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 it
Portuguese wines: a winning combination of value and excitement
Beyond the colourful labels of fruity Lisboa wines, Portugal has a lot to offer
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 drink
The cooking wine rule: if you wouldn’t drink it, don’t cook with it
How to Drink Better: It’s best not to use the cheapest bottle of plonk
The sherry revival: Not just the preserve of dowager aunts
There is a growing array of fantastic choices, with a group of small producers releasing thrilling wines
John Wilson: Rich and warming wines for colder evenings
Wines for the Weekend: These two wines from the south of France are made from the Grenache grape variety
Great wines from the world’s largest vineyard for less than €20
La Mancha is perhaps better known as the land of Don Quixote, but its limestone soils and arid climate are perfect for growing grapes
I want to start drinking red wine but have no idea where to start
How to Drink Better: It is a good idea to start with lighter wines that are lower in alcohol and work your way up
John Wilson: Lidl stocks up on elegant, flavoursome wines from south of the equator
Wines for the weekend: Four new Sauvignon Blancs and a couple of tasty Malbecs
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 offers
Time to embrace those richer autumnal red wines
The excellent hazelnuts, truffles, porcini and wines of Italy’s Piemonte region epitomise autumn’s rich bounty
Two very different French wines under €15 well worth sampling
Wines for the Weekend: A crisp and fresh dry sauvignon blanc and a warming, ripe full-bodied red
Are expensive wines always better than cheap ones?
How to Drink Better: Any difference after €30 is likely to be marginal
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 temperature
Dunnes Stores French wine sale offers plenty to choose from
Wines for the Weekend: Two whites that are perfectly good to drink on their own but also pair well with lighter dishes