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Most Recent Q&As

Most Recent Q&As

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Image for the article titled: What's the best source of info for when to drink a wine?

Image for the article titled: What's the best source of info for when to drink a wine?

What's the best source of info for when to drink a wine?

Mar 20, 2023

Image for the article titled: What does it mean if a still white wine like Chardonnay has bubbles?

What does it mean if a still white wine like Chardonnay has bubbles?

Mar 16, 2023

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What's the best way to travel with wine and avoid "bottle shock"?

Mar 7, 2023

Image for the article titled: Is it OK for a dinner guest to help themselves to a host’s wine cellar?

Is it OK for a dinner guest to help themselves to a host’s wine cellar?

Feb 27, 2023

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When tasting multiple vintages of the same wine, is there a preferred order?

Feb 21, 2023

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Can a cork-tainted bottle of wine cross-contaminate other bottles in my cellar?

Wine Spectator's expert Dr. Vinny explains how and when cork taint or TCA contamination happens in wine—and whether or not you should be concerned

Mar 20, 2023

FAQs

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FAQs

Which wines are "dry"?

What's the deal with sulfites?

I found some old bottles of wine. Are they valuable?

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Serving

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Serving

Is it true that whites should be served chilled, and reds at room temp?

What exactly does aeration do to a wine?

Is there one style of wineglass I can use for reds and whites?

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Storage

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Storage

How long can I store a bottle of wine in my refrigerator?

What temperature does bottled wine freeze at?

Do wine-preserving devices like the Coravin really work?

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Sparkling Wines

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Sparkling Wines

What does "brut" mean in terms of Champagne?

What's the best way to store Champagne?

If a chilled Champagne warms up and then is chilled again, is it ruined?

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Red Wines

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Red Wines

What’s the difference between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon?

Why are Bordeaux wines called “claret”?

What is a “super Tuscan”?

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White Wines

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White Wines

Which white wines are “dry”?

What's the difference between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay?

What’s the difference between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio?

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How to Taste

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How to Taste

What does it mean to describe a wine as “dry,” “sweet” or “semi-dry”?

What's the difference between an oaked and an unoaked wine?

Is there a difference between an expensive wine and a cheap wine that earned the same score?

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Closures

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Closures

Aren’t screwcaps a sign of low-quality wines?

If the cork breaks when I open a bottle, does that mean the wine is bad?

What are synthetic corks made of?

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Wine Flaws

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Wine Flaws

Can drinking old wine make you sick?

Is "brett" the same thing as "cork taint"?

Why is oxidation bad for wine?

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