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Wine Guides & Travel · Vine Blog

Wine 101 & The Basics

New to wine or refreshing the fundamentals — how to taste, serve, store, decant and choose with confidence.

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Looking for something specific? Try a region (“Willamette”), a vintage (“2022 Bordeaux”), or a question (“how long should I decant?”).

Wine 101: The Basics

Wine 101: The Basics
The Wine That Named a Supermodel: Margaux Hemingway and Chateau Margaux
  • by Greg Martellotto

The Wine That Named a Supermodel: Margaux Hemingway and Chateau Margaux

Margaux Hemingway was named for the Chateau Margaux her parents drank. The story, plus what...

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One-take-wine-pitch
A bottle of Screaming Eagle red wine with a red foil cap standing next to an empty wine glass on a dark wooden table in a cellar setting.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Why Screaming Eagle Costs $3,000: The Price Is Set After the Wine Leaves Napa

Screaming Eagle launched at $75 a bottle. A 57-acre Oakville vineyard, a 99-point review and...

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One-take-wine-pitch
A middle-aged man with grey hair seated at a long wooden table, inspecting and tasting red wine with a notepad and pen while several filled glasses and wine bottles line the table in a winery room.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Wine Isn't Dying. Americans Are Drinking Less and Buying Better

Americans are drinking less, but wine isn't dying. The losses sit in bottles under $12,...

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Red Wine
Freshly harvested red grapes being poured into a vineyard harvest bin
  • by Greg Martellotto

7 Grape Varieties to Try If You Love Cabernet Sauvignon

Love Cabernet Sauvignon but ready to branch out? Discover seven red grape varieties that deliver...

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Burgundy
Couple enjoying Chablis wine and fresh oysters at an outdoor table in Burgundy
  • by Greg Martellotto

Chablis Wine Guide: What It Is, How It Tastes, and Which Tier to Buy

Chablis is Chardonnay, but it doesn’t taste like the Chardonnay you may know. Discover what...

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Italy
Italian red wine served with pasta at a countryside table.
  • by Greg Martellotto

The 10 Best Italian Red Wines to Buy Right Now, Picked by an Italian Wine Ambassador

Ask me for the best Italian red and I'll ask you what's for dinner. Italy...

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Loire
Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc overlooking vineyards and the Loire Valley
  • by Greg Martellotto

Sancerre Wine Guide: What It Is, How It Tastes, and Which Bottle to Buy

Sancerre is the Sauvignon Blanc that doesn't taste like Sauvignon Blanc. Here's what it actually...

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Buying Guides
Here are the 12 Napa Cabernets you should buy right now — and why
  • by Greg

Here are the 12 Napa Cabernets you should buy right now — and why

The twelve Napa Cabernets we would actually buy right now, from a $150 splurge to...

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How To Choose Better Wine
Is Alcohol-Free Wine Actually Wine? The Merchant's Answer
  • by Greg Martellotto

Is Alcohol-Free Wine Actually Wine? The Merchant's Answer

Is alcohol-free wine legally wine? In the EU, yes, since 2021. In the US, it...

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Wine 101: The Basics
Red wine being poured into a wine decanter with a built-in aerating chamber on a rustic wooden table.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Decanting vs. Aerating: Does It Actually Make a Difference?

Decanting and aerating can transform young, tannic reds like Cabernet, Barolo, and Bordeaux—but they can...

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Wine 101: The Basics
Purple wine grapes ripening on the vine at sunrise in a vineyard, illustrating how climate influences grape development and wine style.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Where Wine Grapes Grow

Climate shapes every bottle long before the winemaker steps into the cellar. Learn how grapes...

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Red Wine
Red, rosé, white, and sparkling wines displayed in a vineyard at sunset, illustrating the main styles of wine and the fundamentals of winemaking.
  • by Greg Martellotto

How Is Wine Made?

What exactly is wine, and how does grape juice become the bottle in your glass?...

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4th Of July
Friends enjoying a 4th of July backyard BBQ with grilled burgers and a glass of red wine on a festive summer table.
  • by Greg Martellotto

The Best Wine for 4th of July BBQ: A Food-by-Food Pairing Guide

Planning a 4th of July BBQ? Skip the heavy Cabernet and pour wines that actually...

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Rosé
Bottle of rosé wine chilling in an ice bucket beside a pool with two glasses, sunglasses, and an open book on a sunny afternoon.
  • by Greg Martellotto

The Best Rosé Lives Under $35: How to Pick a Bottle Worth It

Rosé isn't just a summer accessory—and it doesn't need to cost $100 to be good....

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Father's Day
Bottle of Revana red wine on a wooden table, man tasting wine in the background
  • by Greg Martellotto

Father’s Day Wine Gifts 2026: The Complete Guide to Bottles Dad Will Actually Open

The best Father’s Day wine gift isn’t the most expensive bottle — it’s the one...

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Wine 101: The Basics
Red wine poured with bread and olive oil, representing the traditional wine-with-food lifestyle examined in a major cardiovascular study.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Is Wine Really Different From Beer and Spirits? A Major Study Just Weighed In

A major study of more than 340,000 adults tracked over 13 years found that moderate...

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Cava
Cava sparkling wine being poured into glasses overlooking a vineyard estate in Spain during sunset
  • by Big Hammer Wines

Cava: The Spanish Sparkling Wine That Rivals Champagne

Think Cava is just cheap sparkling wine? Think again. Made using the same traditional method...

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Occasions
Orange wine cocktail served poolside with fresh citrus and summer fruit on a sunny afternoon
  • by Greg Martellotto

Summer Wine Cocktails: The Spritz Alternatives Worth Pouring This Year

Looking for refreshing summer wine cocktails? Learn how to make Aperol Spritzes, Hugo Spritzes, frosé,...

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Graduation
Graduation party wine selection featuring sparkling wine, white wine, rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir for a summer celebration
  • by Greg Martellotto

How to Pick Wine for a Graduation Party: A June Celebration Buying Guide

Planning a graduation party this June? Learn how much wine to buy, the best wines...

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Champagne
Couple enjoying glasses of Chardonnay at an outdoor garden dinner table during golden hour with a wine bottle and appetizers nearby.
  • by Greg Martellotto

Chardonnay Day: The Story, the Styles, and Why May 24 Matters

Celebrate Chardonnay Day with the story that changed wine history forever. Discover how the 1976...

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Bbq
Family and friends celebrating Memorial Day outdoors with wine, grilled food, American flags, and string lights during a backyard dinner party.
  • by Greg Martellotto

How to Pick the Best Wine for Memorial Day BBQ

Planning wine for a Memorial Day cookout is less about collecting bottles and more about...

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Occasions
Woman enjoying a glass of rosé wine in a garden setting, perfect Mother’s Day wine gift moment
  • by Greg Martellotto

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Wine Moms

Finding the perfect Mother’s Day wine doesn’t have to be complicated. This guide breaks it...

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Bordeaux
Winemaker holding a glass of red wine in a barrel cellar, highlighting craftsmanship and hands-on winemaking
  • by Greg Martellotto

Why Blending Is Genius in Bordeaux and 'Cheap' Everywhere Else

Bordeaux didn’t invent better wine. It mastered the story. The same blending craft used in...

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Wine 101: The Basics
Laptop with spreadsheet on desk next to red wine glass, map, and corkscrew overlooking vineyard landscape
  • by Greg Martellotto

Wine Trends 2026: What We’re Actually Seeing From the Buying Desk

Wine in 2026 isn’t about predictions — it’s about price reality. Tariffs are reshaping what’s...

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