Articles tagged: virgin wines
<< previous page 1 2 next page>> written by Kristian Phillips The spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc is The Loire in France, however since the 1980’s New Zealand has been doing big things with this grape. If you like your white wines refreshing, fruity and a little zingy, then Sauvignon Blanc is for you. It also makes a great food wine. written by Kristian Phillips Malbec makes big, meaty red wines, which are full of lots of dark, spicy damson and bramble fruits. Perhaps slightly less well known than its Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon cousins, but by no means lacking in taste, Malbec displays clear characteristics of each. Here we get to know it a little more. written by Kristian Phillips Pinot Noir is a fiddly little grape to grow but when it’s at it best it produces some of the most esteemed and expensive wines in the world. Read on learn more about this exciting little grape. written by Kristian Phillips Riesling is an aromatic little white grape, which is full of flavour, sugar and acid. It really takes on the conditions of its surroundings meaning that the wines reflect the environment in which they are grown, be it the soil type, the climate or how the grapes are treated. Riesling wines come in a variety of styles from very dry through to lusciously sweet. written by Kristian Phillips Understanding French wine can be daunting, especially when you start to delve deeper into the mix of regions, grape varieties, complex laws and labels that make up the country’s wine industry. To help you on your way, we’ve put together a short guide to French wine so you can get an idea for the types of wine that you can expect from each region. written by Kristian Phillips Italy is said to be the second largest wine producer in the world and boasts a myriad of winemaking regions, each producing a diverse array of wines. With reports of 900,000 registered vineyards (enough for one vineyard for every seven people) and more native grapes than any other wine country. written by Kristian Phillips New Zealand is somewhat of a newcomer to the world of wine, especially when you compare it to the likes of France and Spain. But that’s not to say that New Zealand wine can’t stand up to its old world rivals. The country exports a vast amount of its wine production, makes arguably the best Sauvignon Blanc on the planet and its Pinot Noir is beginning to create a stir. But with over 10 New Zealand wine making regions to choose from and each producing some very diverse styles of wine. written by Kristian Phillips Any Spanish wine tour wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Rioja. It has been the epitome of Spanish wine for generations after all. However, Rioja is not the only wine coming out of this country. Here we take a look at how other Spanish wine regions stand up to their famous rival. written by Kristian Phillips Louise Truswell works in the wine industry. She has been writing about wine for couple of years and is particularly interesting in helping enthusiasts enjoy wine, including grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon. written by Rahul Rungta Shiraz is a well-liked little grape, often said to be one of the most popular in the wine world. It really started to make a name for itself when Australia started producing affordable versions a couple of decades ago. And with Shiraz production there going through the roof, many people consider the Aussies be masters of this grape. However, that’s not to say that any search for Shiraz should be focused just on Australia. This article will demonstrate that other winemaking countries have followed in Australian winemakers’ footsteps and are doing great things with the grape. written by Rahul Rungta Merlot is a very well known grape in the wine world and this is largely due to its role as a key blending buddy in wines from Bordeaux in France. However, the reputation that it has gained for producing some of the most prestigious and expensive wines on the planet (such as Margaux and Paulliac), arguably has overshadowed its use elsewhere. In this article, we demonstrate that Merlot is more than just a great blending partner and that it also has a really important role in its own right. written by Kristian Phillips New Zealand has got an enormous amount to offer on the wine front. It is most well known for its Sauvignon Blanc coming out of the Marlborough region, but other regions and grapes are now becoming increasingly popular and important for New Zealand’s wine industry. written by Kristian Phillips Over the last few decades, German wine has acquired a somewhat negative reputation of being cheap and sweet. However, German wine is much more than just Blue Nun, Liebfraumilch and Hock. The country boasts a range of good quality and great tasting wines - you just need to know what to look for and how to get the most from them. written by Kristian Phillips If you think of Spain, bullfights, paella and flamenco probably spring to mind. Rioja may also feature well up your list and rightly so, as it contributes to a vast proportion of Spain’s wine exports and is almost certainly one of, if not, the most well known wine to come out of the country. written by Kristian Phillips In the last 20 years, Australia has really made its mark in the wine world. The country produces a variety of wines from a number of wine growing regions and has revolutionised winemaking processes, making it a real force to be reckoned with in the wine-growing world. written by Kristian Phillips If you like your wines big, bold and fruity then Shiraz is definitely for you. The most widely planted grape in Australia, Shiraz is a favourite of many a wine drinker and is a great match for a variety of foods. written by Kristian Phillips Despite the fact that South African wine is generally thought of as New World, the country has actually been producing wine for more than 350 years. However, it is only since the end of Apartheid in the 1990’s that the South African wine industry has really come into its own. written by Kristian Phillips Merlot is a great player in the wine world, having two very different roles. Not only does it make a great blending partner but it is also a pretty good grape when used on its own, producing some deliciously subtle and easy drinking red wines. written by Kristian Phillips Chardonnay is one of, if not THE, most famous white grape. It has become so well known that even couples are naming their babies after it. But why has it become so popular over the last decade and how can you get the most from it? Read on to find out more. written by Kristian Phillips Pinot Grigio has become massively popular in recent years and is rivalling Chardonnay to the role of number one white grape. But what makes it special and when should you drink it? Read on to find out more. written by Kristian Phillips Rosé wine may be the perfect drink for summer but it’s also pretty good throughout the rest of the year. With Christmas around the corner, here’s why you should start stocking up! written by Kristian Phillips If you are looking for a special treat, why not spoil yourself with a Champagne cocktail? Perfect for any party or celebration, you’ll get a truly spectacular cocktail, along with all the taste of your favourite Champagne. To help you get started, give these ideas a try. written by Rahul Rungta When it comes to the best all-round tipple, Champagne surely comes top of the list. It’s got all the glitz and glamour for celebrations, yet it’s great for sipping amongst a small group of friends. It makes a smashing cocktail, yet is an ideal match for many foods. Champagne really can’t be beaten and with Christmas fast approaching, there’s no time like the present to start stocking up.
For all the Champagne you could possibly need this Christmas and year round, make sure you check out the online wine retailer Virgin Wines. written by Kristian Phillips It’s not long since rose wine was regarded as unfashionable and unsophisticated, with the ultimate social no-no being taking a bottle of rosé to a party or celebration. Today, things are altogether different.
According to the trade journal Off Licence News, sales in the year to February 2008 have increased by 29% and rosé wine now accounts for 8% of all wine sales compared to 1% ten years ago. And it’s not just here in the UK where we are proud rosé drinkers. Sales of rosé wine in France have outstripped those of white wine for the first time. written by Kristian Phillips Champagne is regularly served as an aperitif or as a toast at the end of a meal, so it is often overlooked when it comes to food. However, because Champagne is naturally acidic, it makes a really good food match - and not just for oysters and caviar as you might expect, but for a number of different foods. written by Kristian Phillips If you are new to wine, you’ll soon find that the choice is endless when it comes to buying a bottle of wine – you’ll come across styles, prices and quality at all levels. But if you are keen to bag yourself a decent bottle of wine (and at a decent price), you need to be savvy with your wine choices. written by Kristian Phillips With almost 300 Champagne houses producing Champagne in the Champagne region, there’s potential for a lot of bottles to be produced each year. Around 320 million to be precise! written by Kristian Phillips White wine is incredibly versatile and makes the ideal drink for a dinner party, celebration or, simply, for sipping with friends or family. And the good news is that, even if you don’t know much about white wine, it’s really easy to get the best from it. Follow these simple tips and you can’t go wrong. written by Kristian Phillips If you like red wine but don’t know much about it, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we look at some handy tips for buying and serving red wine. written by Kristian Phillips If there is one form of farming that is suited to being organic, it has to be growing vines. Vines are brilliant because of their hardiness – they’ll flourish in grotty soils and go weeks without rain. But does going organic make a better wine? Read on to find out how organic wines stand apart from normal wines. << previous page 1 2 next page>> |