Mourvèdre is a big, gamey red wine that likely originated in Spain, before becoming internationally recognised as a Rhone Valley varietal. Most famously, it is used in “GSM” blends in the Southern Rhone, with Syrah and Grenache. It adds significant … Read More
While Argentina has Malbec, and Australia has Shiraz, South Africa’s signature grape is Pinotage, an indigenous cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. It’s a full-bodied, inky red wine, with some distinct flavours that make it an interesting wine for food … Read More
Schiava is a wine made from a range of lesser-known grape varietals from Italy’s far north, in the Trentino and Alto-Adige regions. It has some unique characteristics that make it distinct from most other red wines, including its sweet and … Read More
Touriga Nacional is one of Portugal’s indigenous grapes and has gained an international reputation for being both high-quality and highly affordable. It is one of the main parts of a fortified Port wine, where it brings a dark inky color … Read More
Valpolicella is a famous wine region in Verona, Italy, home to a renowned red wine that is also called Valpolicella. While it appears in a few different styles, the standard Valpolicella is an easy-drinking red blend, made up of 3 … Read More
Mencia is a rare red wine varietal, exclusively planted in Spain and Portugal – more specifically, it is mostly cultivated in the northeastern corner of the Iberian peninsula, in the regions of Galicia and Dão. Mencia wines are characterized by … Read More
Gamay is a red wine varietal, originating from Burgundy in France, but also frequently grown in the Loire Valley. It’s commonly associated with the Burgundy appellation of Beaujolais, so much so that the names “Beaujolais” and “Gamay” have become almost … Read More
Sparkling Wine Food Pairing Champagne Food Pairing Champagne is one of the most useful wines for food because it has bubbles, acidity, freshness, and enough texture to work with far more than just celebrations. It can pair with seafood, fried … Read More
Carménère is one of the classic Bordeaux blending grapes, typically used to add color to a red blend. It’s not massively popular in its home region, comprising just a few hundred acres of vineyards. There are significant plantings in regions … Read More
Carignan is a red grape varietal that originates from Spain, but is better known in the south of France. For a long time, it had a bit of a bad reputation as a thin, workhorse wine. This was mostly due … Read More