native Grapes and Labels
Portugal has more than 250 native grapes and 14 wine regions, from Vinho Verde to Madeira. Here is a map of its regions, grapes and label terms.
8 min read
Grape Varieties
Prosecco: What It Is, How It's Made and How to Choose a Bottle
Prosecco is Italy's best-selling sparkling wine, made mostly from Glera in the northeast. Here is how it's made, what DOC and DOCG mean, and how to read the sweetness.
9 min read
Grape Varieties
Red Blend Wine: What It Is, Styles and Labels
A red blend is a red wine made from more than one grape. Here are the classic blends, how US labels work, whether red blends are sweet and what to pair.
8 min read
Food Pairings
Red Wine Vinegar: How It's Made, Uses and Substitutes
Red wine vinegar is red wine soured by acetic acid bacteria. How it's made, how it differs from white wine vinegar, how to use it and how to make it safely.
6 min read
Wine Regions
Sauternes: Bordeaux's Sweet Wine, Rules, Taste and Food
Sauternes is Bordeaux's noble-rot sweet white, mostly Sémillon. Here are the rules, how it's made, the 1855 classification, how to serve it and food.
7 min read
Grape Varieties
Semillon: Bordeaux's Golden Grape, Taste and Food
Semillon makes white Bordeaux, Sauternes and age-worthy Hunter Valley whites. Here is how it tastes, where it grows and what to eat with it.
6 min read
Wine Basics
Sommelier: What They Do and How to Become One
A sommelier runs a restaurant's wine and drinks service. Here is what the job involves, the Court of Master Sommeliers and WSET levels, and how to start.
8 min read
Wine Regions
South African Wine: Regions, Grapes and Labels
A guide to South African wine: Chenin Blanc, Pinotage and Cape blends, the regions from Stellenbosch to Swartland, and what the Wine of Origin seal means.
7 min read
Wine Regions
Spanish Wine: Regions, Grapes and Aging Terms Explained
Spain has more vineyard land than any other country. Here are its main regions and grapes, its DO, DOCa and Vino de Pago tiers, and what Crianza means.
7 min read
Wine Regions
Tokaji: Hungary's Aszú, Puttonyos and Dry Furmint
Tokaji is Hungary's famous noble-rot wine. Here is what puttonyos mean today, the Aszú rules, Eszencia, Szamorodni, dry Furmint and what to eat with them.
9 min read
Grape Varieties
Types of Red Wine: From Light Pinot to Bold Cabernet
The main red wine grapes ranked from light to full body, with a tannin and acidity chart, where each grows, serving temperatures and what to eat with them.
7 min read