Sauvignon Blancs Perfect for Summer

We love cold things, but a good white wine should only be lightly chilled

(NEWSER) - America loves cold things, from beer to overly air-conditioned theaters. But we’re only hurting ourselves by “chilling white wine far too long and drinking it way too cold,” writes Eric Asimov in the New York Times. As long as the wine is good, serving it directly out of the fridge “deprives one of fully enjoying the complex aromas and delicious flavors in the glass.” More»

(NEWSER) - It’s not easy, but it is possible to find inexpensive American wine that “will fascinate and intrigue,” Eric Asimov writes in the New York Times. Whereas European vintners grow a diverse range of regional grapes, Americans generally stick to classics like cabernet sauvignon, resulting in “a small amount of top-flight wine along with an ocean of generic.” Still, there are notable exceptions. More»

Price does matter, but it's possible to find exciting varieties

(NEWSER) - Chardonnay is ubiquitous, but the “countless weak versions,” especially in the $10 category, disappoint wine lovers, writes Eric Arnold in Forbes. Nevertheless, Americans gulped down about 60 million 9-liter cases in 2008. If you’re willing to beef up your budget and experiment a bit, you may be surprised at the variety of “styles and flavors—and there's joy to be found in discovering which suit your palate best.” More»

Exporters try to cast off a critic's harsh judgment

(NEWSER) - South African is the ninth-largest producer of wine, with several distinctive varietals that should be poised to break into the global marketplace, the New York Times reports. But the country’s wines have been dogged by comments made in 2007 by an influential British wine critic, who said after a tasting of several South African reds that half were marred by a “peculiar, savage, burnt rubber” odor. More»

This summer, head to the picnic with wine that tastes good and costs little

(NEWSER) - Jug wine has a bad reputation, with many considering it cheap and low-quality—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Bring along a jug o’ wine to your Fourth of July picnic, and it’ll be gone before you know it. To help you accomplish that, the Wall Street Journal set out to find the best jug wines under $15: More»