We don't often think of California when drinking Sauvignon Blanc, although this is a popular grape to grow throughout the state.
In our Naked Wines subscription, we got to sample Provare's Sauvignon Blanc as part of a mystery box and felt it was a relatively straightforward bottle for its price point.
When Masciarelli Vineyards sent us a few sample bottles to try out, there was one we were rather excited to try out as quickly as possible- their Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo white blend.
Part of this was because it as a unique blend of three lesser-enjoyed grapes-Â Trebbiano, Pecorino, and Cococciola. The other part is that we simply have not found too many white wines from Italy that we are big fans of.
This bottle offered a rather complex flavor profile that we quite enjoyed and definitely has us rethinking our approach to Italian white wines!
We first stumbled upon Domaine Weinbach's incredible wines at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs (particularly one of their high-end Riesling).
Over time, and as part of our WSET studies, we learned that high-quality Alsatian producers like Domaine Weinbach are well known for making some of the world's best Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and more.
So when we found a bottle of Weinbach's “Les Treilles du Loup” at Total Wine, we knew we had to pick it up to try.
It did not last long, and now we want another.
When we had a layover in Istanbul, we knew we had to pick up some Turkish wines with new-to-us grapes to try when we got home.
This is how we stumbled upon Kavaklidere's Kalecik Karasi. We didn't know much about what to expect with this one, and it turns out it ended up being a light red, not too dissimilar from a Pinot Noir.
While not what we expected, it was an interesting one all the same.
You likely know that Montepulciano is an intense red wine from Italy. But have you ever had it made in rose style?
We were able to give this unique preparation a try with a sample bottle from Masciarelli's Villa Gemma Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo and have to admit it is a rather unique way to enjoy this grape!
Do you have a wine lover in your life and want to get them the best wine presents possible? We are here to help!
In this one, we thought we'd share some of the top wine lovers gifts out there and include several options, from a budget-friendly corkscrew to premium wine classes and more.
Suffice it to say, no matter the budget we have a great wine gift for you here!
Please note: The unique wine gifts featured in this guide are roughly arranged from the lowest price to highest. However, please note that some categories are broad and prices may fall over a rather large range. Likewise, when in doubt, always do some sleuthing to see if your favorite wine fan is in need of a gift before buying. While a good corkscrew could make a great wine present, for example, if your recipient already has 20 it may not be the best idea. Or if they are looking to build wine racks, buying a model without knowing their aesthetic and available space may not be a great wine gift, either.
When it comes to learning about wine, sometimes it is hard to beat a good book.
Over the years, we have collected many of the best wine books and read through resource after resource to improve our knowledge.
So in this one, we thought we'd share five of our favorite books about wine to help you jump right into this fascinating world!
Note: The wine books discussed below are organized by how approachable they are from most to least. That is to say, the first books referenced below can be enjoyed by all knowledge levels whereas some of the later books should be reserved for the most intense wine students. When applicable, we've attempted to highlight when a book is or is not appropriate for some readers and equate them to relative levels of WSET and other wine programs for reference.
Wine.com is said to be the largest retailer of wine in the world by selection volume. This online, US-based retailer carries just under 20,000 unique bottles of wine and is said to ship several million bottles around the world each and every year.
Naturally, it is one of our go-to places to find wines that are not carried in our local state store (which, for anyone who knows Pennsylvania's system, you can imagine that we have to buy a lot from third parties).
When we saw Wine.com's StewardShip program offered free shipping to the continental USA, we knew we had to sign up immediately. But beyond free shipping, the program also offers special deals, exclusive products, events, and more that may also be attractive for less frequent shoppers in the company. (Note: In 2024, the StewardShip program updated its terms to offer free shipping on orders above $49, and a nominal amount for orders below, which is still a great deal.)
So in this one, we thought we'd take a look at the value proposition of the StewardShip program, and discuss whether any of the other amenities are worth it, too!
Normally when you think of Australian Shiraz, you think of big, bold reds with intense flavors.
Shaw + Smith took a bit of a different approach with their Adelaide Hills Shiraz as the cooler climate in this region produced a much more delicate wine that was reminiscent more like a Pinot Noir and Grenache over its bolder Shiraz counterpart.
So if you are into something just a bit different for this grape (particularly lighter characteristics), this one is for you.
If you have ever studied for a wine course, known someone studying for a wine course, or even watched documentaries about people studying for wine certifications (the Somm movies come to mind), odds are good you have encountered flashcards.
These ubiquitous pieces of paper have been synonymous with fact-based memorization techniques for generations- partly because they work but also because they are cheap and easy to make.
For wine exams, where you often have to memorize many keywords (often in other languages), geographies, weather patterns, laws, and more, flashcards are incredibly useful for a quick and continual reminder of topics you may be struggling with before your exam.
But with that being said, I have a confession to make- I've never made a single flashcard for any of my wine exams.Â
Instead, the digital flashcard service Brainscape was recommended to me for my WSET Level 2 exam, and I've been hooked on the service through to the Diploma modules. So today, I thought I'd share a bit more about why that is and why the modest monthly fee can be a game-changer for studying.
Note: It is important to highlight that Brainscape is a flashcard service, not a wine program, and they are not associated with WSET. The website simply has a wealth of wine decks available for those in the WSET program which are created by 3rd parties. We may use terms interchangeably in this post but want to be clear about this upfront. Likewise, all photos are direct screenshots of Brainscape.
