I'll admit it: I love wine, but I don't actually know that much about it, nor do I have a very discriminating palate. However, I'm hoping to change that and develop a wine vocabulary, however rudimentary. Thankfully, The Kitchn's resident wine expert, Mary Gorman, has written extensively on wine for the last few years, and her posts are an excellent resource for the wine lover looking to deepen his or her understanding of wine varieties, wine words, and pairings. Welcome to Wine 101. Class is now in session.

A Few Major Wine Varieties

Burgundy
• Burgundy Wines: Demystified and Affordable
Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
• Chilling & Grilling Wines: California Cabernet Sauvignon
Champagne and Sparkling Wine
• Bubbles Galore! Champagne & Sparkling Wines for Any Holiday Celebration
Chianti
• Exciting Times for Chianti Wines: Evolved But Still the Heart of Tuscan Wine
Dry White Bordeaux
• Affordable Dry White Bordeaux
Malbec
• Delicious and Affordable Malbec Wines from Argentina
Moscato
• The Exceptional Rise of Moscato
Pinot Grigio
• What's the Difference Between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris?
Port
• Chilled Tawny Port: Refreshing, Relaxing, Different
Riesling
• Know Your German Riesling Wine Regions: Mosel, Rheingau, & Pfalz
Rose
• Rose: A Wine for All Seasons
Sauvignon Blanc
• Great Sauvignon Blanc Wines from Around the World
Sherry
• Why Sherry Is So Extraordinary

Wine Words

• Wine Words: Complexity
• Wine Words: Texture
• Wine Words: Aromas
• Wine Words: Alcohol
• Wine Words: Body
• Wine Words: Tannin
• Wine Words: Acidity
• Wine Words: Minerality
• Wine Words: Length and Finish
• Wine Words: Sweetness
• Wine Words: Style
• Wine Words: Oak
• Wine Words: Balance
• Wine Words: Flavor

Wine Pairings

• An Italian Wine Dinner Menu
• Advice for Pairing Wine with Chocolate
• Unlikely Companions? No! 8 Tips for Pairing Wine & Soup

Related: How to Taste Wine Like a Professional

(Image: Wine producers via this Kitchn post)