Louise Truswell

Malbec makes big, meaty red wines, which are full of lots of dark, spicy damson and bramble fruits. Perhaps slightly less well known than its Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon cousins, but by no means lacking in taste, Malbec displays clear characteristics of each. Here we get to know it a little more.

Pinot Noir is a fiddly little grape to grow but when it’s at it best it produces some of the most esteemed and expensive wines in the world. Read on learn more about this exciting little grape.

Riesling is an aromatic little white grape, which is full of flavour, sugar and acid. It really takes on the conditions of its surroundings meaning that the wines reflect the environment in which they are grown, be it the soil type, the climate or how the grapes are treated. Riesling wines come in a variety of styles from very dry through to lusciously sweet.

Understanding French wine can be daunting, especially when you start to delve deeper into the mix of regions, grape varieties, complex laws and labels that make up the country’s wine industry. To help you on your way, we’ve put together a short guide to French wine so you can get an idea for the types of wine that you can expect from each region.

Italy is said to be the second largest wine producer in the world and boasts a myriad of winemaking regions, each producing a diverse array of wines. With reports of 900,000 registered vineyards (enough for one vineyard for every seven people) and more native grapes than any other wine country.

New Zealand is somewhat of a newcomer to the world of wine, especially when you compare it to the likes of France and Spain. But that’s not to say that New Zealand wine can’t stand up to its old world rivals. The country exports a vast amount of its wine production, makes arguably the best Sauvignon Blanc on the planet and its Pinot Noir is beginning to create a stir. But with over 10 New Zealand wine making regions to choose from and each producing some very diverse styles of wine.

Any Spanish wine tour wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Rioja. It has been the epitome of Spanish wine for generations after all. However, Rioja is not the only wine coming out of this country. Here we take a look at how other Spanish wine regions stand up to their famous rival.

Louise Truswell works in the wine industry. She has been writing about wine for couple of years and is particularly interesting in helping enthusiasts enjoy wine, including grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chardonnay is an extremely versatile grape, taking on the characteristics of the soil and climate from where it is grown. But this often causes confusion amongst wine drinkers who think that there is only one style of Chardonnay and therefore that every bottle will taste the similar, if not the same. In this article, we look to clear up any misunderstandings surrounding the grape and describe the full variety of styles of Chardonnay available.

In the last 20 years, Australia has really made its mark in the wine world. The country produces a variety of wines from a number of wine growing regions and has revolutionised winemaking processes, making it a real force to be reckoned with in the wine-growing world.