Winemaking
Vineyard to bottle: harvest, fermentation, oak, aging and the people who make the calls.
- Stories
- 18on the topic
- Last covered
- November 14, 2026
Latest in WinemakingCalifornia's 2026 Grape Harvest Started in July and Came In LightWinemaking stories
A Plain-English Guide to Port, From Ruby to Vintage
by Uncorked Wave ·Ruby or tawny, LBV or Vintage: how each style of Port is made, the temperature to serve it at, and how long an opened bottle keeps, per Port's regulator.
Pinot Noir vs. Cabernet Sauvignon: Why Two Red Grapes Pour So Differently
by Uncorked Wave ·Thin skins or thick, cool coast or warm valley: how grape, climate and winemaking make Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon so different in the glass.
Why Finger Lakes Riesling Tastes the Way It Does
by Uncorked Wave ·Deep glacial lakes keep Finger Lakes vineyards steady, and a four-step scale on the back label shows how sweet a Riesling is. Here is how to read both.
Same Grape, Different Clocks: Barolo and Barbaresco
by Uncorked Wave ·Barolo and Barbaresco are both 100% Nebbiolo from Piedmont's Langhe hills. The official aging minimums, Riserva rules and release dates set them apart.
Butter or Steel? How to Tell Oaked From Unoaked Chardonnay Before You Buy
by Uncorked Wave ·Chardonnay can taste rich and toasty or crisp and lean. Here is what oak and malolactic fermentation do, and the label and region clues to look for.
What the Words on a Rioja Label Promise
by Uncorked Wave ·Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva set Rioja's aging minimums. Zone, village and Viñedo Singular labels pin down the vineyard. Here is what each one requires.
The High Road to Argentine Malbec
by Uncorked Wave ·Most Argentine Malbec grows in Mendoza at 430 to 2,000 meters. How the Uco Valley, a desert climate and a Southern Hemisphere harvest set it apart from Cahors.
Beaujolais Nouveau 2026 Arrives Thursday, November 19
by Uncorked Wave ·This year's Beaujolais Nouveau is released Thursday, November 19. What Gamay is, how the wine is made in weeks, and how Nouveau differs from the crus.
Six Wines Under $25 From Portugal, Spain, France, Chile and Argentina
by Uncorked Wave ·Six wines under $25 from Vinho Verde, Rioja, Côtes du Rhône, Colchagua and Mendoza, each checked against the producer and a US retailer listing.
Champagne, Prosecco, Cava or Crémant? Sorting Out the Holiday Bubbles
by Uncorked Wave ·Two ways to make bubbles, four names on the shelf, and why Extra Dry is sweeter than Brut. A clear guide to buying sparkling wine for the holidays.
From Pale Onion Skin to Deep Pink: How Rosé Gets Its Color
by Uncorked Wave ·Rosé is not red and white wine mixed. Here is how direct press, skin contact and saignée work, and why one rosé is pale and another deep pink.
Napa or Sonoma? Choosing a Valley for Your First Wine Country Trip
by Uncorked Wave ·Napa is compact and reservation-driven; Sonoma is larger and looser. Here is how fees, bookings and car-free options compare for a first wine country trip.
A Four-Step Wine Tasting You Can Run at Your Kitchen Table
by Uncorked Wave ·A simple four-step way to taste wine at home, based on the methods WSET and the Court of Master Sommeliers teach, plus how to set up a side-by-side flight.
What the Organic Seal on a Wine Bottle Promises, and What Natural Does Not
by Uncorked Wave ·On a US label, organic wine and wine made with organic grapes follow different rules. Here is what each means, plus what natural and biodynamic certify.
75, 85, 95: The Numbers Hiding in Every American Wine Label
by Uncorked Wave ·A grape name means at least 75% of it. An AVA means 85%. Here is what federal rules require behind a US wine label's grape, place, year and alcohol.
Virginia Wine, Region by Region
by Uncorked Wave ·Virginia's nine AVAs, the grapes it grows most (Cabernet Franc leads), and how to visit Charlottesville, Loudoun and the Shenandoah Valley without driving.
How the Alcohol Comes Out of Dealcoholized Wine
by Uncorked Wave ·Vacuum distillation, spinning cone and reverse osmosis explained, plus what dealcoholized and alcohol-removed mean on a US wine label below 0.5% ABV.
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