Learn About American Wine

What is an ava

An AVA is an American Viticultural Area: a federally recognized wine region defined by geography. Learn what that means for your wine.

Types of wine

Red, white, rosé, sparkling, and fortified: the five main types of wine explained clearly, with tasting notes, food pairings, and tips for choosing.

How is wine made

Curious how wine is made? We break down every step of the winemaking process: harvest, crush, fermentation, aging, and bottling, in plain English.

How to read a wine label

Learn how to read a wine label and decode producer, region, vintage, variety, and quality terms, so you can pick confidently every time.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Discover what makes Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon so distinctive: climate, signature style, food pairings, and how to find the best Napa Cabernet for you.

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Discover why Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is Oregon's signature red: signature style, climate, food pairings, and what to look for on the label.

Finger Lakes Riesling

Discover Finger Lakes Riesling: its cool-climate style, signature flavors, food pairings, and why this upstate New York region rivals the best of Germany.

Napa Valley Merlot

Discover Napa Valley Merlot: its ripe, plush style, ideal food pairings, climate advantages, and what sets it apart from other American Merlots.

Dry Creek Valley wine

Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel delivers bold blackberry, pepper, and spice from one of California's most distinctive AVAs: here's what makes it special.

Santa Barbara County wine

Santa Barbara County Grenache: its sun-drenched, fog-cooled style, red-fruit and white-pepper flavors, food pairings, and why the region suits the grape.

Virginia wine

Discover why Virginia Cabernet Franc is the state's most exciting red: its peppery, herb-laced style, ideal climate, food pairings, and what to expect.

Paso Robles Petite Sirah

Discover Paso Robles Petite Sirah: its inky style, bold tannins, ideal food pairings, and why this sun-drenched California region makes it sing.

Lodi wine

Discover Lodi Petite Sirah: its sun-baked style, inky depth, surprising mid-priced value, and the foods that bring it to life.

Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc

Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc delivers crisp pear, white peach, and stony minerality at a value-tier price: here's what to expect and what to eat with it.

California wine

Discover California Moscato: its signature sweet peach-and-orange-blossom style, why the Golden State suits this grape, and how to pair it perfectly.

Paso Robles Viognier

Discover Paso Robles Viognier: its sun-baked stone fruit character, ideal food pairings, and why this region's climate suits the grape so well.

Finger Lakes Gewürztraminer

Finger Lakes Gewürztraminer delivers lychee, rose, and spice in a cool-climate style that surprises drinkers: here's what to expect and what to eat with it.

Chardonnay

Discover what Chardonnay really tastes like, why oaked vs. unoaked matters, which regions to explore, and what foods to pair it with: all in plain English.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Discover what Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like, where the best bottles come from, how to serve it, and what to pair it with: like a knowledgeable friend.

Pinot Noir

Pinot noir is light-bodied, low-tannin, and endlessly complex: learn what it tastes like, where the best bottles come from, and what to eat with it.

Merlot

Discover what Merlot tastes like, its best regions from Bordeaux to Napa, how to serve it, and which foods bring out the best in this beloved red wine.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel is California's signature red grape: bold, spicy, and versatile. Learn what it tastes like, where to find the best bottles, and what to eat with it.

Cabernet Franc

Discover what Cabernet Franc tastes like, where it shines, and what to eat with it: a plain-English guide to one of wine's most versatile red grapes.

Petite Sirah

Discover what Petite Sirah tastes like, where the best bottles come from, and exactly what to eat with it: from Paso Robles to your dinner table.

Pinot Blanc

Discover what Pinot Blanc tastes like, where it thrives, and which foods make it sing: a plain-English guide for curious wine drinkers.

Viognier

Discover what Viognier tastes like, where the best bottles come from, and which foods bring out its lush, floral character. Your guide to this aromatic white.

Cabernet Franc food pairing

Discover the best Cabernet Franc food pairings: from herb-crusted lamb to earthy mushroom dishes, and understand exactly why this peppery red works so well.

Cabernet Sauvignon food pairing

Discover the best Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: from classic steakhouse moves to surprising veggie matches, and the flavor science behind each one.

Chardonnay food pairing

From buttery lobster to lemony fish, discover the best Chardonnay food pairings, and why the wine's style matters more than the grape's name.

Merlot food pairing

Discover the best Merlot food pairings: from roast lamb to mushroom risotto, and why Merlot's soft tannins make it one of the most food-friendly reds.

Petite Sirah food pairing

Petite Sirah's dense tannins and spicy plum flavors demand equally bold food. Here's what to eat with Petite Sirah, and why it works.

Pinot Blanc food pairing

Discover the best Pinot Blanc food pairings: from Alsatian tarte flambée to roast chicken, and learn why this quietly versatile white belongs at your table.

Pinot Noir food pairing

Find the best Pinot Noir food pairings: from salmon to duck confit, and learn the simple flavor logic that makes every match work.

Viognier food pairing

Discover the best Viognier food pairings: from spiced chicken to lobster bisque, and learn why this floral, full-bodied white works so well with bold flavors.

Zinfandel food pairing

Discover the best Zinfandel food pairings: from smoky BBQ ribs to spiced lamb, and learn why this bold, peppery red makes dishes taste even better.

Cabernet Sauvignon vs Zinfandel

Cabernet Sauvignon vs Zinfandel: learn the real differences in body, tannin, flavor, price, and food pairing so you can pick the right red every time.

Cabernet Franc quiz

How well do you know Cabernet Franc? A free beginner and advanced wine quiz with instant results and no sign-up.

Cabernet Sauvignon quiz

How well do you know Cabernet Sauvignon? Take our free beginner and advanced wine quiz: Bordeaux, Napa, tannins and more. Instant results, no sign-up.

Chardonnay quiz

How well do you know Chardonnay? Take our free beginner and advanced wine quiz: oak, Chablis, Burgundy and more. Instant results, no sign-up.

Merlot quiz

How well do you know Merlot? A free beginner and advanced wine quiz with instant results and no sign-up.

Petite Sirah quiz

How well do you know Petite Sirah? A free beginner and advanced wine quiz with instant results and no sign-up.

Pinot Blanc quiz

How well do you know Pinot Blanc? A free beginner and advanced wine quiz with instant results and no sign-up.

Pinot Noir quiz

How well do you know Pinot Noir? A free beginner and advanced wine quiz: Burgundy, terroir, why it's tricky to grow, and more. Instant results, no sign-up.

Viognier quiz

How well do you know Viognier? A free beginner and advanced wine quiz with instant results and no sign-up.

Zinfandel quiz

How well do you know Zinfandel? A free beginner and advanced wine quiz with instant results and no sign-up.

Learn About Italian Wine

Learn About French Wine

Learn About German Wine

Learn About Spanish Wine

Learn About Portuguese Wine

Learn About Austrian Wine

Learn About Greek Wine

Learn About Argentine Wine

Learn About Chilean Wine

Learn About South African Wine

Learn About Australian Wine

Learn About New Zealand Wine

All learning paths