Wines for Christmas party season: What should I serve, and are there non-alcoholic options?You should over-order even if it means you have leftovers, writes John WilsonSat Nov 23 2024 - 05:00
Two French wines that could come in handy in the run-up to ChristmasWines for the Weekend: Typically Picpoul is light and refreshing while the Bordeaux can sometimes seem a little austereFri Nov 22 2024 - 05:00
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 wellSun Nov 17 2024 - 05:00
New Irish whiskeys that would make great Christmas giftsEmbrace the spirit of the season with these new releases across all budgetsSat Nov 16 2024 - 05:00
Two perennial classic wines at the right priceWines for the Weekend: A chenin blanc and an organic Corbieres are two of the best from South AfricaFri Nov 15 2024 - 05:00
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 expensiveSun Nov 10 2024 - 05:00
The future of wine is flatpack and boxed, but will it be drinkable? Packaging and transport accounts for 40% of a winery’s climate emissionsSat Nov 09 2024 - 05:00
Two German wines that are a little bit more expensive, but certainly worth itWines for the Weekend: This Reisling and Pinot Noir are the ones to go for when on promotionFri Nov 08 2024 - 05:00
The Irish wine makers: ‘It is a miracle. Last year we got the same volume as growers in the north of Italy’There are a growing number of vineyards in Ireland, small in scale but big in ambition as global climate change forces the focus away from warmer climesTue Nov 05 2024 - 08:33
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 finishSun Nov 03 2024 - 05:00
Award-winning wines to try from neighbourhood off-licencesEach of this week’s wines won Gold Stars in the recent National Off-Licence Association awardsSat Nov 02 2024 - 05:00
Can I add ice to wine and how can I avoid hangovers? John Wilson answers 50 popular questions about wineIs a screwcap naff? Is orange wine made from oranges? Do decanters make a difference? Our wine critic addresses common concerns of budding oenophilesSat Nov 02 2024 - 05:00
Two rich, warming Spanish wines at a great priceWines for the Weekend: Toro is a region in northern Spain, known for producing big powerful red winesFri Nov 01 2024 - 05:00
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 itSun Oct 27 2024 - 05:00
Portuguese wines: a winning combination of value and excitementBeyond the colourful labels of fruity Lisboa wines, Portugal has a lot to offerSat Oct 26 2024 - 05:00
John Wilson: A classic Bordeaux and a lesser-known Loire Valley white Wines for the Weekend: These two French wines are great value for money and good to drinkFri Oct 25 2024 - 05:00
The cooking wine rule: if you wouldn’t drink it, don’t cook with itHow to Drink Better: It’s best not to use the cheapest bottle of plonkSun Oct 20 2024 - 05:00
The sherry revival: Not just the preserve of dowager auntsThere is a growing array of fantastic choices, with a group of small producers releasing thrilling winesSat Oct 19 2024 - 05:00
John Wilson: Rich and warming wines for colder eveningsWines for the Weekend: These two wines from the south of France are made from the Grenache grape varietyFri Oct 18 2024 - 05:00
Great wines from the world’s largest vineyard for less than €20La Mancha is perhaps better known as the land of Don Quixote, but its limestone soils and arid climate are perfect for growing grapesSat Oct 12 2024 - 05:00
I want to start drinking red wine but have no idea where to startHow to Drink Better: It is a good idea to start with lighter wines that are lower in alcohol and work your way upFri Oct 11 2024 - 06:00
John Wilson: Lidl stocks up on elegant, flavoursome wines from south of the equatorWines for the weekend: Four new Sauvignon Blancs and a couple of tasty MalbecsThu Oct 10 2024 - 05:00
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 offersSun Oct 06 2024 - 05:00
Time to embrace those richer autumnal red winesThe excellent hazelnuts, truffles, porcini and wines of Italy’s Piemonte region epitomise autumn’s rich bountySat Oct 05 2024 - 05:00
Two very different French wines under €15 well worth samplingWines for the Weekend: A crisp and fresh dry sauvignon blanc and a warming, ripe full-bodied redFri Oct 04 2024 - 05:00
Are expensive wines always better than cheap ones?How to Drink Better: Any difference after €30 is likely to be marginalSun Sept 29 2024 - 05:00
Four white wines that work well with hearty autumnal food Served blind, some of these textured white wines could pass as a red if served at room temperatureSat Sept 28 2024 - 05:00
French wine sale offers plenty to choose fromWines for the Weekend: Two whites that are perfectly good to drink on their own but also pair well with lighter dishesFri Sept 27 2024 - 05:00
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 nextSun Sept 22 2024 - 05:00
Look beyond Sancerre and Marlborough for quality sauvignon blancIt’s worth trying these atypical sauvignon blancs that still deliver the vibrant and refreshing character that makes it so popularSat Sept 21 2024 - 05:00
Well-priced wines from France and South Africa for bargain huntersWines for the Weekend: Unoaked white and spicy red available in TescoFri Sept 20 2024 - 06:00
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 tableSun Sept 15 2024 - 05:00
Greek red wines are a treasure trove of unique grape varietiesInterest in Greek wine has been growing. As we head into autumn, here are two grape varieties worth investigatingSat Sept 14 2024 - 05:00
A Riesling for €12 and a Bordeaux for under €10 offer great valueWines for the Weekend: SuperValu’s French wine sale has a number of excellent options worth checking outFri Sept 13 2024 - 05:00
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 payFri Sept 13 2024 - 04:00
Four distinctive new Irish whiskeys to tryEach of these new releases takes its flavour from the maturing process in casks ranging from sherry to Swedish oakSat Sept 07 2024 - 05:00
Two French wines for €10, a dry white from Alsace and an earthy red from the south Wines for the Weekend: Alsace, in the east of France produces excellent fresh dry white wines that usually have a mouth-watering, nervy acidityFri Sept 06 2024 - 05:00
It’s wine sale season: snap up these four bottles on the cheapAll the multiples run their wine sales in September and there is plenty to choose fromTue Sept 03 2024 - 13:33
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 ideaSun Sept 01 2024 - 05:00
John Wilson: Two solid Italian wines for less than €9Wines for the Weekend: Aldi has a good offer on Italians that work well with food, but are also good on their ownFri Aug 30 2024 - 05:00
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%Sun Aug 25 2024 - 06:00
John Wilson: Time for a last blast of the summer wineLighter wines for a final festive flourish - indoors or out - before summer’s endSat Aug 24 2024 - 05:00
Wines from Italy and Portugal offering real bang per buckWines for the Weekend: O’Briens has found a replacement for its popular Porta 6 that’s likely to be just as successfulFri Aug 23 2024 - 05:00
We tried 33 alcohol-free wines. Many were disgusting and disappointing, but here’s seven worth tryingThe red wines are the least palatable, while the sparkling wines are the bestMon Aug 19 2024 - 05:00
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 wineSun Aug 18 2024 - 05:00
Four Irish session beers perfect for the last few weeks of summerThese lower-alcohol beers are great thirst-quenchersSat Aug 17 2024 - 05:00
Two bottles from the Languedoc, a great source of inexpensive winesWines for the Weekend: While Languedoc has its own local varieties, producers have also planted all of the various well-known grapesFri Aug 16 2024 - 05:00
The best wines, beers and cocktails to drink with strawberriesHow to Drink Better: Ideally you need something with a little sweetness and light, refreshing fruitsSun Aug 11 2024 - 06:00
Good Champagne does not have to cost a fortune: three great value options and a very good alternativeLet the good times flow without haemorrhaging cashSat Aug 10 2024 - 05:00
Down-under prices: an Australian and a New Zealand wine for €10 apieceWines for the Weekend: Two southern hemisphere wines – one fresh and crisp, the other packing a punchFri Aug 09 2024 - 07:00
