I am sure most of you have heard someone describe a wine as tannic. What exactly does this mean? What does tannin feel and taste like? Well, if you have ever had a cup of very strong black tea then you have definitely tasted tannin.

Tannin in wine is a textural sensation. Something we feel rather than taste. Tannin gives a wine form and grip. It is a structural element that helps frame a wine.

Budget Wine: 2010 Burgáns Albariño
Region: Rías Baixas, Spain
Average Price: $13

I love Albariño. I have recommended this wine before, but it is such a great value, versatile wine, and we so enjoyed this Burgáns last night with dinner, that I needed to give it a shout out again.

The Albariño grape comes from Rías Baixas, the beautiful, rugged, northwestern coastal region of Galicia in Spain. Albariño wines have become very popular in the United States. Why? Firstly they are delicious and incredibly versatile at the table. They are also perfect for sipping as an apéritif.

Milk, dark, bittersweet — from desserts to cake to handcrafted bites, what are the best wines to pair with this wonderful food of love — chocolate? Read to discover some wines to pour with your favorite kind of chocolate this weekend.

Do you ever wonder what we mean when we say a wine has high or low acidity? Or when your wine geek friend describes him/herself as an acid guy or girl? What does acidity in a wine taste like?

Welcome to the first installment in a new series — wine words. We'll look at a different word every week and explore what it really means in the context of wine. What are its nuances and unspoken meanings?

First up: Acidity.

While not as volatile as fashion, wine consumers like to explore new things, and they can be a little fickle when it comes to dropping one wine style and taking up with another. Moscato is the latest craze that seems to be taking the US wine market by storm.

It is a while since I posted on the wine offerings at the Whole Foods Market wine shop in New York City. I first visited the store shortly after it opened in 2009. This week I went back for another glimpse, in particular to seek out some delicious but good value offerings around $10-$12 / bottle. I was more than pleasantly surprised.

California accounts for over 90% of all the wine produced in the United States and well over half of what is consumed here, so I am sure that most of our wine-loving readers have tasted more than the occasional Californian wine. What is your impression of California wine? Do you gravitate from it — or away from it?

Most wine drinkers are probably familiar with the term 'corked wine', but I hazard a guess that not as many wine drinkers really know what a corked wine tastes like, how a wine becomes corked in the first place, or how to detect a corked wine. Read on to find out more about corked wine — how it happens, and what it tastes like.

Happy New Year! The holidays are over. It is January, a month much associated with cutting back and shopping more wisely. Still love your wine? Read on for some great wine shopping tips to help you find the best deals, and save a few dollars.

There is something about Champagne and sparkling wine that seems to automatically kick off a celebration. With the holiday season in full swing and New Year's parties around the corner I thought I would share some thoughts on the the key sparkling wine regions of the world, and the many different styles to choose from