Wine Basics

In choosing a wine, often the only clues to its qualities are on the bottle's label. Using this information, you'll be better equipped to make a selection that will match your taste.

Chile is known as a "new world" wine country, and is considered among the best wine producers in South America. Known for its "value" wines, Chile's production of moderate to expensive bottles is...

The indentation in the bottom of a wine bottle is called a punt. Its presence is one of the favorite topics of discussion when oenophiles gather together. There are as many stories about punts as...

The presence of the punt has been the subject of many discussions by wine lovers. While folklore gives many reasons for its existence, that dimple has definite purposes for many wines.

Whether it is part of a collection of fine wines just a special bottle saved for later enjoyment or celebration, wine's quality is affected by the way the bottle is stored.

Wine can be an intimidating subject for those unfamiliar with wine culture and lingo. Opening wine bottles, with their corks sealed tightly inside, can be as frightening as knowing whether to...

Whether you are having wine for a party you are throwing or enjoying a quiet evening alone, sometimes you will need to filter the wine from the bottle into a decanter. This filtering may be done...

Labeling homemade wine not only allows you to express your creativity, but also provides a method of organizing your home-wine inventory. Whether you sell your wines in a store or enjoy them...

The country of France has a history of wine-making dating to the 6th century B.C. Among the many wine-producing regions of France, the Bordeaux region is particularly known for the production of...

Although not traditionally a wine-producing country, Sweden has, for centuries, produced wines made with fruits other than grapes. In recent years, many small vineyards have appeared which produce...

Grape vines bring people delicious products, such as grapes, raisins, wine and grape juice. There are thousands of varieties of grapes. Grapes are broken down into white or black (also called...

Especially during the holiday season, many people experience concerning heart palpitations in conjunction with wine consumption. When evaluating heart palpitations that you suspect may be caused...

A professional-looking label can be a reward for your wine-making efforts, even if the product is only for friends and family. Using photos for the label is good way to modernize and personalize...

There are two aspects of making wine that must be considered before calling a wine organic: what happens in fields and what happens in the winery. It is possible for a wine to be considered...

Prevent a hangover or cure a hangover with out drinking any less.

Tasting wine may sound overly sophisticated but it is in fact quite simple. After this article you will be able to taste, rate, and assess wine just like the pros.

Valued since ancient times, wine is welcome and prevalent in high and low society. Wines run the gamut from mass-marketed swill to artisan-crafted treasures. Private collectors and aficionados...

Wines come in quite a few different flavor profiles. One component is sweetness. To a culture used to soda and high-sugar fruit juices, sweet is normal and dry, not sweet, wine is not as pleasant....

It's fun to make your own wine, but selling it can be tricky. You have to get it into the right hands. According to, winecommune.com, you must be legally permitted to sell wine in your state and...

For centuries people have enjoyed the complex flavors derived from fermented grape juice. As wine-making advanced, wine-makers and drinkers began grading a wine's quality based on its region and...

Describing a wine as "dry" means sugar is not present in the finished wine; dry wines are the opposite of "sweet" wines and are sometimes referred to as table wines. Dry wines can vary greatly in...

Whether or not you agree with the stinging vitriol directed at the Merlot grape in the 2004 film "Sideways," there's no denying the varietal's popularity. Light on tannins and distinctly...

Only one type of wood has been tried and true for construction of wine barrels over thousands of years of wine-making: oak. Although cherry, walnut, chestnut, pine and redwood can be made into...

Though Australia has produced wine for only about 200 years, it has quickly become synonymous with quality and technological innovation. Australia sits consistently among the world's top 10...

Ordering a blush wine at a restaurant has been known to make wine purists, well, blush. They're as beloved by casual drinkers as they are reviled by snobs, but one thing is certain: they're a...

Micro-oxidation, or micro-ox, is a winemaking tool that has seen more than its share of controversy. It's a barrel alternative that winemakers have been increasingly reaching for to address...

Disaster strikes. It happens to the best of us. It happens to the worst of us. Say you’re about to uncork your favorite bottle of wine and the half of the cork breaks off in the bottle’ s neck....

Making wine is a tradition that has been practiced for centuries. While modernization has changed the face of most industries, it's comforting to find that wine is still made today in much the...

Wine is a complex subject to understand. Many people study for years and still feel like they are only scratching the surface of the wine world. When starting your quest to become a wine expert,...

The practice of making wine by allowing grape juice to ferment is at least 8,000 years old. The basic process of fermentation is a natural process that occurs readily without any help from humans....

An entire industry has grown up around the enjoyment of fine wines. Wine-tasting events happen all over the world. Wine lovers enjoy relaxing with their favorite wines or enjoying their favorites...

There are over 5,000 different types of wine grapes that are used to produce many different types of wines around the world. Some of the most popular types of wine grapes are Chardonnay, Cabernet...

Wine's increasing popularity means that many people now enjoy a glass with dinner. But where do novice wine drinkers go next after they find the first few bottles that they like? And what if...

Wine may not be a staple in the diet, but it has some health benefits. It is also lower in calories than most alcoholic beverages, so it may be a better choice for those watching their weight than...

This How-to Article describes the best way to find the best price on a fine bottle of wine available for sale on the internet. Ever have a great bottle of wine in a restaurant that you paid WAY...

The first time you walk into a wine store, or even into the wine department of a good grocery store, and stand before the bottle-laden shelves, you may well feel intimidated by the sheer number of...

A glass of wine is refreshing with a nice meal; however, what do you do once you've uncorked that bottle? Wine doesn't immediately go bad in the fridge, but once you've popped the cork, oxidation...

Not all wine glasses are the same. Because different types of wine have different properties, the glass a wine is served in is specifically designed to complement it. Thin, clear, colorless glass...

If you have a little wine left in the bottle at the end of the evening, you don't have to pour it out. With just a little care, the wine will retain a reasonable level of quality for about three...

The wine world includes a variety of wines, and you could spend years learning them all. But there are some basics that provide a solid foundation for keeping your wines straight.

The label on a wine bottle is just as important as the wine itself. The wine bottle label should capture attention, invoke curiosity and introduce the brand. This article will teach you how to...

May it be a romantic dinner for two or a dinner party for eight, knowing how to uncork a bottle of wine is a must. Follow these easy steps to uncork the fun for your next gathering.

I recently had a good friend, who is a dedicated red wine drinker, lament over how she just couldn't drink her favorite robust and fruity reds because of the summer heat. White wines just don't...

Corking a wine bottle is a key consideration for bottling companies and home bottling operations. Proper corking seals a bottle and prevents contamination by microbiological organisms. Corking...

Many things impact the flavor of wine, such as the kind of grapes used, where the grapes were grown and even what the weather was like that year. Other aspects of the winemaking process affect the...

Of the thousands of grape varieties that exist, those belonging to two major species, and their hybrids, are the ones most used to make wine. Varieties of the species vitis labrusca, native to...

Some people brew wine for a hobby. Some just love looking at wine labels before they indulge. But whether you're the former or the latter, you've probably looked at a wine label and said to...

There has been mixed news reported over the years about the benefits of wine, but it appears that drinking wine--especially red wine--in moderation can be good for you in a number of ways.

Greek wines have been made for centuries and are respected and enjoyed all over the world. There are over 300 different cultivars of Greek wines including red, white, blanc de gris, and grape...

Originating from places around the globe, thousands of different varieties of wines exist, with their flavor largely influenced by the breed of the grape, its heritage and the geographical site of...