Columns

Chateau Petrus

Greg Somm: 7 Notable Facts About Château Pétrus

Petrus – the name itself determines the greatness of this wine. The name of the founder of the Holy See...

Great Burgundy Tasting

Greg Somm: Exploring the Greatness of Chambolle-Musigny

The location of this vineyard is very specific compared with other similar sites in other communes of the Cote de...

Bordeaux En Primeurs 2025: What to Expect?

Bordeaux En Primeurs 2025: What to Expect?

The 2025 En Primeur campaign will happen in May-June of this year. Today, judging by the 2024 vintage reports, we...

Top Burgundy Wines, Greg Somm

Greg Somm: Tasting Big Wines For Earthly Prices

We continued with Richebourg 2017 from DRC. And here I would like to say that this is the most monumental...

Chateau Petrus

Greg Somm: 7 Notable Facts About Château Pétrus

Petrus – the name itself determines the greatness of this wine. The name of the founder of the Holy See in the Vatican has largely become decisive in the history of this wine. Let’s look at this great estate closer and examine some notable facts about it.

Great Burgundy Tasting

Greg Somm: Exploring the Greatness of Chambolle-Musigny

The location of this vineyard is very specific compared with other similar sites in other communes of the Cote de Nuits. For example, in Vosne-Romanee such vineyards as Aux Reignots and Les Petits Monts also have quite steep slopes, but they produce much simpler wines.

Bordeaux En Primeurs 2025: What to Expect?

Bordeaux En Primeurs 2025: What to Expect?

The 2025 En Primeur campaign will happen in May-June of this year. Today, judging by the 2024 vintage reports, we already may make some assumptions about the quality and price dynamics.

Top Burgundy Wines, Greg Somm

Greg Somm: Tasting Big Wines For Earthly Prices

We continued with Richebourg 2017 from DRC. And here I would like to say that this is the most monumental and benchmark wine from this domain. This is a vivid demonstration of the greatness of the land in Vosne-Romanee.

Knowledge

Vertical vs Horizontal tasting

Vertical VS Horizontal Tasting: What’s the Difference?

There’s a popular joke among sommeliers: “We had a vertical tasting that eventually went horizontal”, meaning that the tasting has...

Bordeaux’ high aging potential

5 Legendary Bordeaux Wines That Will Last Forever

When you buy top Bordeaux wines, you not only get the wine now – you get a wine for which...

A Wine for President

A Wine for President: Which One?

Disclaimer: Donald Trump is a teetotaller, same as Joe Biden. But there were times when U.S. presidents did not mind...

Champagne types by producer

Types of Champagne by Producer (NM, RM, RC…) – Explained

This indication system uses two capital letters and provides an insight into how and by whom the Champagne is made....

Vertical vs Horizontal tasting

Vertical VS Horizontal Tasting: What’s the Difference?

There’s a popular joke among sommeliers: “We had a vertical tasting that eventually went horizontal”, meaning that the tasting has become a party. Actually there is much more meaning in these two terms. Lets’ disclose it once and for all.

Bordeaux’ high aging potential

5 Legendary Bordeaux Wines That Will Last Forever

When you buy top Bordeaux wines, you not only get the wine now – you get a wine for which the concept of “now” will be applicable for decades further. For those – time is a kind of spice. This is where Einstein’s concept of time’s materiality flourish like Eden’s garden flowers.

A Wine for President

A Wine for President: Which One?

Disclaimer: Donald Trump is a teetotaller, same as Joe Biden. But there were times when U.S. presidents did not mind having a glass of Pinot or Champagne. Those days are far gone but we, the people, remember them well. So, what wines did the presidents prefer?

Champagne types by producer

Types of Champagne by Producer (NM, RM, RC…) – Explained

This indication system uses two capital letters and provides an insight into how and by whom the Champagne is made. The categories, designated by specific abbreviations, are found on Champagne labels and are crucial for understanding the origins of the bottle in hand.

Quizzes

Wine Quizzes on Symbolicwines.com

Quiz: How much do you know about Champagne?

10 questions for advanced lovers of the most stylish wine in the world. Check your knowledge!

Wine Quiz: En Primeurs

Quiz: What Do You Know About En Primeurs?

Understand the nuances of en-primeur wine futures! All the information for the answers can be found in articles on symbolicwines.com/blogs/media

Quiz: Guess the Wine Person!

Quiz: Guess the Wine Person!

Can you identify the top wine persons? Here we gathered some of the most known and respected people of the...

Wine Quizzes on Symbolicwines.com

Quiz: How much do you know about Champagne?

10 questions for advanced lovers of the most stylish wine in the world. Check your knowledge!

Wine Quiz: En Primeurs

Quiz: What Do You Know About En Primeurs?

Understand the nuances of en-primeur wine futures! All the information for the answers can be found in articles on symbolicwines.com/blogs/media

Quiz: Guess the Wine Person!

Quiz: Guess the Wine Person!

Can you identify the top wine persons? Here we gathered some of the most known and respected people of the wine world. Recognize them all!

NEWS

World wine news

Battonage World Wine News: 02-07-2025

Wine production in the world is the lowest since 1961; LVMH’s wine sales plunge; California wildfires kill the wine industry;...

World wine news

Battonage World Wine News 01-17-2025

Bordeaux En Primeurs; Burgundy’s 2022 and 2023 first tastings; California wildfires; ProWein Business Report 2025; New alcohol consumption guidelines from...

World wine news

Battonage World Wine News: 12-20-2024

Global Wine Production Shrinks; Vega Sicilia Tops Liv-ex Power 100; Human Urine Fertilisers Come to Scene; Burgundy Prices Lower; New...

World wine news

Battonage World Wine News: 02-07-2025

Wine production in the world is the lowest since 1961; LVMH’s wine sales plunge; California wildfires kill the wine industry; Canada’s tariffs on Californian wine; High tariffs on European wine looming

World wine news

Battonage World Wine News 01-17-2025

Bordeaux En Primeurs; Burgundy’s 2022 and 2023 first tastings; California wildfires; ProWein Business Report 2025; New alcohol consumption guidelines from U.S.

World wine news

Battonage World Wine News: 12-20-2024

Global Wine Production Shrinks; Vega Sicilia Tops Liv-ex Power 100; Human Urine Fertilisers Come to Scene; Burgundy Prices Lower; New 4 Maconnais 1-er Crus.

How wine is made

Malolactic fermentation

All You Need to Know About Malolactic Fermentation

Why do some wines have a creamy texture and buttery taste, while others are sharp? The secret lies in malolactic...

Champagne

The mystery of Champagne making

The process of Champagne making, broken down into steps, types of Champagnes and the best examples of them – in...

how rose wine is made

How wine is made: rose wine

Rose wine may be very different – from deep-coloured and full-bodied, to light and pale. It all depends on the...

how red wine is made

How wine is made: red dry wine

Guide to red winemaking. What defines red wine and how does the process of red vinification differ from white and...

Malolactic fermentation

All You Need to Know About Malolactic Fermentation

Why do some wines have a creamy texture and buttery taste, while others are sharp? The secret lies in malolactic fermentation – the conversion of sharp malic acid into soft lactic acid. It smooths out the profile of the wine and gives it a creamy, buttery flavor. Here’s what you need to know about malolactic.

Champagne

The mystery of Champagne making

The process of Champagne making, broken down into steps, types of Champagnes and the best examples of them – in the text below.
how rose wine is made

How wine is made: rose wine

Rose wine may be very different – from deep-coloured and full-bodied, to light and pale. It all depends on the winemaking process. Let’s look at rose from a winemaker’s point of view.

how red wine is made

How wine is made: red dry wine

Guide to red winemaking. What defines red wine and how does the process of red vinification differ from white and rose.

Reviews

New Year pairings for the White House Meals

10 Wine Pairings For The White House’s New Year Recipes

 We picked some of the most notable New Year’s dishes from the White House Cookbook and found the appropriate wine...

Uncommon Thanksgiving wines compilation

7 Uncommon Wines to Pair With Thanksgiving Turkey

In 1789, when George Washington declared a day of national thanksgiving, Americans were eating a lot of turkey but they...

Halloween spooky mystic wines

9 mystic wines for a proper Halloween

#1 are thick, deep red wines that, if you will, represent blood and make you a classiest vampire in the...

5 champagnes to celebrate anything

5 Champagnes to Сelebrate Anything You Want

There’s no clear historical record of why and when humanity began to celebrate big dates with Champagne. Some say that...

New Year pairings for the White House Meals

10 Wine Pairings For The White House’s New Year Recipes

 We picked some of the most notable New Year’s dishes from the White House Cookbook and found the appropriate wine pairings for them.
Uncommon Thanksgiving wines compilation

7 Uncommon Wines to Pair With Thanksgiving Turkey

In 1789, when George Washington declared a day of national thanksgiving, Americans were eating a lot of turkey but they didn’t link the bird with the holiday. The historical thing happened in 1827, when Sarah Josepha Hale mentioned turkey in her novel Northwood...
Halloween spooky mystic wines

9 mystic wines for a proper Halloween

#1 are thick, deep red wines that, if you will, represent blood and make you a classiest vampire in the neighborhood. #2 – here we have something deeply intelligent. These wines are connected with moon cycles, have no artificial additives and hence – represent the mystic power of Earth. We call them witches brews. #3 are bottles with a killer dark and gloomy design that will set the style to the whole party.
5 champagnes to celebrate anything

5 Champagnes to Сelebrate Anything You Want

There’s no clear historical record of why and when humanity began to celebrate big dates with Champagne. Some say that in the 5th century, when King Clovis I united France, he sipped Champagne

Wine regions

Wine route of Burgundy

Wine regions: Burgundy

Welcome to the detailed guide to Burgundy’s wines. Here you can find Burgundy’s ancient winemaking history, grape varieties, main AOCs,...

Bordeaux wine region

Wine regions: Bordeaux

Guide to Bordeaux: the left and the right banks, main AOCs, grape varieties and the most notable chateaux.

Wine route of Burgundy

Wine regions: Burgundy

Welcome to the detailed guide to Burgundy’s wines. Here you can find Burgundy’s ancient winemaking history, grape varieties, main AOCs, and some of the most notable wines.
Bordeaux wine region

Wine regions: Bordeaux

Guide to Bordeaux: the left and the right banks, main AOCs, grape varieties and the most notable chateaux.

Grape Varieties

Ripe Sauvignon blanc

Grape Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is the most prominent and famous aromatic white variety. It’s origin is in Loire and Bordeaux but it...

Pinot Noir grape variety

Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir

Aromas, flavors, regions and styles of Pinot Noir – the most intelligent and hard-to-handle variety in the world.

chardonnay grape variety

Grape Varieties: Chardonnay

Chardonnay: variety description, main growing regions, food pairings, variety-defining aromas and flavors.

Ripe Sauvignon blanc

Grape Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is the most prominent and famous aromatic white variety. It’s origin is in Loire and Bordeaux but it found a new home all across the world, showing many kinds of aromatic profiles depending on the terroir and the winemaker’s techniques.

Pinot Noir grape variety

Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir

Aromas, flavors, regions and styles of Pinot Noir – the most intelligent and hard-to-handle variety in the world.
chardonnay grape variety

Grape Varieties: Chardonnay

Chardonnay: variety description, main growing regions, food pairings, variety-defining aromas and flavors.

5 wine facts

Pierre Girardin

5 reasons to appreciate wines of Pierre Girardin

He’s a rising star of Burgundy and so, the prices of his wines are rising like they did on Meursault's...

wine yeasts ready for fermentation

5 wine facts: the yeasts

The compact guide to wine yeasts – how do they work, why do they make wine and what does it...

wine bottles storage

5 wine facts: the storage

Storage is one of the crucial stages of fine wine’s life. If it has a great aging potential, it needs...

aging process in wine barrels

5 wine facts: the barrels

Kinds, shapes and sizes of wine barrels and how they influence the taste and aromas of your favorite wine.

Pierre Girardin

5 reasons to appreciate wines of Pierre Girardin

He’s a rising star of Burgundy and so, the prices of his wines are rising like they did on Meursault's latest discovery, Arnaud Ente. If you don’t want to miss out on them, read the text below and make your conclusions.
wine yeasts ready for fermentation

5 wine facts: the yeasts

The compact guide to wine yeasts – how do they work, why do they make wine and what does it have to do with carbon footprint.
wine bottles storage

5 wine facts: the storage

Storage is one of the crucial stages of fine wine’s life. If it has a great aging potential, it needs very specific conditions to evolve properly.
aging process in wine barrels

5 wine facts: the barrels

Kinds, shapes and sizes of wine barrels and how they influence the taste and aromas of your favorite wine.