Madison Reid
Madison Reid, a distinguished sommelier and prolific wine writer. With a discerning palate and a passion for storytelling, Madison not only curates exceptional wine experiences but also shares her insights through engaging articles, inviting you to explore the world of wine through her expert lens.
Articles by Madison Reid
Should You Sniff the Cork to Judge a Wine?
Some people prefer to sniff the wine cork to judge a wine, but in reality, sniffing the cork doesn't really prove a wine is good or bad. A...
Best Food Pairings for Claret
Looking for food pairings for that Claret? Whether it's a Merlot-based or Cabernet-based Claret, it will go best with specific vegetables...
Edaphology 101: Don't Plant Vineyards in These Soils
Edaphology is the science which studies the soil's influence on living organisms, especially plants. The best vineyards are those planted...
How to Take Wine Tasting Notes
Make a few sections in this binder where you will categorize your wines: red wine, white wine and rosé wine. Then add a couple other...
Perfect Pairings for German Riesling
German Rieslings fall under Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese and Beerenauslese in either Troken or Halbtroken styles and these all pair well...
What Is That on My Wine Label? AOC, DOC, IGT & IGP Explained
Throughout the European Union, there are standards and classifications for certain traditional foods and wines. In France, this system is...
What's the Difference Between Champagne, Cava and Prosecco?
Most of us are familiar with the names of Champagne, Cava and Prosecco. But what makes them different? Champagne, Cava and Prosecco are the...
Nero d'Avola: The Wine Designed for Red Sauces
Nero d'Avola is made from the Nero d'Avola grape, translated as Black of Avola, from the small town officially named Avola, located in...
How the Great French Wine Blight Changed the Global Wine Industry
The Great French Wine Blight was a marked event and is well-known. The blight destroyed 40% of French grape vines, later linked to a...
The Regulated Wines of South African Viticulture
The wine of South Africa may be placed in the category of New World wines, however, this exotic country, found in the far expanses of the...
How Many Levels of Sweetness Are There in German Wines?
Germany (and Austria) stand out among the other wine-producing countries and the wines are classified using a german wine classification in...
Independence Day Wine Cocktails
Everyone knows about Sangria, and you probably even have a favorite recipe for it. And if you don't, then we have one on here for you, just...
Summer Entertaining: Food and Wine Pairings of the Season
Melon and Proscuito Wraps are sweet, salty, juicy snacks and pair best with a dry Rosé. medium-bodied, floral white wine like an Argentine...
Basic Tools For Making Homemade Wine
For processes like fining, filtering, aging and bottling, you'll need carboys, acids, corks, bottles, a hydrometer and more to make sure...
Official Bordeaux Classification of 1855
It was Napoleon's intention to showcase the best wines of his country in the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris. However, what happened...
Climate Change and the Future of California's Wine Industry
It has been estimated that by 2100, there will be an 81% decline in "suitable vineyards for premium wine production". While that timeline...
The Lost World of Old World Wines - Czech Republic
The first vineyards of the Czech Republic go back to the 3rd Century AD with Emperor Marcus Aurelius cultivating the first vineyards long...
Spring Wine Releases & Spring Food Trends
This Sauvignon Blanc pairs with anything from a fresh local goat cheese to some freshly made hummus (light on the garlic) with some pita...
The New Generation of Champagne
The region of Champagne has a long-standing tradition on how winemakers conduct their craft. However, despite tradition, or rather in...
How to Organize a Wine Tasting at Home
We are all familiar with Old World and New World wines, so the next thing to do would be to, for example, choose a varietal. Chardonnay...
Food and Wine Pairings for Valentine's Day
Here are some great foods you can easily make for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day, complete with wine pairings for each one - including...
Predicted Wine Trends of the Year
According to Coravin, they believe people will be more interested in the background and story of the wine they drink, who made it and what...
Salta, Argentina: Land of the Highest Vineyards in the World
The Province of Salta, Argentina is Cafayate, home of the highest vineyards in the world. The vineyards here in Cafayate of Salta sit at...
White Wine's Affinity to Gastronomic Pleasures
Notice most of the foods mentioned have an element of fat in which the wines' acidity can "cut" through, thus bringing out more of what is...
The Underestimated Wines of Alsace
Alsace is located on the upper eastern side, bordering Germany and Switzerland... Basically, a wine of the Alsace AOC on the label means...
How and Why Oak is Used in Wine Making
The pores of American oak are much looser than its counterpart in France. This will introduce characteristics much quicker into wine....
How to Rate the Wine You Drink and Discover Alternatives to Top-Rated Wines
We’re all familiar with Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel of California, Riesling of Germany, Sangiovese of Italy or Super Tuscans, Pinot...
What Balance Means in Wine
You might remember that the aspects of wine affected by the oak elaboration were color, aromatics and body/texture. These elements are...
How to tell the Difference Between Good and Bad White Wines
First have a look at the wine in the glass. Hold it up to some light, or with a piece of white paper behind your glass, if the color is...
Oak Barrel Substitutes in Winemaking
Oak barrel substitutes can include: Oak chips and chinks, oak staves, liquid oak and oak shavings and powder. Learn about what they are,...
Wine Labels 101: German and Austrian Wine
While many of the wine labels from Austrian and German regions can be quite confusing...they do share a common language, wine culture and...
12 Unexpected Food and Wine Pairings
These 12 food and wine pairings aren't classics but they work great together. Ever heard of chips and Champagne, or hot dogs with Merlot?...
Wine Labels 101: Italian Wine
Italy is comprised of 15 different wine regions. Most of the celebrated and well-known wines are located in the northern regions of Veneto...
How Sparkling Wine and Champagne Are Made
What makes Champagne 'Champagne' and how is it different from sparkling wine? Not all sparkling wine is Champagne, but all Champagne is...
What Is a Rose Wine?
What is Rosé Wine? A hybrid between white and red wine. Rosé is of French origin and can be dry or very sweet. The acidity of a rosé has...
Wine Labels 101: French Wine Labels
they would ask where it was from rather than what type of grape it was made from... By EU wine laws, there are only specific grapes that...
The Basics of Storing and Serving Wine Temperature
The wine temperature during storage determines how a wine will taste. The storing and serving temperature will determine how your palate...
Wine Labels 101: California and U.S. Wine Labels
Ever wonder what everything on a wine label means? Get into this wine label 101 article to learn about percentages, regions, production...
In Defense of the Wine Cork
Cork is a traditional, eco-friendly material used to seal wine bottles. However, its reputation of leakage and tainting has lead to...
What Corked Means - and Other Tricky Wine Terminology
Corked wine simply means that the wine has been contaminated with cork taint via the presence of trichloroanisole or TCA.... Drinking a...
When to Decant Wine
Knowing when to decant wine can be tricky, these tips will help you decide on which wines to decant and why decanting is necessary for some...
The Simple Side of Food and Wine Pairing
Wine pairing is essential to a great meal, learn which wines to pair with meats, pastas, sauces, fish, and even desserts and what rules to...
How Do All Those Aromas and Flavors Get Into Wine?
Different wines can carry variations of similar aromas; fermentation processes, geographical vineyard properties and aging methods can...
Q&A by Madison Reid
Old World and New World wines, what makes them different?
Now that the countries have been introduced for both the Old World and New World, we can delve into the differences in winemaking practices...
What are fortified wines and how do they differ from each other?
Fortified wines are wines that undergo a fortification process through the addition of a distilled spirit. Brandy is commonly used in the...
