Are you planning a romantic dinner date and have no idea what wine to get? The table is set with candles, fresh flowers and you even bought a box of chocolate. Soft, jazzy music is playing in the background. What you are missing is a bottle of wine. Nothing elevates your date night into a sexy, romantic evening than sharing a bottle of good wine with that someone special. You will not go wrong with sparkling wine. From champagne to cava, a flute of bubbly makes for a sophisticated statement...

To taste the true flavor of your wine, it is imperative to choose the right wine glass. In general, white wine glasses are smaller than red wine glasses. This is because red wine requires a larger bowl to release aroma. White wine glasses tend to be more U-shaped and have smaller bowls. This allows the glass to retain a cooler temperature while preserving the aroma, especially the floral notes. However if you are drinking full-bodied whites such as a white Burgundy or Meursault, try to go for a larger and...

In this era of climate change, sustainability is an issue that could not be overlooked. Sustainability in wine is not a matter of taste. It goes beyond a green cultivation process that does not harm the environment, and involves wine-growing practices that are also socially sound and economically viable. Perhaps you have been an advocate of organic and biodynamic wine and consider the issues of sustainability important as well. As a consumer who wish to support sustainable wine companies, what are some of the factors you should look out for?...

With the arrival of fall, not only do the colors of the leaves change, the food we eat is also different. This is the season of harvest, with many fruits and vegetables being freshly available. Fall also marks the coming of festive period such as Thanksgiving, and that means the time to feast! With the colder weather setting in, richer food will replace light, refreshing dishes. The wine pairing should be updated too, to match this heartier fare. Pumpkin is synonymous with fall. From pies to pastas, side dish to...

Pasta is the ultimate comfort food. Its beauty lies in its simplicity - a few ingredients can make a delicious, hearty meal that fills the belly and more importantly, feeds the soul. Matching the right wine with your pasta dish will no doubt enhance your enjoyment of this classic Italian dish. One of the most common pasta dishes is the tomato-based pasta. From amatriciana to puttanesca, these tangy pastas are irresistible. Given the acidity of the tomatoes, you should choose medium bodied wines like Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Montepulciano or Sangiovese blend...

Vermouth is old school. It is a classic drink, an essential element to concocting various cocktails and is even used in cooking. Vermouth is not a spirit. It is actually fortified, aromatized white wine that has been infused with botanicals. Originally used for medicinal purposes, nowadays vermouth is drunk as an aperitif or found in cocktails like the Martini, Negroni and Manhattan. In Spain, one often commences a meal with sweet, red vermouth, drunk neat or on the rocks, topped with just a slice of orange peel and a splash...

Going vegan is not only healthy for you, it is also good for the planet. There is no reason to think that wine will not go well with vegan dishes. We can go back to the fundamental components of wine to help us with pairings, even when it comes to wholesome plant-based vegan food. There are five characteristics to analysing wine, from sweetness to acidity, tannin, alcohol level and body. When it comes to pairing, the idea is to seek out wine that contrasts the taste of the food to...

Japanese cuisine can range from simple and clean-tasting to rich and full of umami flavour. Be it healthy or decadent, even though Japanese food falls under the category of Asian cuisine, it can still be paired with wine to bring out the essence of each signature dish. The delicate taste of sashimi, which is raw fish, is best brought out by sparkling wine like champagne. A light rosé or an acidic white like Albariño also works well with fish. Since there are different types of fish that can be eaten...

When we think of sweet wine, Sauternes is usually not the first name that comes to mind. Do not mistake Sauternes for Sauterne wine. The former is the sweet, golden wine that is the star of this article while the latter refers to an assortment of white wines that is produced in California. Sauternes is a powerful sweet wine that originates from Bordeaux, in the area of Grave where the Sauternais region lies. Made of up three main grape varieties, Sémillon, Sauvignon blanc, and Muscadelle, the process of making a...

Greece is not the first country you would think of when you consider old world wine. However, this beautiful country in the Mediterranean is actually one of the oldest wine regions, which has been producing excellent wine for a long, long time. The allure of Greece is its varied climate and diverse terrain. Grapes are grown on steep rocky slopes as well as on vast flat land. Many of its old vines have survived without succumbing to phylloxera. The grapes in Greece are unique to the country and the wines...