Amarone is a special style of red wine produced in — and only in — the Valpolicello area of the Veneto in northeastern Italy. Do you know how Amarone is made? And how it differs from regular red wines?

Wine of the Week: 2010 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir
Region: Russian River Valley, California
Price: $45

I discovered Gary Farrell’s Pinot Noir wines about eight years ago,  and they made a strong and lasting impression on me.

The scenario: you don't drink alcohol, but you're having people over who do. What's a teetotaler to serve? 

Corked is a not-very-pleasant wine word, but unfortunately corked wine is still a reality. What exactly is a corked wine? And how does a wine become corked? More

Wine of the Week: 2011 S.A. Prüm Essence Riesling Qualitätswein
Region & Country: Mosel, Germany
Price: $12

Riesling wines are some of the most delicious and versatile wines you can buy - and great value too, as this 2011 Essence Riesling from S.A. Prüm attests. More

When throwing a big party, what's the best way to keep everyone's glass straight? You could use wine charms, but those don't really help if you have stemless wine glasses. So how about this instead: use a small strip of washi tape! 

Sherry is a sadly often misunderstood word. While Sherry is a style of fortified wine, it is not a generic word for the style. Sherry specifically refers to fortified wines produced in Spain, within a specific delimited area around the Andalusian town of Jerez. More

Wine of the Week: 2009 Domaine La Croix Chaptal Les Terrasses
Region & Country: Coteaux du Languedoc - Terrasses du Larzac
Price: $19

This 2009 red wine "Les Terrasses" from Domaine La Croix Chaptal is a perfect example of the excellent quality wines you can buy for less than $20 per bottle. More

Volatile Acidity is a wine word often referred to simply as VA, and it's normally associated with wine spoilage. Do you know how it forms, why it is generally undesirable in wine, and how to prevent it? More

It was 'polenta party' time at Faith's house last week, and she served it with a delicious dish of beef braised in red wine. My mouth is watering already. So, the big question we pondered was, what wine or rather what wines to serve alongside this robust, meaty, yet creamy dish. Here are some thoughts on how to choose wines to go with this meal, and some specific budget picks.