Why do we use oak barrels to age wine?
Oak has unique qualities, including being watertight while remaining slightly porous
Which wine would you pick if you ran an award-winning off-licence?
John Wilson: This year’s National Off-Licence Association outlet of the year is Martins in Fairview, Dublin 3
Two modern French wines with lower alcohol and keen prices
Wines for the Weekend: This white is made from colombard and ugni blanc, while the red is a blend of three Languedoc grapes
Vinegary and funky or lively and pure? Natural wine is rightly having a moment
How to Drink Better: Some natural wines are great and some are substantially less so, but they definitely have a future
John Wilson’s pick of wines to enjoy with your Easter feast
Roast lamb will match well with almost any red wine, while prosecco is great with chocolate
A pair of French wines from Aldi for €8.99 each
Wines for the Weekend: Both of the Le Petit Poulets are made from a blend of different grapes and offer good value for money
How does irrigating vineyards work and will global warming affect this?
How to Drink Better: Traditionally, most French vineyards didn’t need to be irrigated but this might not last forever
John Wilson’s guide to great Côtes du Rhône wines
This is one of our favourite regions but it’ll help a lot if you recognise which bottles to buy and which to leave on the shelf
Two great Lidl wines at less than €10, including one of our favourite whites
Wines for the Weekend: Both the Albariño and the Malbec are usually priced at €11.99
John Wilson’s guide to buying and drinking Marsala wine
How to Drink Better: Produced in Sicily, Marsala was first popularised in the 18th century
Get on trend with these four lighter red wines from the Loire
If the reds from this part of France have not been to your taste in the past, but it’s time for a rethink
Two M&S wines with lesser-known Sicilian grapes
This M&S lucido is from a region close to Palermo, while the nerello cappuccio is mostly grown on the slopes of Mount Etna
What is the best way to drink Madeira wine and will it last after I open it?
How to Drink Better: You should check which grape went into your Madeira, a wine that deserves greater popularity
Four Irish whiskeys to try for St Patrick’s Day, including one in a can
And now is the time to pick up the latest iteration of Midleton Very Rare, Ireland’s most collectible whiskey
Time for quarter bottles of wine to take the spotlight
Wines for the Weekend: Quarter bottles have been popular for some time, but quality has been unreliable