Wine Facts

Seattle’s 10 Best Restaurants for Wine Enthusiasts

Seattle’s 10 Best Restaurants for Wine Enthusiasts

Seattle’s wine scene is thriving, blending Pacific Northwest terroir with global influences. Here are 10 spots where the city’s culinary and viticultural excellence collide. Canlis, a Grand Award winner since 1950, remains a benchmark for fine dining. Its prix fixe menu, overseen by chef James Huffman, pairs Pacific Northwest ingredients with verticals of Burgundy and Rhône classics. The Canlis Salad, prepared tableside, is a must-try. Wine director Ally Lanoue’s 2,600-label list includes rare vintages from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Salon, proving the city’s depth. Across town, Metropolitan Grill elevates steakhouse classics with rare cuts like Japanese snow beef and…
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Wine Labels: Art, Marketing, or Misdirection?

Wine Labels: Art, Marketing, or Misdirection?

Wine labels are the first thing you notice—before the pour, before the first sip. They’re the silent ambassadors of a bottle’s story, promising everything from terroir to taste, all in a few seconds. Yet, as the industry grapples with identity and appeal, the question lingers: do these tiny canvases hold more weight than the wine inside? For producers, labels are both a necessity and a gamble. Legacy estates rely on names like Château Margaux to command respect, but newer vintners without such pedigree must craft something more. “Labels are storytelling tools, but they shouldn’t overshadow the wine’s quality,” says Holly…
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Etna’s Volcanic Edge: How Sicily’s Volcanic Wines Are Redefining Italian Elegance

Etna’s Volcanic Edge: How Sicily’s Volcanic Wines Are Redefining Italian Elegance

Time to spill: The volcanic slopes of Etna are rewriting Italy’s wine narrative. In a country long associated with bold, opulent wines, Sicily’s Etna region stands apart—its wines are linear, mineral-driven, and fiercely restrained. But is this a regional anomaly or the vanguard of a broader Italian shift? The answer lies in the interplay of terroir, ambition, and a generation of winemakers who’ve chosen clarity over excess. Etna’s vineyards, nestled around the world’s most active volcano, are a patchwork of microclimates shaped by lava flows, altitude, and exposure. These conditions create wines that feel alive, almost electric—think of Carricante whites…
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Orange Wines and Blouge: Decanter’s 2025 Guide to Emerging Trends

Orange Wines and Blouge: Decanter’s 2025 Guide to Emerging Trends

The wine world is shifting—and fast. Orange wine, once an obscure curiosity, now sits alongside reds in mainstream shelves, while “blouge”—a term few have heard—hints at the next frontier of experimentation. These aren’t just trends; they’re responses to a world demanding reinvention. From climate-driven viticulture to tech-smart authenticity, Decanter’s November 2025 issue cuts through the noise to spotlight what’s brewing. Orange wine, made from white grapes fermented with skin, has become a cult favorite for its tannic structure and mineral-driven character. Brands like Bonny Doon’s Le Cigare Orange and Maturana’s Naranjo Torontel prove it’s accessible, affordable, and wildly versatile. Yet…
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DWWA 2026 Opens: A Benchmark for Global Wine Excellence

DWWA 2026 Opens: A Benchmark for Global Wine Excellence

This might just change your routine: The Decanter World Wine Awards 2026 are open for entries, offering a rare chance to elevate your wine’s global profile. For over two decades, DWWA has set the gold standard for quality, with 18,000+ wines annually judged by 250+ experts—Masters of Wine, sommeliers, and industry leaders. A medal isn’t just accolade; it’s a passport to credibility, unlocking new markets, media exposure, and trade partnerships. Even non-winners get detailed tasting notes to refine future vintages. As Co-Chair Beth Willard puts it, “A DWWA medal is a catalyst for opportunity.” The 2026 edition builds on this…
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Vieille Julienne’s Réservé: Grenache in Excelsis

Vieille Julienne’s Réservé: Grenache in Excelsis

Time to spill: Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a high-stakes gamble, but Vieille Julienne’s Réservé dares to redefine the stakes. Jean-Paul Daumen’s flagship wine isn’t just concentrated—it’s a masterclass in balancing power and precision. At its core, this Grenache-driven cuvée thrives on tension, where bold tannins meet floral elegance, and ripe fruit clings to a mineral backbone. It’s a wine that demands attention, yet rewards with a clarity that feels almost paradoxical for its intensity. The 2015 vintage is a textbook example of this duality. Deep ruby hues swirl with black cherry and smoked plum, while a whisper of violets cuts through the…
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Etna’s Volcanic Wines: Eight Must-Try Picks from the Edge of the Earth

Etna’s Volcanic Wines: Eight Must-Try Picks from the Edge of the Earth

The verdict is in: Etna’s volcanic soil and extreme altitudes are crafting wines that defy gravity—and taste better for it. This Sicilian volcano isn’t just a geological marvel; it’s a wine-making crucible where lava flows, 1,000-meter elevation shifts, and ancient vineyards collide to birth something singular. The result? Wines that crackle with energy, brimming with minerality, acidity, and a wildness that feels almost alive. Here are eight bottles that capture the essence of this volcanic terroir, handpicked for their intensity and authenticity. Etna’s wines are built on a foundation of contrasts. The volcanic rock radiates heat, yet the altitude cools…
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Guado al Tasso’s Cabernet Franc Revolution: A Masterclass in Bolgheri’s Evolution

Guado al Tasso’s Cabernet Franc Revolution: A Masterclass in Bolgheri’s Evolution

If you’ve ever wondered how a single vineyard can redefine a region’s wine identity, look no further than Guado al Tasso. For four decades, this Tuscan estate has been a battleground for tradition and innovation, now epitomized by a masterclass led by Alessia Antinori and Renzo Cotarella. The session wasn’t just about tasting—it was a lesson in how Bolgheri’s terroir transformed Cabernet Franc from a supporting act into a star. The 2007 vintage marked a turning point. When Cotarella tasted the rich, vibrant Cabernet Franc from that year, he saw an opportunity to recalibrate the estate’s signature Bolgheri Superiore. Previously…
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Decanter Fine Wine Encounter Singapore 2025: Where Tradition Meets Innovation

Decanter Fine Wine Encounter Singapore 2025: Where Tradition Meets Innovation

There’s something brewing in Singapore’s wine scene. The Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (DFWE) returned for its second edition, transforming the Shangri-La Singapore into a haven for connoisseurs. Over 600 guests swarmed the grand ballroom, sipping from 52 world-class producers, their palates treated to everything from Japan’s delicate Koshu to Dassai’s premium sake. This wasn’t just a tasting—it was a cultural collision, where centuries-old traditions met modern innovation. The event’s heartbeat pulsed in its masterclasses, where experts dissected icons like Henschke’s single-vineyard treasures and Brunello di Montalcino’s bold structure. Château Margaux’s legendary depth left attendees speechless, a testament to the event’s…
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The Next Generation Tastes: Inside Decanter’s 2025 Issue on Family Wineries

The Next Generation Tastes: Inside Decanter’s 2025 Issue on Family Wineries

Here’s something to stir your curiosity: What if your family’s legacy wasn’t a business but a vineyard? The December 2025 issue of Decanter dives into the messy, magical, and often contradictory journey of heirs stepping into their parents’ winemaking shoes. From Bordeaux to New Zealand, 10 family-owned estates share their stories—raw, unfiltered, and steeped in the tension between tradition and reinvention. The meat of the issue lies in the quiet rebellion of younger vintners. At Château Pavie in St-Emilion, Georgie Hindle recounts how her approach to terroir-driven wines clashed with her father’s more commercial instincts. It’s a familiar struggle: parents…
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