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Where to go, what to open, how to taste.

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2022 BordeauxNapa weekendReds under $50Barolo vs Barbaresco

Wine Buying Guides

The best bottles in the store right now — ranked, priced and personally tasted by our buyers.

Best California Reds Under $50
Best California Reds Under $5012 bottles our buyers rate way above their price
Best Value Reds Under $30
Best Value Reds Under $309 bottles worth every penny in 2026
Best Reds Under $25
Best Reds Under $25Everyday excellence, in stock right now
Top 12 Bordeaux at BHW
Top 12 Bordeaux at BHWThe Bordeaux worth buying today
Top 12 White Wines
Top 12 White WinesWhites to buy at BHW now
California Cult Producers
California Cult ProducersThe top 15 names you need to know

True Wine Insider's Guides to Your Favorite Wine Region

Our most-loved original writing — where to go, where to stay, what to taste, and the bottles to bring home.

Napa Valley
Napa ValleyThe true insider's guide — Oakville to Rutherford
Bordeaux
BordeauxWalking tours, châteaux and futures wisdom
Tuscany
TuscanyFlorence, Chianti and Brunello country
Willamette & Portland
Willamette & PortlandOregon pinot country, the insider's route
Baja California
Baja CaliforniaMexico's wine route, valley by valley
Rome & Beyond
Rome & Beyond72 perfect hours — eat, drink, tour, stay

Find your way through 1,200+ articles

Every article lives in one of these collections. Pick a path — or use the search above.

Wine 101 & The Basics New to wine or refreshing the fundamentals — how to taste, serve, store, decant and choose with confidence. Browse Buying Guides & Top Picks Best-of lists and honest value calls from our buyers — reds under $30, cult producers, cellar-worthy finds. Browse Insider's Wine Travel Guides Where to go, taste and stay in the world's great wine regions — written from the road, not the desk. Browse Vintage Intel & Futures Which vintages to buy now, Bordeaux futures explained, and where the smart money is going. Browse Food & Wine Pairing What to pour with what — from weeknight dinners to holiday tables and celebration menus. Browse Winery & Producer Profiles The estates behind the bottles — from First Growth Bordeaux to Burgundy's grand domaines. Browse Films & Interviews Winemaker conversations, cellar tours and tasting sessions — wine culture on camera. Browse Tips, Trends & Wine News What's happening in wine right now — market moves, trends worth knowing, myths worth busting. Browse Sustainable & Natural Wines Organic, biodynamic, vegan and low-intervention — the honest side of winemaking, and why it matters in your glass. Browse En Español · Puros Vinazos Nuestro blog de vino en español — cosechas de Burdeos, guías y las mejores ofertas de Big Hammer Wines. Browse Wine Offers You Missed Six hundred wine deals we've featured over the years — see what you missed, and find what's pouring now. Browse

Vine Blog

Wine 101: The Basics
Person browsing an online wine shop on a tablet at home, comparing bottles and prices
  • by Greg Martellotto

Buying Wine Online: A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Well

Buying wine online opens the door to small-production bottles you’ll never see in a supermarket...

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Wine 101: The Basics
Aged wine bottle in cellar with barrels representing imported wine affected by U.S. tariffs and pricing changes
  • by Greg Martellotto

Wine Tariffs 2026: What They Mean for Your Next Bottle

Tariffs aren’t just a line item — they’re quietly reshaping what you pay for wine....

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Wine 101: The Basics
Red wine being poured into glass with dark background and soft lighting.
  • by Greg Martellotto

The Real Cost of Cheap Wine: Where Your $10 Actually Goes

Most $10 bottles of wine aren’t cheap because of what’s inside—they’re cheap because of everything...

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How To Choose Better Wine
An old bottle of wine in a cellar.
  • by Greg Martellotto

The Biggest Myth About Old Wine

Old wine isn’t expensive because it’s old — it’s expensive because it’s rare, stored for...

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Occasions
A woman and a man serving wine on a backyard during spring time.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Spring Awakening: The Best Spring Wines to Sip This Season

Spring is the season for wines that feel fresh, vibrant, and effortlessly food-friendly. Crisp whites...

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Wine Tips & Trends
Hand holding vineyard soil in a family-owned vineyard illustrating terroir and why wine changes every vintage.
  • by Greg Martellotto

The Fake on Your Plate — and in Your Glass

Most truffle oil isn’t made from truffles at all. Instead, it relies on a synthetic...

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Recipes
añejo tequila amaro cocktail with vermouth and Averna served in a Nick & Nora glass
  • by Greg Martellotto

The Best Cocktail I've Ever Created (And Why It Works)

This spirit-forward cocktail combines añejo tequila, Pio Cesare vermouth, and Averna amaro in equal parts...

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Wine Tips & Trends
A group of three women celebrating with wine.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Celebrating International Women’s Day: Women in Business and Their Impact

Women winemakers are reshaping the global wine industry through organic farming, terroir-driven philosophy, and family-led...

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Wine Buying Tips
Friends enjoying wine together during a wine tasting conversation about grape varieties and wine regions.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Stop Asking Me What My Favorite Wine Is

Wine is too vast and too tied to moment and place to have a single...

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Travel Guide
Wide landscape shot of Donum Estate vineyards.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Art, Land, and Wine: What a Visit to Donum Estate Actually Feels Like

Donum Estate isn’t just another stop in Sonoma — it’s a place where world-class Pinot...

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Wine 101: The Basics
A glass wine on a countertop next to a science book with some reading glasses.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Wine, GLP-1s, and the J-Curve: What the Science Actually Says

The conversation around wine is shifting. As GLP-1 medications curb alcohol cravings for millions and...

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Podcast
A shot of mezcal with a worm inside of it.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Why is There a Worm in my Tequila & Mezcal?

Curious about the real difference between Tequila and Mezcal? Discover their unique flavors, rich history,...

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Wine Buying Tips
Person decanting red wine into a glass decanter in a wine cellar.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Wine Market Trends: There’s Never Been a Better Time to Be a Wine Lover

U.S. wine consumption has declined 1–2% annually since 2021 — but the headlines don’t tell...

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Wine 101: The Basics
A cellar with six different wine bottles.
  • by Greg Martellotto

The Shape of Wine: How to Read a Bottle Like a Pro

Key Takeaways Bordeaux bottles (high shoulders) = bold, structured wines with dark fruit, firm tannins,...

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Wine 101: The Basics
Four wine glasses with different colors inside a cellar with oak barrels.
  • by Greg Martellotto

What Does Wine Color Tell You? A Visual Guide to Reading Your Glass

Before you smell or taste a wine, your eyes already tell a story. White wines...

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Italy
Assorted fresh tortelloni at an Italian pasta counter, including ricotta, artichoke, and truffle varieties.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Authentic Bolognese, the BHW Way — Why It's Nothing Like What You've Been Making

Learn how to make authentic Ragù alla Bolognese the traditional Italian way—slow-cooked with milk, white...

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Austria
German Chateau with Riesling wine bottles.
  • by Greg Martellotto

German Riesling Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Bottle

German Riesling ranges from bone-dry to lusciously sweet. This guide explains how to tell the...

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Wine 101: The Basics
How to Open a Wax-Sealed Wine Bottle (3 Easy Methods)
  • by Greg Martellotto

How to Open a Wax-Sealed Wine Bottle (3 Easy Methods)

Opening a wax-sealed wine bottle is easier than it looks. The simplest method is to...

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Sustainable Wine
The Wine Industry's Dirty Secret: Why There's No Ingredient List on Your Bottle
  • by Greg Martellotto

The Wine Industry's Dirty Secret: Why There's No Ingredient List on Your Bottle

Ever picked up a bottle of wine at the grocery store and wondered what's actually...

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Sustainable Wine
Sulfur in Wine: What You Need to Know
  • by Greg Martellotto

Sulfur in Wine: What You Need to Know

Is Sulfur the Real Cause of Your Wine Headaches? Many people wonder if sulfur in...

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Bordeaux
Why 2022 Bordeaux Might Be the Smartest (and Freshest) Buy of the Decade
  • by Greg Martellotto

Why 2022 Bordeaux Might Be the Smartest (and Freshest) Buy of the Decade

Drink now. Age for decades. Skip the tariffs. If you’ve ever thought Bordeaux couldn’t surprise...

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Bordeaux
Why 2020 Bordeaux Is the Sleeper Vintage You Should Be Buying Right Now
  • by Greg Martellotto

Why 2020 Bordeaux Is the Sleeper Vintage You Should Be Buying Right Now

Precision. Personality. Value. The Best of Modern Bordeaux. While the spotlight has shifted to 2022...

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Occasions
Beach, Please! The Hottest Summer Wines to Savor
  • by Greg Martellotto

Beach, Please! The Hottest Summer Wines to Savor

Summer is a time to unwind, relax, and enjoy the sun-kissed days with friends and...

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Bhw News
Summer 2025 Wine Market Update: The View from Inside the Biz of Buying Volume Deals
  • by Greg Martellotto

Summer 2025 Wine Market Update: The View from Inside the Biz of Buying Volume Deals

Why Being a Wine Consumer Has Never Been Better: Grab the Deals Before They’re Gone!...

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