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Old World Wine

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Italian Wine Basics
Learn about popular Italian wines, their grapes, the regions they come from and how to pair them with your next Italian meal.
Ramandalo and other DOCG Appellations of Italy
There are several regions in Italy that may not produce as many DOCG appellations as other regions, but still deserve recognition for their outstanding appellations.
DOCG Wines of Lombardy, Veneto and Campania
Lombardy, Veneto and Campania are three regions of Italy that collectively produce a large portion of Italy's DOCG wines.
Barolo, Barbaresco & More – Piedmont's DOCG Wine
With nine appellations, Piedmont is Italy's leader in unique DOCG production. Some of Italy's best wines, like Barolo and Barbaresco, come out of this region.
Chianti and Other DOCG Appellations of Tuscany
Tuscany is famous for rolling hills, sprawling vineyards and outstanding wine. While Chianti is the region's most famous appellation, it produces several others.
The Italian Wine Label and Classification System
Using the Italian Wine Classification system is a great way to determine quality Italian wines. Although it isn't a perfect system, it is can be a very helpful guide.
Best Reads On Swiss Wine
Swiss wine is getting more and more attention nowadays, but reliable information in English is still hard to come by. Here's how to gain fast access to the best of it.
Best Swiss Wines of 2009
The annual Swiss wine awards crown the best vintages and winemaker. The list of winners is an excellent resource for those seeking an introduction to Swiss wines.
Wine on Madeira, Portuguese Atlantic Island
Madeira fortified wine is well known for its excellence but the island's noble grapes also produce quality dinner wines, increasingly popular with connoisseurs.
Tasting French Wines
As part of their worldwide program of wine presentations, members of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux conduct a tasting event in Geneva.
Wine Gifts for Wine Lovers, Cheap or Expensive
Wine lovers are easy to buy for with this list of wine gifts for Christmas from cheap corkscrews, glass charms and pourers to luxury decanters and vintage fine wine.
How to Invest in Fine Wine, Vintage Bordeaux
Buying vintage wines may sound like a high risk strategy, but complete novices can safely invest in fine wine from Bordeaux by using a specialist wine investment company.
The DNA of the Chasselas Grape
Recent findings show that the Chasselas grape is Swiss, more specifically from the area around Lake Geneva that to this day produces the world's finest Chasselas wines.
How to Order Wine at a Restaurant
Navigating a restaurant wine list shouldn't require a GPS. There are many resources available to match the right wine with the right meal (and budget).
French Wines, Whites and Reds in Savoie-Alps
In the foothills of the French Alps, Savoie offers a wide range of quality wines, on a par with the finest vintages in the country.
Port Wine Shippers – Why are They So British?
To buy port wine is to buy into Portugal's history. And the British have acquired more of a taste than any other nation for the fortified wine of the River Douro.
Buy Port Wine and Give Your Taste Buds a Treat
What is port wine? Well, it's a fortified wine, and it comes in many styles: tawny port wine and late bottled vintage to name but two. And the best port wine is wonderful
How to Pair Red and White Wine with Food
It has been said red wine should be paired with beef and white wine with fish and chicken. The rule may not be so strict, but it's still a helpful guideline.
Buying Greek Wines Online in the UK
Greek wines are online, with wines from islands like Kefalonia and Santorini, so whether it's red, white, sparkling or even retsina, it can be bought on the internet.
Pairing Food With Wine: Champagne
Picking the right food to go with any wine is hard, this article aims to provide a generalized list of foods that match a bottle of bubbly.
The Real Vin Du Glacier
'Vin du Glacier' is sometimes used in English as a term for cryo ice wine, but the real stuff is actually a sherry-like solera wine for home consumption from the cask.
Four Great Wines to Bring to Thanksgiving Dinner
When going to Thanksgiving dinner as a guest, one must bring a gift for the host, who has spent the day fussing over the turkey & fixings. Great wine makes a great gift.
Grain Noble ConfidenCiel Sweet Wines
Grain Noble wines are natural sweet whites made from withered and botrytized grapes by over 30 charter-bound winemakers in Switzerland's canton Valais.
English Wine Heading for Success
England's winemakers are predicting a record year for English wine due to bumper crops from the summer sunshine.
The History of Wine Making in China
China is one of the first regions to produce the alcoholic beverage of wine. Early archeological research shows that early Chinese production dates to at least 3000 BC.
Blanquette de Limoux, French Sparkling Wine
The sparkling Blanquette de Limoux is an elegant affordable wine from the South of France, ideal for Christmas and year round celebrations.
Vin Jaune is Catching On
Yellow wine - slightly oxidized and resembling sherry in taste - is acquiring more and more fans internationally, not least thanks to an annual festival celebrating it.
Ways to Serve Mead, Drink of Irish Kings
The drink of Irish High Kings, newlyweds, and festivals for a few thousand years, mead is a creative alternative to more traditional wines and compliments all meals.
The Many Faces of Chasselas
Associated mainly with Switzerland, dig a little deeper and Chasselas wine puts in an appearance on several continents albeit not always under the same name.
Nez du Vin from Le Nez - The Nose Knows
From six to 54 bottled smells and books in handsome presentation boxes have proven their effectiveness as didactic tools. The 'masterkit' comes in eight languages.
Wine is a Healthy Drink
Much has been written about the benefits of wine consumption on health, particularly the healthful benefits of red wines.
A Guide to Champagne Bottle Sizes
From Piccolo to Magnum, Jeroboam to Methuselah to the giant Nebuchadnezzar and Melchior, here's a complete guide to Champagne bottle sizes and how many glasses they hold.
Red Wine with Fish
There are times when it is good to go outside theold adage of red wine with red meat, white wine with white meat.
Wine Inspired Quotes from Homer, Samuel Butler
For more than 8000 years wine has been referenced in literature. From the world's earliest writers to the quips of today's wits, the essence of wine has been recorded.
Pesticide Residues In Wine
A quick look at whether agrochemicals residues in wine pose a significant health hazard in humans.
The Marriage of Oak and Wine
If we look at wine grapes as the canvas the wine maker would be the artist that brings that canvas to life, creating a masterpiece called wine.
The Origin of Chalk in France's Champagne Region
Taking a brief look at how the famous soils of the Champagne region were formed by going back in time to the cretaceous beginnings of this celebrated terroir.
The Beaujolais Wine Region of Southern Burgundy
On the south end of Burgundy, France lies the Beaujolais wine region. The hillsides of this region is laddened with vines that produce vibrant, early drinking wines
Funny and Famous Wine Quotes and Toasts
Wine quotes and musing from history's greatest writers, philosophers, and a person named Anonymous have been around for more than 300 years, almost as long as wine!
The Rebirth of French Rosé
Rosé wines have a long history in France and are finally beginning to recover from the negative associations with "Blush" and "Rosé" marketing gimmicks of the past.
Fruit of the Tuscan Vines
The appreciation of the fabulous wines exported from Tuscany doesn't need to be puzzling. A little information will lead you down a road of discovery.
A Most Unusual Wine Club
The Wine Century Club is an organization which promotes the idea of diversity in wine tasting and appreciation and does not aim to sell wine.
How Noble Rot Produces Sweet Wine
Exploring the Special Relationship Between Wine and the Fungus Botrytis Cinerea.
Phlyloxera Vine Disease 150 Years On
It is nearly 150 years since the Phylloxera aphid was identified as the cause of vast destruction of vineyards in Europe, particularly in France.
The Best Wine in the World
In Italy's Langhe region, at the heart of the Piedmont, produce some of the smoothest, most potent, and finest wines anywhere in the world.
Where Does the Color in Wine Come From?
Wines are grouped as red or white, but in fact there are many nuances of hues, tones and shades in the appearance of this multifaceted drink.
Why Cyprus' Wines Deserve to be Recognized
Cyprus wine has embarked on a noble journey towards quality, eschewing its past reputation as a mass producer of cheap booze intended for Eastern European markets.
The Benefits of Drinking Red Wine
The good health of the French results from procyanidin in red wine rather than resveratrol. Red Wines low in sugar and alcohol from Southwest France are the best source.
Wine Tasting Duel, Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio?
Pinot Gris is grown in France and Pinot Grigio is Italian. But the process of wine making and wine tasters' palates count more in this battle than name and origin.
Cotes du Rhone Wines
Wines from the lower part of the Rhone River Valley provide wine enthusiasts with delicious alternatives to the pricier offerings from other areas of France.