What shapes a vineyard? What decisions and reasoning brings a wine farmer to cut, trim, and train their vines in a certain way? Each method creates a different vineyard profile, unique to the hand that trims, and also affects the quality and profile of a wine. Let’s explore some of the most popular vineyard trellising systems, and discover what drives a farmer to choose a method of grape vine training.

When shopping for wine, how do you sift through the myriad of choices to find the hidden gems?

To find out, we turned to a wine expert with many years working in a wine store fielding questions from wine lovers with this question in mind.

She came up with 4 tips on how to stretch your dollar further without sacrificing quality, while amping up your wine cellar at the same time. Discover how to find good values in wines in this article.

As a country whose culinary cuisine has revolved around fast food for over a hundred years, is National Junk Food Day something to shun or to celebrate?

If you go back to the roots of fast food, it's street food, which is "the true testimony to the identity of a people.” Behind street food is a wealth of traditions and diversity of flavors and textures which all tie to a place, a people and ultimately are rooted in authenticity.

In this article we elevate the humble fast food by digging into the history of street food and provide ways to enjoy them more with fun and delicious wine and food pairing ideas.

Do you remember biology lab in school when you first dissected a frog, or other animal? It was fascinating to go under the microscope to see in miniature what made up a living body.

Think of this article as a biology class for grape vines. We dissect the vine and the grape into its parts so to help us better understand not only where wine comes from but also what aspects of its anatomy impacts terroir, vintage variation, and ultimately the style and taste of the wine.

Who is not awed by a vineyard. It brings us to a bucolic state, capturing our eye and our emotions which then transport our minds to a happy place.

Ever wonder what goes into creating a vineyard? While grape varietal and winemaking techniques are often at the forefront of wine exploration, the rootstock, the hidden foundation of the vine, plays an important role. In this article we explore the fascinating world of grafting and rootstocks and discover how they influence a vineyard's health, resilience, and ultimately, the very identity of the wines they produce.

Can a wine with a significant amount of sugar taste dry? Can a wine with a lower amount of sugar taste sweet? You bet!

Many wine professionals say that American wine drinkers “talk dry but drink sweet.” What is behind this phenomena? How do winemakers use sugar as a lever in making both dry wines and sweet wines?

Learn about the art & science behind sugar in wine in this article.

Americans’ quest for health and wellness has wine as the target. It’s making sugar in wine a “problem,” which gets in the way of wine lovers achieving their health goals. But, being made from fermented fruit, “poor wine” can’t help from sugar fruit in it. It’s like telling your dog it can’t bark! Is sugar in wine really this evil villain? We break sugar and wine down in this article. Let’s learn all about sugars and wine.

Getting ready to fire up the grill? While beer may be your usual go-to beverage when planning a barbeque, why not switch it up to wine?

Wine, especially red wines, offer incredible depth and complexity that can beautifully complement grilled meat. Plus, there are some many types, each one that will pair better with different grilled meats.

Here we share 3 key tips to arm you with techniques for finding wines to pair with your next barbecue.

We also have some great food and wine pairings, along with recipes, to try yourself and to create a memorable and delicious barbecue.

Start with an aromatic red sweet sparkling wine beaming with flowers and strawberries (think a red Moscato), pick an assortment of fruits and herbs from your garden and local farmers’ market, then get your hands on a really good dry Prosecco and sparkling water, then what do you get? A delicious, low alcohol wine cocktail, fine-tuned to please any palate. Learn more in this article.

For a wine enthusiast, stumbling upon a wine made by a grape you never had before is like finding a treasure in a treasure hunt. It’s the “hook” that catches, and delights, wine explorers, from wine loving consumers to wine professionals.

Branch out from the same old same old: get onto the unbeaten path and experience the thrill of trying a wine grape you never had. Plus we’re here to tell you the rich, and real, stories behind them. Start your treasure hunt with this article.

What does “real wine” really mean? This is what journalist Helen Gregory was on a mission to find out.

It took some digging around and talking with people in-the-know. In the end, it looks like she found it. Learn more in this article.

What wine did the Roman Emperor bring to Cleopatra to win her over?

What wine epitomizes the dolce vita, literally?

What wine would almost everyone like at your next party or family gathering?

It’s Brachetto, also known as the red Moscato. Learn about this wine known as happiness in a glass in this latest article.

Moscato has become quite the trending wine in the US over the past 10 years. Many people are drawn to it because they like sweet wine. Moscato is an aromatic grape, giving Moscato wine more facets to appreciate, yet, the popularity of the wine has made it a victim of its own success, with a plethora of just average (or below average) picks which are neither balanced or expressive.

But, did you know that there are tricks to make a really good Moscato wine? Whether it’s the traditional Moscato d’Asti or an orange wine made from moscato grapes, many Moscato wines should not be shunned or looked down upon. It’s like finding a pearl in the rough. And we make it easier for you. Beware: your opinion of Moscato wine is about to change.

Hear the story of the Ukrainian woman turned winemaker in the Modena province of Italy who was on a mission to make a monovarietal wine from a rare grape that thrives only in high altitudes. She made several attempts and then Sgarbato was born. This Pet Nat sparkling wine made from 100% Uva Tosca,  an ancient grape whose wine was described as "really healthy" by a 17th century Italian agronomist, is like drinking cranberry juice as a sparkling wine. Uva Tosca was abandoned after phylloxera, and thanks to Irene of Frignano, it is making a comeback in Italy's Emilia Romagna region. Read on to learn about this "underdog grape" and to explore the rich cultural heritage in the land where this grape was born.

Straight from an authentic Italian restaurant is this delicious eggplant recipe. It is a baked eggplant parmesan that woman winemaker and chef, Jacqueline Mitchell of Ojai Pacific View has wowed her family and friends with while taking vacations back home in the US from her “real job” as chef at a local favorite trattoria in the Langhe Italy. Not suprisingly, the wine and food pairing with her own California Dolcetto is out of this world.

Make your own parmigiana con melanzane with this eggplant recipe baked inside.

The world of wine is being revolutionized by a surge of talented women winemakers. These passionate innovators are crafting unique and delicious wines using sustainable practices and minimal intervention throughout the winemaking process. From meticulous vineyard management to exploring new fermentation techniques, they're bringing a fresh perspective that's pushing the boundaries of what natural wine can be. This rise of women in natural wine is not only exciting the industry, but also offering wine lovers a diverse and ever-evolving selection of delicious wines to discover.

We sat down with Luisa Corino, the first woman to take the helm with her brother Guido as the sixth generation of historic natural winery estate, Case Corini in Piedmont Italy. Get to know what makes her “tick,” what she does behind the scenes, her family and her hopes for the future of Case Corini. Check out this exclusive interview with this woman of wine in this article.

Dolcetto, a grape native to Italy's Piedmont region, ripens early and produces fresh, lively red wines. Unlike the area's famed Barolos, Dolcetto shines young, making it a beloved everyday red. We'll explore Dolcetto's journey, from sun-soaked vineyards in Italy to California, where a passion for Italian wines inspires a new chapter for this unique grape.

Dive into the world of orange wine, a unique style crafted using an ancient technique. These intriguing wines, also known as skin-contact whites, are made from white grapes left in contact with their skins during fermentation, resulting in surprising orange hues and bold, complex flavors. Often classified as natural wines, they offer a fascinating alternative to traditional white and red styles, attracting curious palates with their unique character.

Hilde Petrussa, inheriting a generations-long legacy of winemaking in Friuli, Italy, carries the torch with passion and respect. From her grandfather's farm to her mother's pioneering spirit, Hilde honors tradition while embracing sustainability. Witness her meticulous care for the vines, her dedication to Schioppettino, and her innovative use of air-dried grapes. Discover her love for Richenza and Schioppettino di Prepotto, and get a glimpse into the future of Vigna Petrussa – a commitment to green practices and crafting wines that express the unique terroir. Dive deeper and savor the taste of her story.