Wine Companion
From the Journal

Stories behind the glass.

Wine fault or wine character?
Sensory skills

Wine fault or wine character?

7 min read Published 2026-10-20
Malolactic fermentation: more than butter.
Winemaking

Malolactic fermentation: more than butter.

7 min read Published 2026-10-13
The bright, juicy trick behind carbonic maceration.
Winemaking

The bright, juicy trick behind carbonic maceration.

6 min read Published 2026-10-06
What bottle age can — and cannot — do.
Maturation

What bottle age can — and cannot — do.

7 min read Published 2026-09-29
Blending is design, not disguise.
Cellar craft

Blending is design, not disguise.

7 min read Published 2026-09-22
One grape, many Chardonnays.
Grape variety

One grape, many Chardonnays.

7 min read Published 2026-09-15
Where tannin comes from — and why it feels different.
Structure

Where tannin comes from — and why it feels different.

7 min read Published 2026-09-08
Four routes to sweetness — and four different wines.
Wine styles

Four routes to sweetness — and four different wines.

7 min read Published 2026-09-01
Umbria: Italy’s green heart, built on contrast.
Place

Umbria: Italy’s green heart, built on contrast.

8 min read Published 2026-08-23
Why wine smells like fruit when no fruit was added.
Aroma

Why wine smells like fruit when no fruit was added.

7 min read Published 2026-08-18
Four ways to put bubbles in wine.
Sparkling wine

Four ways to put bubbles in wine.

7 min read Published 2026-08-11
Oak is not one flavour.
Cellar craft

Oak is not one flavour.

7 min read Published 2026-08-04
A year in the glass: what a vintage really tells you.
Vintage

A year in the glass: what a vintage really tells you.

6 min read Published 2026-07-28
What gives Champagne its particular character?
Terroir

What gives Champagne its particular character?

5 min read Published 2026-07-21
Skin-contact whites: colour, grip, and an ancient idea.
Method

Skin-contact whites: colour, grip, and an ancient idea.

6 min read Published 2026-07-14
A flexible grammar for wine and food.
Pairing

A flexible grammar for wine and food.

4 min read Published 2026-07-07