Guide to wine glasses

With over 1300 types of wine out there, it’s better to start with just the basics. Discover the most popular high quality wine varieties–from Albariño to Zinfandel. In the Wine for Beginners Chart , you’ll find them arranged by color.

Wine Glasses

Which glass do you use for Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay? You can discover every type of wine glass out there, or just start off with a basic set.

Secrets to Reading Wine Labels

On US wine labels “Reserve” doesn’t officially mean anything, but there are a few tips you can learn. For instance, the alcohol level says a lot about the style of wine and the vintage tells you a lot about the quality.

Calories in Wine

Even though alcoholic beverages aren’t required to list calories, that doesn’t mean they are calorie-free! Learn the calories of wine by style including common wines like Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Moscato.

Wine and Food Pairing

We’ve illustrated wine and food pairings before, but the method above will inspire wine pairing with common dishes you might enjoy at home.

Common Bottle Shapes

It doesn’t matter what type of bottle you use (unless it’s for sparkling). However, there are some standards in the business. Did you know that Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Grenache are almost always bottled in a more feminine style low-shoulder bottle? Also, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are nearly always bottled in a masculine high-shoulder bottle. These facts can help you identify what’s inside the bottle when the variety is not listed.

Tasting Tips

Check out the video on tasting wine if you’d like to know how to taste like an expert.

Common Flavors in Red and White Wine

After you get past the “wine taste,” what else do you smell or taste in the glass? A handy list of common wine flavors may help you fill in the blank.

Save