Wine, without the jargon
Short, practical answers to the questions real wine drinkers ask, each one checked and written to help you choose better and drink better.
Best white wine for cooking
A dry, crisp white with bright acidity is the safe all-rounder. Here are 9 picks by dish, the styles to skip, and how little you really need to spend.
7 min read
How to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew
Seven ways that actually work, ranked by safety, from the wooden-spoon push to the bike-pump trick, with the risky methods flagged so you keep all ten fingers.
6 min read
Is sparkling wine the same as champagne?
All Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. Here is what actually separates Champagne from Prosecco, Cava and Crémant.
6 min read
Best wine with pizza
A bright, acidic red is the safe bet, but the topping changes everything. Here is the best wine for every kind of pizza, red, white, veggie and seafood.
6 min read
How many calories in a bottle of red wine?
Around 600 to 650 per bottle, about 125 per glass, and almost all of it is alcohol. See the numbers by wine type and a few easy ways to pour fewer.
5 min read
Riesling vs Pinot Grigio
Riesling is aromatic and ranges sweet to dry; Pinot Grigio is light, crisp and dry. Here is the real difference in taste, sweetness, body and what to pour.
6 min read
How long does wine last after opening?
Most opened wine keeps 3 to 5 days in the fridge, re-corked. Here is how long each type lasts and the simple tricks that buy you more time.
6 min read
How many glasses in a bottle of wine?
A standard 750 ml bottle holds about 5 glasses. Here is the math by bottle size, pour and wine type, plus how many bottles to buy for a party.
5 min read
Which has more calories, beer or wine?
Per serving a glass of wine has fewer calories than a regular beer, but more per ounce. Here is the beer vs wine calorie chart, with the light-beer and weight-loss answers.
7 min read
Best white wine for sangria
A crisp, dry, inexpensive white is the base you want. Here are 6 picks that shine in sangria, the wines to avoid, and a simple white sangria recipe.
5 min read
What are wine dregs?
Wine dregs are the harmless lees and sediment left at the bottom of a bottle. What they are, why they form, the colour, and whether to drink them.
5 min read
Best wine with spaghetti
Pair the sauce, not the pasta. Here is the right wine for every spaghetti sauce, from marinara and bolognese to carbonara and aglio e olio.
6 min read
Low sugar wine
Dry reds, dry whites and Brut Nature bubbles carry the least sugar, often under a gram a glass. Here is how much is really in your glass, by style, and how to read the label.
6 min read
Pinot Grigio vs Sauvignon Blanc
Both are crisp, dry whites, but Sauvignon Blanc is punchy and herbal while Pinot Grigio is light and neutral. Here is the taste difference and which to pour.
6 min read
How to store wine at home
Keep wine cool, dark and, for corks, on its side. Here are the simple rules for storing wine at home, open or unopened, without a fancy cellar.
6 min read
Best red wine for cooking
A dry, medium-bodied red like Merlot or Chianti is the safe choice. Here is the best red wine for every dish, the ones to avoid, and how much to spend.
6 min read
Types of red wine: the 12 main styles, from light to bold
From light, silky Pinot Noir to bold, tannic Cabernet, here are the 12 main types of red wine compared by body, tannin and taste, with the best food match for each.
9 min read
Best wine for diabetics
Dry wines carry the least sugar and have the smallest effect on blood sugar. Here are the lowest-sugar picks, sensible limits, and the sweet wines to avoid. Not medical advice.
6 min read
Chardonnay vs Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay is fuller and often oaked; Sauvignon Blanc is light, crisp and herbal. Here is how they differ in taste, body and food, and which to choose.
6 min read
Is wine gluten-free?
Yes. Wine is made from grapes, so it is naturally gluten-free and safe for most people with celiac disease. Here are the rare exceptions worth knowing about.
5 min read
How many calories in a glass of white wine?
About 115 to 125 calories for a standard glass of dry white, almost all from alcohol. See the numbers by type and easy ways to pour fewer.
5 min read