Tagged: Wine Basics
All Sommo journal pieces filed under Wine Basics.
Wine Legs: What Those Streaks on the Glass Actually Mean
What wine legs really tell you about a wine, the science of tears on the glass, and why thick legs signal …
Oaked vs Unoaked Wine: What the Barrel Actually Does
Oaked vs unoaked wine explained: what barrels add, why some Chardonnay tastes of butter and vanilla, French …
How to Tell If Wine Has Gone Bad: 5 Signs to Check
How to tell if wine has gone bad: the smells, colours and tastes that give away a spoiled bottle, whether it …
What Is Dry Wine? (It Doesn't Mean What Most People Think)
Dry wine explained: what dry actually means, why a mouth-drying red is not the same thing, the driest styles …
Old World vs New World Wine: What the Difference Really Means
Old World vs New World wine explained: which countries belong to each, how the styles differ in the glass, and …
Wine Bottle Sizes Explained: From Half Bottle to Nebuchadnezzar
Every wine bottle size explained, from splits and half bottles to magnums and the Nebuchadnezzar, plus why …
How Many Calories Are in a Glass of Wine?
How many calories and units are in a glass of wine, why strength and size change the number, and a free …
Should You Chill Red Wine?
Yes, some reds are better cool. Which red wines to chill, the right temperature for each style, and a free …
5 Wine Pairing Rules That Actually Work
Five simple wine pairing rules that hold up in real life, from matching weight to using acidity and tannin. …
Do Wine Vintages Actually Matter?
When the year on a wine label matters and when it doesn't. How vintage variation works, which wines it affects …
Is My Wine Too Old to Drink?
How to tell if a wine is past its best, still fine, or actually improving. Signs to look for, which wines age, …
7 Free Wine Tools Worth Bookmarking
Free wine tools for serving temperature, drinking windows, vintages, food pairings, party quantities and …
Screw Cap vs Cork: Does It Actually Affect Quality?
Does a screw cap mean cheap wine? The real differences between screw cap and cork, what each does to the wine, …
Is Your Wine Vegan? How to Tell (and Why Most Labels Won't Say)
Wine is just grapes, so why isn't it all vegan? How fining agents make some wine non-vegan, how to spot a …
What Is a Wine Drinking Window? When to Drink and When to Wait
A wine drinking window is the stretch of years a bottle tastes its best. Here is how windows work, what shifts …
How to Open a Wine Bottle: Every Method, Including Stubborn Corks and Wax Seals
From waiter's friend to ah-so and screwpull: every method for opening wine bottles, including sparkling, …
How to Pair Wine with Food: The Complete Beginner's Guide
Wine and food pairing doesn't have to be complicated. Learn the core principles that work every time, plus …
Wine Serving Temperature Guide: Reds, Whites, and Sparkling
Serving wine at the wrong temperature is the easiest mistake to make and the easiest to fix. Here's a …
How to Decant Wine: Does It Actually Make a Difference?
Decanting wine isn't just for show. Here's when it helps, when it doesn't, and how to do it properly -- with …
Wine Myths Debunked: 10 Common Lies
Still avoiding screw caps? Saving cheap wine to age? Stop. These 10 wine myths are costing you money and …
How to Read a Wine Label (Without Feeling Lost)
Wine labels can look like a foreign language. Here's your friendly guide to decoding them and picking better …
A Beginner's Guide to Starting Your Wine Journey
Everything you need to know to start exploring the wonderful world of wine with confidence. No expertise …
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