The Sommy Blog

The best wine for Christmas depends on the roast: Cabernet for prime rib, Riesling for ham, Pinot Noir for turkey, plus Seven Fishes, tamales and dessert.

The best wine for mulled wine is a cheap, fruity, unoaked red like Garnacha or Côtes du Rhône. Why heat ruins Cabernet, and how to keep the alcohol in.

Wines that taste like juice, sorted by the juice you mean: Concord for grape juice, Brachetto for fruit punch, and Moscato d’Asti for peach nectar.

The best wine for cooking is a dry one you’d drink: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio for white, a soft Merlot or Pinot Noir for red. Skip salted cooking wine.

The best wine for beef stew depends on what’s in the pot: Côtes du Rhône for most, Chianti for tomato, Merlot for stock and Zinfandel for paprika.

Wines similar to Chianti, from Rosso di Montalcino and Vino Nobile to Barbera, Chinon and Rioja, with US prices and the pick for what you love about it.

Is wine gluten-free? Plain red, white, rosé and sparkling wine are, but wine coolers and flavored wine drinks can hide barley malt. Here’s what to check.

Wines similar to Cabernet Sauvignon for someone who only drinks Cab: Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Ribera del Duero and Super Tuscans, with prices.

Champagne alternatives for celebrating a promotion or big news: Crémant, California sparkling, Franciacorta, Cava, or a special red, with prices.

What wine to bring for dinner at a ski condo or cabin: boxed reds, Zinfandel, Malbec, Grüner and Prosecco that travel well and suit hearty food.

Wine with chocolate works when the wine is sweeter than the bar. Use the cacao % on the wrapper to choose Port, Brachetto, PX sherry or Pinot Noir.

Finger Lakes wine starts with Riesling. Here's how to tell dry from semi-dry on the label, which $16 to $35 bottles to buy, and the reds worth trying.

Loire Valley wine made simple: which region makes which bottle, what sec and demi-sec mean on a Vouvray, and the cheaper swaps for a $40 bottle of Sancerre.

White Zinfandel is a sweet rosé, and its maker's own numbers show how sweet. How it compares to rosé, what to pair, and which wines to try next.

Wines similar to Pinot Grigio, sorted by why you drink it: Soave and Muscadet for light and crisp, Albariño for more flavor, Pinot Gris for the same grape.

Malbec vs Merlot: the reference profiles rate Merlot as the more tannic of the two. What really separates them, and which to buy at your price.

Petite Sirah vs Syrah: Petite Sirah is darker, more tannic and higher in alcohol. Here's how each one tastes and which suits the red you already drink.

Grapes are vegan but plenty of finished wine isn't. What fining agents are, why the label stays quiet, and how to check any bottle in about two minutes.

Sancerre vs Sauvignon Blanc: all Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc from one small French appellation. What the premium costs, and four cheaper Loire swaps.

Tannat wine is a dark, high tannin red from Madiran and Uruguay. Here is how to tell a grippy bottle from a smooth one before you buy, and what to serve.

Assyrtiko wine is bone dry, seriously high in acid and often 13.4% alcohol. What it tastes like, which label word matters, and what to pour it with.

Pinotage comes in three very different styles, from coffee-chocolate to old-oak to light and floral. Here's how to tell which one you're buying.

Brettanomyces in wine smells like a Band-Aid, leather or clove. Learn to spot Brett, tell it from cork taint, and decide if the bottle is worth drinking.

Carmenere wine tastes of dark plum and blackberry with a savory, herbal edge. Here's what causes that edge, and how to spot a riper bottle before you buy.

Lambrusco wine runs from bone dry to properly sweet. Here's what secco, amabile and dolce mean, and why dry means two different things on a Lambrusco label.

Nero d'Avola wine comes in two styles that taste nothing alike. Read the Sicilian label to tell which is in the bottle, and what to pay.

What is Barolo wine? A dry Italian red from 100% Nebbiolo, aged over three years. What it tastes like, what it costs, and a cheaper way into the grape.

Carbonic maceration is why some reds taste juicy and soft. Here's what it is, why it smells sweet but finishes dry, and how to spot one in a wine shop.

Most sherry is bone dry, not sweet. Here's what Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Oloroso and PX taste like, and which one to order with your meal.

Mourvèdre is a savory, full-bodied red that rarely says so on the label. Here's how it tastes, where it hides, and which bottle you should reach for first.

What does Merlot taste like? Dry, with plum and black cherry and tannins you barely feel. How to tell which style is in the bottle.

Vinho Verde is Portugal's fresh, low-alcohol white wine. What the name means, why some bottles fizz, which grape to choose, and what to serve with it.

Malolactic fermentation is why some wine feels round rather than sharp. See which wines go through it, why butter isn't guaranteed, and how to choose.

Wines similar to Pinot Noir depend on which Pinot you drink. Gamay, Schiava and Etna Rosso compared by body, tannin and acidity, plus the swaps that fail.

A standard bottle gives you five 5-ounce glasses, or four if you pour generously. Here's the math for every bottle size, plus how many to buy for guests.

What does Chardonnay taste like? Lemon and green apple, or butter and vanilla, and two winemaking choices decide which bottle you are buying.

What does rosé wine taste like? Red berries, citrus and a crisp dry finish. How to tell a sweet bottle from a dry one before you buy it.

Grüner Veltliner tastes dry, crisp and peppery. Find out whether you will like it, what Steinfeder and Smaragd really mean, and what to serve with it.

Second cheapest wine isn't the rip-off you were told. A study of 6,335 restaurant wines found the biggest markup sits in the middle of the list.

Wines similar to Sauvignon Blanc depend on why you want a change: Verdejo for less acid, Albarino for a new flavor, or a leaner region.

Sweet sparkling red wine to buy: Rosa Regale, Stella Rosa and Roscato with prices, alcohol and sugar, plus why Dry on a label means sweeter than Brut.

Wines like The Prisoner start with knowing which part you love: the jammy fruit, the toasty oak, or the Zinfandel spice. Here's a bottle for each.

Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are one grape, so what does the name really predict about the wine? Here is how to pick the right style for tonight.

A corkage fee runs $10 to $40 a bottle at most US restaurants. Here's the tipping rule, the law, and the math on when bringing your own pays.

Wines similar to Malbec depend on which Malbec you drink. Six reds that match the soft everyday bottle or the structured high altitude one.

Terroir means where grapes grow changes how wine tastes. Here is what a region on the label really promises you, and what it never does.

Wines like Stella Rosa must match the light fizz and 5% alcohol, not just sweetness. Five bottles that do, and three popular picks that don't.

Syrah vs Shiraz is one grape and two styles. Learn which name signals pepper and freshness, which signals ripe fruit, and which fits your dinner.

Wine terms sorted by what they actually tell you: which are legally defined, which predict sweetness or body, and which are pure marketing.

Wines similar to Riesling split by whether yours is dry or sweet. Gruner Veltliner for one, Vouvray demi-sec for the other, plus four more.

Sauvignon Blanc taste splits two ways: grassy and citrusy, or ripe and tropical. Here's how to tell which one a bottle is before you buy it.

Grenache wine taste is ripe, smooth and low in tannin. What's in the glass, what a bottle costs in USD, and the label names to look for.

How long does unopened wine last? Light whites keep 1 to 3 years, structured reds 5 to 10 plus. Shelf life by style, and how to spot a bad bottle.

Wines similar to Moscato depend on whether you love the sweetness, the fizz, the low alcohol or the perfume. Six picks, one for each, with US prices.

What is natural wine? Low-intervention wine explained: how it's made, what it tastes like, real US prices, and whether it suits your palate.

Chenin Blanc vs Sauvignon Blanc: one is always dry, the other runs bone-dry to sweet. The label words, the family link, and which to pour tonight.

Dry Provence rose suits classic ratatouille, Cotes du Rhone fits a long-simmered pot, and unoaked Chardonnay is the pick once the vegetables are roasted.

The best wine for tamales follows the sauce, not the filling. Fruity reds for red chile and mole, chilled rose or off-dry Riesling when the heat climbs.

A wine quiz can point you to a style you'll enjoy, but most are shop funnels. Here are the real questions and what each answer says about you.

Cabernet Sauvignon tastes dry, dark-fruited and firm, with blackcurrant, cedar and a drying grip. Here's how to pick a bottle you'll actually enjoy tonight

Is this wine good? Learn the quality checks that work, what a critic's points actually mean, and how to tell if a bottle suits your taste.

Rioja tastes of ripe cherry and soft vanilla, and drinks smoother than a big young Cabernet. See how Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva change the taste.

Looking for a wine app for Android? See how Vivino and the real options compare, what to skip, and how to pick a bottle you'll enjoy.

Malbec tastes of ripe blackberry, plum, and cocoa in a smooth, dry red. See how Argentine and Cahors styles differ, with easy pairings and serving tips.

Tempranillo wine tastes of cherry, leather, and vanilla. Learn to read the Spanish labels, what to pair, and whether you'll actually like it.

Chicken satay pairs best with an off-dry Riesling that tames the peanut sauce and chili. See the best whites, reds, and sparkling picks, plus what to avoid

The best wine apps in 2026, sorted by what you want to do: learn your taste, scan a bottle, pair a dinner, or track your wine collection.

Wine for creamy Tuscan chicken? A dry Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc keeps it fresh, and a lively Chianti Classico is the standout red, no wine snobbery.

Red wine vs white wine, explained simply: how they taste, which one you'll like, how to serve and pair each, and when to pick red or white.

Rombauer Chardonnay alternatives that keep the butter and oak, from Mer Soleil to La Crema, plus the shelf clues and easy food pairings for a rich white.

Puttanesca wine pairing, made simple: pour a fresh Nero d'Avola or Chianti, or a crisp Falanghina or dry rosé when the anchovies and capers run the plate.

A wine recommendation app should learn your palate, not just show crowd scores. See how Vivino, Delectable, CellarTracker and Sommy compare.

Gamay tastes bright and tart, with fresh cherry, raspberry and almost no drying grip. Here is what it is, which Beaujolais to buy, and how cold to serve it

What wine will I like? A five-question quiz guesses once and forgets. A living taste profile and an instant Fit Check tell you before you buy.

Pinot Noir tastes of fresh cherry and raspberry with soft tannin and bright acidity. Here is what to expect, why it costs more, and how to pick a good one.

A wine tasting app can log notes, teach your palate, or pick your next bottle. See how to choose the right one for how you actually drink.

Find Caymus Cabernet alternatives with rich fruit and smooth texture, plus simple wine tips for choosing Bonanza, Quilt, Daou, or Austin Hope.

Cabernet Franc vs Cabernet Sauvignon, compared simply: how each tastes, which is smoother, what to pay, and which one fits your palate tonight.

Like Apothic Red? Here are the smooth, ripe red blends and Malbecs closest to it, plus the shelf words that will find you this style in any store, anywhere

An AI sommelier app learns your taste and recommends wine for you, not the crowd. See what a good one does, how it beats a ratings app, and how to choose.

The best wine for bratwurst is a chilled dry Riesling, because sauerkraut decides the bottle. Gruner Veltliner for grilled brats, sparkling for a crowd.

Sterling Vintner's Collection Cabernet is a soft, ripe Central Coast red at about $10 to $15. What it tastes like, what to eat with it, who should skip it.

Malbec vs Cabernet Sauvignon compared: how they taste, tannins, price in USD, food pairings, and how to choose the right bottle for your palate.

Smooth red wine means soft tannin, gentle acidity and ripe fruit, not sugar. The grapes that deliver it, and how to make any red taste smoother.

Learn how Riesling food pairing works with simple rules for dry and sweet styles, plus everyday dish picks that take the guesswork out of wine choice.

Butternut squash ravioli wine pairing, made easy: off-dry Riesling for brown butter and sage, light reds for mushrooms, dry Lambrusco for balsamic.

A wine cellar app should do more than list what you own. Compare CellarTracker, InVintory, Vivino and Sommy, and know which to open tonight.

When to decant wine and when to leave it alone: times by style, the bottles air ruins, and how to do it with a kitchen jug if you have no decanter.

A wine identifier app names the bottle and shows a crowd score. Here's how to go further and know if you'll actually like it first.

Winking Owl Sweet Red Wine is an Aldi bottle under $4 that drinks like dessert. What it tastes like, what it pairs with, and who should skip it.

A wine pairing app suggests wine for your meal. Here's how the best ones pair to your taste, not a generic database, from a photo or recipe.

A red blend wine mixes two or more grapes in one bottle. Here's whether it's sweet or dry, what it tastes like, and what to pay.

Pinot Noir is the bottle to drink with beef bourguignon and a cheap dry red is the one to braise it in. How to buy both without overspending on Burgundy.

Cabernet Franc tastes of raspberry, tart cherry and a savory herbal note. What to expect, how it differs from Cabernet Sauvignon, and how to pick one.

Beaujolais and dry Riesling beat a big red with corned beef and cabbage, because salt turns tannin bitter. Mustard and a sweet glaze change the answer.

Wine for Spanish tapas is easy: choose Cava for mixed plates, crisp whites for seafood, or Garnacha for meat. Get clear pairing tips for any table.

A to Z Riesling sits at medium sweet on the winery's own scale, not off-dry. What it tastes like, what to eat with it, and who should skip it.

A wine journal app helps you remember bottles you love so you can choose wine confidently. Learn what features matter and how to pick the right app for you

Pinot Noir is the safest wine with mushrooms, but butter and cream change the answer. Pair by cooking method, not just mushroom type, and dinner gets easy.

Josh Cabernet alternatives that match its soft, oaky style: Bogle at $12, 14 Hands, and Decoy at $25, plus the label cues to find your own on any shelf.