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Table of Contents - What Is Cabernet Franc? - Cabernet Franc Flavor Profile - Where Cabernet Franc Grows - Cabernet Franc vs. Similar Wines - How to Pair Cabernet Franc with Food - Serving and Storage Tips - How to Shop for Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Franc at Team and Corporate Wine Tastings - Further Reading What Is Cabernet Franc? Cabernet Franc is one of the most versatile and underappreciated red grapes in the wine world. While it often plays a supporting role in Bordeaux blends — giving structure and aromatics to wines dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot — in the Loire Valley of France it takes center stage, producing some of the most elegant and food-friendly reds you'll ever taste. I find that people who discover Cabernet Franc tend to become devoted fans quickly. It has this wonderful savory quality — think graphite, dark herbs, and red fruits — that makes it distinctive without being heavy. If you've been working your way through bold reds and want something with ...
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Table of Contents - What Is Cabernet Franc? - Cabernet Franc Flavor Profile - Where Cabernet Franc Grows - Cabernet Franc vs. Similar Wines - How to Pair Cabernet Franc with Food - Serving and Storage Tips - How to Shop for Cabernet Franc - Cabernet Franc at Team and Corporate Wine Tastings - Further Reading What Is Cabernet Franc? Cabernet Franc is one of the most versatile and underappreciated red grapes in the wine world. While it often plays a supporting role in Bordeaux blends — giving structure and aromatics to wines dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot — in the Loire Valley of France it takes center stage, producing some of the most elegant and food-friendly reds you'll ever taste. I find that people who discover Cabernet Franc tend to become devoted fans quickly. It has this wonderful savory quality — think graphite, dark herbs, and red fruits — that makes it distinctive without being heavy. If you've been working your way through bold reds and want something with ...
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Table of Contents - Why Italian Wine Is Different - Italian Wine Classifications - Key Italian Wine Regions - Italian Wine Food Pairings - How to Read an Italian Wine Label - Italian Wine for Teams and Corporate Tastings - Further Reading Italy produces more wine than any other country on earth — and it might also produce the most variety. With over 500 officially recognized grape varieties and 20 distinct wine-producing regions, Italian wine can feel overwhelming at first. But that abundance is also what makes it endlessly rewarding. Once you have a few landmarks, the whole map opens up. This guide cuts through the complexity. I'll walk you through the key regions, the grapes worth knowing, how to read Italian wine labels, and how to find wines you'll actually love. Why Italian Wine Is Different Most wine-producing countries built their modern industries around a handful of international varieties — Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot. Italy largely didn't. Italians mos...
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Table of Contents - Why Italian Wine Is Different - Italian Wine Classifications - Key Italian Wine Regions - Italian Wine Food Pairings - How to Read an Italian Wine Label - Italian Wine for Teams and Corporate Tastings - Further Reading Italy produces more wine than any other country on earth — and it might also produce the most variety. With over 500 officially recognized grape varieties and 20 distinct wine-producing regions, Italian wine can feel overwhelming at first. But that abundance is also what makes it endlessly rewarding. Once you have a few landmarks, the whole map opens up. This guide cuts through the complexity. I'll walk you through the key regions, the grapes worth knowing, how to read Italian wine labels, and how to find wines you'll actually love. Why Italian Wine Is Different Most wine-producing countries built their modern industries around a handful of international varieties — Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot. Italy largely didn't. Italians mos...
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Table of Contents - What Is Merlot? - Merlot Flavor Profile - Old World vs. New World Merlot - Top Merlot Regions - Merlot vs. Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot Food Pairings - How to Choose a Merlot - Serving and Storing Merlot - Wine Experiences with Merlot - Further Reading Merlot is one of the most widely planted red wine grapes in the world, and for good reason. It's approachable, food-friendly, and at its best, strikingly complex. Yet somewhere along the way it picked up an unfair reputation for being "easy" or even boring. I'm here to make the case that Merlot deserves a serious second look — and for many drinkers, it's the most versatile red in the glass. What Is Merlot? Merlot is a dark-skinned red grape variety that originated in the Bordeaux region of southwestern France. The name is thought to derive from the French word for blackbird — merle — a nod to the grape's deep, inky skin. It ripens early, making it more forgiving in cooler vintages than its Bor...
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Table of Contents - What Is Merlot? - Merlot Flavor Profile - Old World vs. New World Merlot - Top Merlot Regions - Merlot vs. Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot Food Pairings - How to Choose a Merlot - Serving and Storing Merlot - Wine Experiences with Merlot - Further Reading Merlot is one of the most widely planted red wine grapes in the world, and for good reason. It's approachable, food-friendly, and at its best, strikingly complex. Yet somewhere along the way it picked up an unfair reputation for being "easy" or even boring. I'm here to make the case that Merlot deserves a serious second look — and for many drinkers, it's the most versatile red in the glass. What Is Merlot? Merlot is a dark-skinned red grape variety that originated in the Bordeaux region of southwestern France. The name is thought to derive from the French word for blackbird — merle — a nod to the grape's deep, inky skin. It ripens early, making it more forgiving in cooler vintages than its Bor...
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Table of Contents - What Are Wine Tannins? - Where Do Tannins Come From? - How Tannins Change with Winemaking - Tannins and Wine Aging - High Tannin vs. Low Tannin Wines - How Food Affects Tannins - Recognizing Tannins in the Glass - Tannins in White Wine and Rosé - Wine Tannins and Your Health - Using Tannin Knowledge in Wine Tastings - Further Reading If you've ever taken a sip of red wine and felt a drying, gripping sensation — like the wine was sucking moisture from your cheeks and gums — you've experienced wine tannins. Most people notice the effect before they have a word for it. Understanding what wine tannins are, where they come from, and how they shape a wine's character is one of the most useful things you can learn as a wine drinker. What Are Wine Tannins? Wine tannins are polyphenolic compounds — naturally occurring molecules found in grape skins, seeds, and stems, as well as in the oak barrels used to age wine. When you drink a tannic wine, these compounds bin...
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