John Wilson: The ultimate gift guide for the wine-lover in your life
How to Drink Better: It is always better to buy one bottle of good wine than three or four average bottles
How to Drink Better
Three make-ahead cocktails and one mocktail that will add punch to any Christmas party
How to Drink Better: These ‘fridge door’ cocktails are perfect to make ahead of time
Some wine bottles have labels with scores. What do they mean?
How to Drink Better: Scores can be a useful aid to buying wine, but remember they are often based on the opinion of one person
Alcohol-free drinks to celebrate and that won’t seem like an afterthought
How to Drink Better: While decent alcohol-free sparkling wines are out there, there are great cider and craft beer versions worth trying too
What are the best wines to choose for a table when entertaining guests in a restaurant?
How to Drink Better: It’s a challenge ordering for a mixed group of diners, but there are versatile wines that will always work well
What is the difference between organic, biodynamic, vegan and sustainable wines?
How to Drink Better: Organic and biodynamic wines cost more to produce and are generally a little more expensive
Help! I’ve been invited to a wine tasting. What do I do?
How to Drink Better: If you’re wary of the spittoon, do pour out any wine you don’t want to finish
How can you tell if a wine is off when offered a drop to taste in a restaurant?
How to Drink Better: I have never found sniffing the cork to be of any use, but others swear by it
The cooking wine rule: if you wouldn’t drink it, don’t cook with it
How to Drink Better: It’s best not to use the cheapest bottle of plonk
I want to start drinking red wine but have no idea where to start
How to Drink Better: It is a good idea to start with lighter wines that are lower in alcohol and work your way up
John Wilson: Are half price wines really half price?
How to Drink Better: The margins for importers and retailers don’t leave room for great discounts, only the biggest retailers can make the most special offers
Are expensive wines always better than cheap ones?
How to Drink Better: Any difference after €30 is likely to be marginal
If wine vintage is so important then why isn’t it always on the label?
How to Drink Better: There are very few really bad vintages and far less variation from one year to the next
I have lovely glass decanters but never really use them. Should I? Are they not a bit pretentious?
How to Drink Better: Decanters help open up a young wine, remove sediment from older ones and look great on a dinner table
Where is the best place to buy wine – supermarkets, independents or online?
How to Drink Better: It often depends on what kind of wine you want and how much you are willing to pay
I am holding a dinner party. Should I open the wines my guests bring along as gifts?
How to Drink Better: On balance, I think this is probably not the best idea
Why are so many wines higher in alcohol than before?
How to Drink Better: A great deal of wine nowadays has 14% alcohol, when for years that figure was closer to 12.5% or 13%
Why don’t French wines put the grape variety on the label?
How to Drink Better: Traditional producers often believe the grape is just one part of creating a good wine
The best wines, beers and cocktails to drink with strawberries
How to Drink Better: Ideally you need something with a little sweetness and light, refreshing fruits
It’s salad season, what are the best wines to serve with cold plates?
How to Drink Better: This is not the time to bring out your finest wines, but it is worth spending a little more on your wine
I’m cooking salmon for a large group of friends. What kind of wine should I serve?
How to Drink Better: When it comes to salmon you can forget the old adage of white wine only with fish
How to discover the style of wine you like
How to Drink Better: Rather than go by a country or producer, it’s useful to choose a wine by its style: light, medium or full-bodied
What wines go best with a burger?
How to Drink Better: A proper barbecued burger makes a good match for serious red wines. Don’t be afraid to open a good bottle
How does wine become ‘corked’ and why are the best corks so expensive?
How to Drink Better: Strips of thick bark can only be harvested every 10 years or so without damaging the tree
What does Grand Cru mean on a wine label?
How to Drink Better: the categories Grand Cru and Premier Cru can provide an accurate guide to the best wines of the area
Could I grow my own grapes and make my own wine?
How to Drink Better: All the celebrities are doing it, why can’t I?
John Wilson: What are the best wines to drink in summer?
How to Drink Better: In warmer weather look for wines with less oomph and more acidity
Did you know there are more than a dozen vineyards in Ireland?
How to Drink Better: With climate change increasing temperatures, it seems likely that Irish wine production is set to increase
John Wilson: Why do some wines taste better than others?
How to Drink Better: Tastes differ but it depends on where wine is made, and where and how wine is consumed
What does appellation contrôlée on French wine labels mean?
How to Drink Better: The AC system gives a good indication of the style of wine you can expect
How did Marlborough Sauvignon become a global wine favourite?
How to Drink Better: The distinctive combination of green and exotic fruits took wine world by storm in the 1970s
I’m having an Italian-themed dinner party. What wines should I serve?
How to Drink Better: there are plenty of really interesting Italian wines to choose from
What is amaro and what should I do with it?
How to Drink Better: This original Italian aperitif can often be found in cocktail ingredients too
What is chardonnay and why does everybody hate it these days?
How to Drink Better: This fine white grape has yet to recover from falling out of favour in the 1990s
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