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
How to Drink Better: On balance, I think this is probably not the best idea
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%
How to Drink Better: Traditional producers often believe the grape is just one part of creating a good wine
How to Drink Better: Ideally you need something with a little sweetness and light, refreshing fruits
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
How to Drink Better: When it comes to salmon you can forget the old adage of white wine only with fish
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
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 to Drink Better: Strips of thick bark can only be harvested every 10 years or so without damaging the tree
How to Drink Better: the categories Grand Cru and Premier Cru can provide an accurate guide to the best wines of the area
How to Drink Better: All the celebrities are doing it, why can’t I?
How to Drink Better: In warmer weather look for wines with less oomph and more acidity
How to Drink Better: With climate change increasing temperatures, it seems likely that Irish wine production is set to increase
How to Drink Better: Tastes differ but it depends on where wine is made, and where and how wine is consumed
How to Drink Better: The AC system gives a good indication of the style of wine you can expect
How to Drink Better: The distinctive combination of green and exotic fruits took wine world by storm in the 1970s
How to Drink Better: there are plenty of really interesting Italian wines to choose from
How to Drink Better: This original Italian aperitif can often be found in cocktail ingredients too
How to Drink Better: This fine white grape has yet to recover from falling out of favour in the 1990s
How to Drink Better: Good news is most supermarkets will have a decent Chablis for €18-€20
How to Drink Better: Any bottle of wine can be picked from your supermarket shelf without looking at the vintage
How to Drink Better: The best way to learn about wine is also the most fun way - drink it
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
How to Drink Better: Producers are keen to sell their wine to anyone and everyone
How to Drink Better: Snobbish wine drinkers have always had a problem with the pink-hued inbetweener
How to Drink Better: The AOC system guarantees a wine comes from a defined geographical area and should also be a guarantee of quality
How to Drink Better: There are many things to consider when selecting a wine
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
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
How to Drink Better: Although some drinkers are put off by the higher price tag, craft beers offer greater flavour and complexity
How to Drink Better: We have one of the highest rates of excise duty on alcohol in Europe
How to Drink Better: There are events, tours and tastings around the island for those who have a taste for more
How to Drink Better: Follow a few basic rules and you shouldn’t go wrong
How to Drink Better: John Wilson offers his predictions for the drinks industry
How to Drink Better: Top tips to reduce the temptation of having a drink in the new year
How to Drink Better: You could go right off piste and buy a wine from Greece (very trendy), Germany or Georgia
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
How to Drink Better: Eating before going out lines the stomach and sipping low-alcohol drinks also helps
How to Drink Better: Some spicy dishes can even bring out new flavours in your wine
How to Drink Better: Beers are flavoured with everything from chocolate to raspberries
How to Drink Better: There’s a reason why Prosecco is the cheaper bottle of fizz
How to Drink Better: There are good reasons behind the recommended pairings, but you should drink whatever gives you pleasure
How to Drink Better: If something looks good, it makes us think it will taste better
How to Drink Better: Advances in knowledge and technology mean that there are very few bad vintages nowadays
How to Drink Better: Dessert wines are hard to make well and given their complexity, some are very good value
How to Drink Better: What do those medal stickers on wine bottles mean and are they reliable indicators of quality?
How to Drink Better: A wine maker can be spoilt for choice when selecting a barrel when there are plenty from which to choose
How to Drink Better: In an ideal world we would all have an underground cellar, but a cool, dark space can work too
How to Drink Better: Global warming has led to raised temperatures and, in turn, higher-alcohol wines
How to Drink Better: Price and value are not the same thing and remember that more than half of the cost of the bottle may go on taxes
How to Drink Better: Producers take care to source their favourite oak for barrels, choosing wood and charring it to their taste
How to Drink Better: Whatever corkscrew you buy, make sure it has a coil rather than a solid screw
How to Drink Better: How to Drink Better: They are one and the same grape variety … fresh, fruity and a pleasure to drink
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices