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The Lighter Shade of Red

Grape selection and harvest timing are important to make more easy-drinking reds that are perfect for summer days, but techniques like secon

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Crafting Bold, Blockbuster Red Wines

Not all red wine grapes are destined to make a big, blockbuster wine. But even with the right grapes, a winemaker still needs to consider te

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Ratafia: A Traditional Liqueur of Patience and Fruit

This simple yet elegant liqueur offers a tangible connection to Italy’s mountain kitchens, marrying the accessible flavors of locally sour

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Behind the Table

An experienced wine judge shares why she continues to pull up a seat at amateur competition judging tables — including the thrill of tryi

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Vegetative Growth Cycle in the Vineyard

Spring and summer is a time of great growth for your vines. Be prepared this year, as Wes Hagen shares what you need to be doing during your

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Dornfelder: Germany’s full-bodied purple grape

Germany is most known for their white wines, though they also produce fine red wines. Dornfelder is a Vitis vinifera variety with a full bod

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Make Dry Berry Wines

In many ways, dry berry wines are built like fine, age-worthy red wines. Though more hands-on care from the winemaker is required in the for

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Tips for Grape/Non-Grape Blends

A New York-based winemaker shares his approach to making a grape/non-grape blend, using his Cranberry Riesling to demonstrate how complement

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Wines of Austria

Grüner Veltliner is Austria’s most widely planted and heralded wine grape, but there are more than 40 varieties Austrians use to make win

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Pinotage: A medley of dark fruit and spice

Pinotage is a South African variety with dark fruit and spice character that has made a name for itself in recent decades. North American wi

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Ferment What You Eat

Learn the basics of fermenting food, with steps and recipes to make your own fermented pickles, sauerkraut, and hot sauces.

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Innovative Wine Products

Pro winemaker Maureen Macdonald shares some of her favorite enological and viticultural products available to home winemakers and grape grow

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The Power of Tannins

You may think of tannins as no more than the drying or puckering sensation they provide; however, tannins also play a role in mouthfeel, col

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Wines and Steins: Supporting the Next Generation

A winemaking club in Paso Robles, California, shares how they are assisting the next generation of winemakers through a unique scholarship p

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Live Chat with Jef Stebben (2026)

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Live Video Chat with Chik Brenneman (March 2026)

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Preparing White Wines for Bottling

A look at the steps required in making white wines through winter and spring and how the timing of each step impacts when the wine is ready

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2026 Label Contest Winners

We share all of the winning labels from the 2026 WineMaker Label Contest, which include some repeat winners as well as new names from the hu

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An Organic Experience in France

A home winemaker interested in expanding her viticulture and winemaking knowledge interned for a week at an organic winery in France through

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Vino Cotto

Vino cotto is a traditional, semi-sweet Italian wine that is as much a culinary process as a winemaking one. Unlike any other wine, vino cot

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Syrah (Shiraz)

Terroir plays an important role in wine made from Syrah (or Shiraz, as it is called in Australia). From tart fruit, vegetal, pepper, and sav

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Evaluating Young Wines

During a relatively slow period in the vineyard, now is a perfect time to start planning for the upcoming growing season. Tasting wines from

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Pressing Rosé, Creamy Chardonnay, & Oak Origins

The Wine Wizard answers a number of reader questions.

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Lookin’ Back

A longtime home winemaker shares some of his earliest memories of helping his Grampa make wine in the 1950s — which began with a drive to

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Live Video Chat with Daniel Pambianchi (2026)