Move over Chile and Argentina, there’s a new burgeoning wine region in South America that’s ready for the limelight. While small in size (about the same size as Washington State), Uruguay is mighty when it comes to wine.

When you think about the US’s wine regions, chances are your mind likely automatically goes to California. But there are so many other regions scattered throughout the US - almost every state has winemaking to some degree. One of the more burgeoning states is Oregon. No surprise considering it’s just north of California, but keep in mind that Oregon is a cooler and rainier state, so vineyard management is often very different from what you might find in California.

Austria may not be the first country that comes to mind when you think about wine. It might not even be the fifth country you think of. But Austria is definitely a country you should keep in mind for both whites and reds. The most common wine associated with Austria is the white grape variety of Grüner Veltliner - but there’s so much more than just that.

Sometimes I feel like Sauvignon Blanc is an all-too-often overlooked grape varietal. Even though it’s a super aromatic grape, climate and winemaking really does have a huge influence on the finished wine.

It’s a common misconception that all wines get better with age. To be honest, most wines sold at bottle shops are meant to be drunk young (meaning somewhere between immediately after being bottle to up to 5 years after it’s been bottled). Once more than 5 years pass, the chemical compounds in the wine start to break down, really altering the wine’s taste.

Tannins and red wine go hand in hand, and I’m sure you’ve heard the word thrown around as a descriptor - and perhaps you’ve used it as well. But do you really know what tannins are?

Being in North America, when you think Cab Sauv, I’m sure a majority of us immediately think of California. And while California does have some excellent examples of the wine, this grape really does flourish in a variety of regions around the world.

Even though Germany is the home of Riesling, there’s more to the country than just the aromatic white variety.

Not all Rieslings are sweet! One of the noble grape varieties, Riesling is an extremely versatile aromatic white grape.

One of the most temperamental grapes in the world, Pinot Noir can produce some of the most elegant reds, however it can also produce some very mediocre reds. It’s all about the climate and winemaking influences with Pinot Noir.