Wine guides

Clear guides to grapes, regions, wine labels and sweet wines, so you know what is in the bottle before you choose it.

Wine basics

How to read a wine label: grape, region, vintage and strength

A wine label names the wine by grape or by place, gives the vintage and the strength, and lists allergens such as sulphites. Knowing a few terms makes choosing much easier.

7 min read

Red wine

Guide · Red wine

Pinot Noir explained: regions, styles, serving and food

Pinot Noir makes light to medium bodied reds with red fruit and soft tannins. Burgundy is its home, but New Zealand, California, Chile and Germany make fine examples too.

6 min read

Guide · Red wine

Choosing a red wine by grape: Cabernet, Merlot, Shiraz and Malbec

The grape is the quickest guide to a red wine's style. Merlot is soft and plummy, Cabernet firm and blackcurranty, Shiraz spicy, Malbec rich and dark.

7 min read

White wine

Guide · White wine

Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Grigio: choosing a crisp white

Sauvignon Blanc is zesty and aromatic, Riesling ranges from bone dry to sweet, and Pinot Grigio is light and neutral while Pinot Gris is richer. The label tells you which.

7 min read

Guide · White wine

Chardonnay explained: oaked, unoaked, Chablis and sparkling

Chardonnay takes on the style its winemaker and climate give it. Unoaked and cool climate wines are crisp; oaked, warmer climate wines are rich and creamy.

6 min read

Sweet wine

Guide · Sweet wine

Dessert and sweet wines explained: late harvest, noble rot and icewine

Sweet wines get their sugar from very ripe, shrivelled, frozen or dried grapes, or from adding spirit. Most come in half bottles, are served cold and go with dessert or cheese.

6 min read