How to Drink Better

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 pay

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 idea

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%

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 wine

The best wines, beers and cocktails to drink with strawberries

How to Drink Better: Ideally you need something with a little sweetness and light, refreshing fruits

It’s salad season, what are the best wines to serve with cold plates?

How to Drink Better: This is not the time to bring out your finest wines, but it is worth spending a little more on your wine

I’m cooking salmon for a large group of friends. What kind of wine should I serve?

How to Drink Better: When it comes to salmon you can forget the old adage of white wine only with fish

How to discover the style of wine you like

How to Drink Better: Rather than go by a country or producer, it’s useful to choose a wine by its style: light, medium or full-bodied

What wines go best with a burger?

How to Drink Better: A proper barbecued burger makes a good match for serious red wines. Don’t be afraid to open a good bottle

How does wine become ‘corked’ and why are the best corks so expensive?

How to Drink Better: Strips of thick bark can only be harvested every 10 years or so without damaging the tree

What does Grand Cru mean on a wine label?

How to Drink Better: the categories Grand Cru and Premier Cru can provide an accurate guide to the best wines of the area

Could I grow my own grapes and make my own wine?

How to Drink Better: All the celebrities are doing it, why can’t I?

John Wilson: What are the best wines to drink in summer?

How to Drink Better: In warmer weather look for wines with less oomph and more acidity

Did you know there are more than a dozen vineyards in Ireland?

How to Drink Better: With climate change increasing temperatures, it seems likely that Irish wine production is set to increase

John Wilson: Why do some wines taste better than others?

How to Drink Better: Tastes differ but it depends on where wine is made, and where and how wine is consumed

What does appellation contrôlée on French wine labels mean?

How to Drink Better: The AC system gives a good indication of the style of wine you can expect

How did Marlborough Sauvignon become a global wine favourite?

How to Drink Better: The distinctive combination of green and exotic fruits took wine world by storm in the 1970s

I’m having an Italian-themed dinner party. What wines should I serve?

How to Drink Better: there are plenty of really interesting Italian wines to choose from

What is amaro and what should I do with it?

How to Drink Better: This original Italian aperitif can often be found in cocktail ingredients too

What is chardonnay and why does everybody hate it these days?

How to Drink Better: This fine white grape has yet to recover from falling out of favour in the 1990s

What’s so special about Chablis and why is it always so pricey?

How to Drink Better: Good news is most supermarkets will have a decent Chablis for €18-€20

Only in the very top category of wines does the year matter

How to Drink Better: Any bottle of wine can be picked from your supermarket shelf without looking at the vintage

Six benchmark wine types to improve your palate

How to Drink Better: The best way to learn about wine is also the most fun way - drink it

How to pick a good bottle of rosé – darker wines will not necessarily be sweeter

How to Drink Better: Rosé is made by macerating the grapes and juice together for any length of time from a few hours to a few days

There are reasons why holiday wine always seems to taste better

How to Drink Better: Producers are keen to sell their wine to anyone and everyone

Rosé has a reputation as being fun and frivolous. And who couldn’t use a bit more of that?

How to Drink Better: Snobbish wine drinkers have always had a problem with the pink-hued inbetweener

French wine bottle labels can be confusing. Here’s how to navigate them

How to Drink Better: The AOC system guarantees a wine comes from a defined geographical area and should also be a guarantee of quality

Where to find good value when choosing a bottle of wine

How to Drink Better: There are many things to consider when selecting a wine

Bottles are bad for the planet. What’s a conscientious wine lover to do?

How to Drink Better: Buy your beer in cans, your everyday wine in bag-in-box and your expensive age-worthy wines in lightweight glass bottles

You should be able to bet on the house when ordering wine

How to Drink Better: There is no shame attached in ordering the house red or white, which should be carefully chosen options to suit the restaurant’s food

What’s all the fuss about craft beer and why should I try some?

How to Drink Better: Although some drinkers are put off by the higher price tag, craft beers offer greater flavour and complexity

Why is Irish whiskey so much more expensive in Ireland than overseas?

How to Drink Better: We have one of the highest rates of excise duty on alcohol in Europe

Want to know more about Irish whiskey? There’s never been a better time

How to Drink Better: There are events, tours and tastings around the island for those who have a taste for more

John Wilson’s guide to food and wine matching

How to Drink Better: Follow a few basic rules and you shouldn’t go wrong

Drinking trends for 2024: Rising wine prices, more low- and no-alcohol drinks and reduced overall consumption

How to Drink Better: John Wilson offers his predictions for the drinks industry

Dry January: How to give up alcohol more easily, from eating spicy food to avoiding the pub

How to Drink Better: Top tips to reduce the temptation of having a drink in the new year

I want to spend €100 on a bottle of wine, what should I buy?

How to Drink Better: You could go right off piste and buy a wine from Greece (very trendy), Germany or Georgia

I think the wine I was gifted may be worth a lot of money. Can I sell it?

How to Drink Better: Unless it is very rare, wine brokers and auction houses are usually only interested in a full case of wine rather than a single bottle

John Wilson: How to be sensible about drinking at that office party

How to Drink Better: Eating before going out lines the stomach and sipping low-alcohol drinks also helps

Can you drink wine with curry?

How to Drink Better: Some spicy dishes can even bring out new flavours in your wine

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