Amarone - or more accurately, Amarone della Valpolicella - is a red wine from Valpolicella, Veneto, northeast Italy. It is made by the appassimento method, which involves partially drying grapes before they are fermented into wine. Amarone is rich and perfumed, with deep colour, round tannins, and a minimum of 14% alcohol. 

Asti Spumante is a sparkling white wine made with Moscato Bianco grapes from around Alba, Piedmont, northwest Italy. Asti Spumante is sweet and low in alcohol, and is often served with dessert.

Barbaresco is a red wine produced in Piedmonte, northwest Italy. Barbaresco is made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, and aged for a minimum of 26 months (including 9 months in oak barrels). Barbaresco is light-coloured with high tannins and bright acidity. It has aromas and flavours of dried cherry, raspberry, liquorice, and rose petals.

Bardolino is a light red wine made on the eastern shores of Lake Garda, Veneto, northeast Italy. Bardolino is made up of a blend of different grapes, with flavours and aromas of sour cherry and fresh herbs. 

Barolo is a red wine produced in the Piedmont region of Italy. The wines are made from 100% Nebbiolo. Barolo has bright acidity, strong tannins, and is full-bodied. In Italy, Barolo is described as the “king of wines”, with aromas and flavours of sour cherry, rose, tar, and dried herbs. 

Beaujolais is a region just south of Burgundy in France, which produces wine that is generally made from Gamay grapes. Beaujolais has refreshing acidity and low tannin, with flavours of raspberry, cherry, cranberry, and the occasional touch of bubble gum.

Blanc de Blancs is a term used to refer to a sparkling wine (like Champagne) that is produced entirely from white grapes - most commonly, Chardonnay. 

Brunello di Montalcino is a small wine region in southern central Tuscany, Italy, which produces wines made from 100% Sangiovese. It is typically garnet in colour, with aromas of red and black fruit, underlying vanilla and spice, and hints of earthiness. The wines are usually full-bodied, with alcohol levels above 14%. 

Chateauneuf-du-Pape is located in the Rhone wine region in the southwest of France, and produces red, rose, and white wines. Most of the wines of this region are blends, and you may even see “Rhone blend” on bottles from other parts of the world. A Rhone blend is generally Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre (GSM), with Grenache making up the major part of the blend. Red wine from Chateauneuf-du-Pape generally has bright red fruit flavours, and aromas that develop earthy and leathery notes as they age. White Chateauneuf-du-Pape range from light and crisp to aromatic, with hints of almond, anise, fennel, and peach. They are generally made to be drunk young.

Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine, most commonly associated with the Catalonia region. These wines are generally made from Macabeo, Xarello, and Paralleda grapes, using a traditional method. This produces a fruity dry sparkling wine with lovely fine bubbles.

Champagne is a region in France that produces the delicious and world-famous fizzy wine of the same name. Champagne is produced via a careful and highly regulated process. Grapes (a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier) are carefully selected, pressed, and fermented. The base wine then undergoes secondary fermentation. The carbon dioxide released from the second fermentation is dissolved in the wine and trapped inside the bottle. Once opened, the bubbles are free to escape, which gives champagne its signature fizz. Most champagne is non-vintage, and usually consists of a blend of grapes from different years to ensure the consistency of the flavour profile. In the very best years, Champagne Houses (producers) may release a vintage champagne that is the best of the best. Champagne is the number one wine of celebration!

Chianti comes from Tuscany, Italy, with a blend mainly made from Sangiovese grapes. Chianti is typically a dry red wine that is medium ruby in colour, with bright acidity and a medium body. Aroma and flavour profiles include red cherry, red berries, herbs, and oak. Chianti Classico comes from the traditional Chianti producing area, and can be distinguished because it has a black rooster on the bottle. Chianti is perfect with Italian food, especially any tomato-based dish.

Eiswein (German) or ice wine (English) is traditionally made by leaving grapes to freeze on the vine in early winter. Once frozen, the grapes are harvested and pressed, leaving much of the water in the form of ice behind, as the juice with concentrated sugar and acid is drawn off to ferment into Eiswein. Eiswein has traditionally come from Germany, but now Canada is taking over as the number one Eiswein producer in the world. Eiswein should be served chilled, and pairs well with chocolate, hard cheese, or creamy desserts.

Fume Blanc is Sauvignon Blanc that has been aged in oak. This gives the wine subtle smoky flavours and aromas. First produced in California, Fume Blanc is now produced around the world, notably in Australia and New Zealand. Fume Blanc pairs perfectly with light dishes or smoked chicken.

Lambrusco is a fizzy red wine from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. This wine is lightly sparkling, with flavours and aromas of cherries, rhubarb, blackberries, violets, and cream. A fantastic aperitif wine with bright acidity, it pairs well with a wide variety of foods.

Sauternes is the Bordeaux region’s signature sweet white wine. It is made from grapes (Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle) affected by noble rot (Botrytis), which dries out the grapes and concentrates the sugars. Sauternes are golden in colour, with a typical flavour profile of apricot, honey, and orange blossom. Best served cold, it pairs well with cheese, duck liver pate, and creamy desserts.

Port is the signature sweet fortified wine from Duoro Valley in Portugal. Port is rich, and comes in a variety of styles from ruby, white, rose, and tawny (aged). Port has a slightly higher level of alcohol (around 17.5% ABV), because distilled grape spirit is added to the wine to stop fermentation. This leaves unfermented sugar in the wine. Port is perfect with cheese, as an after-dinner tipple, or as a nightcap!

Rioja is a wine region in the central north of Spain. Most famous for red wines, Rioja generally consists of a blend of grapes, with Tempranillo the main component of a Rioja red. Rioja is generally medium to full body and high in tannins, with flavours and aromas of red berries, herbs, plums, and tobacco. Rioja pairs well with tapas, salty cheese, and olives.

Sherry is a white fortified wine produced in the south of Spain. Sherry is produced using a unique system of maturation and blending, which involves a number of interconnected barrels. This system is called solera, and is used in the production of all types of sherry, dry or sweet. Because a variety of different types of sherry can be produced using the solera system, there is a sherry style to pair with just about any food you can think of.

Soave is a dry white wine from Veneto, Italy. Made from Garganega grapes, Soave has a flavour profile of citrus, stone fruit, and melon. Soave pairs well with rich seafood and risotto.

Tokay is Hungary’s signature sweet white wine. It is made from Furmint grapes affected by noble rot (Botrytis), which dries out the grapes and concentrates the sugars. Tokay can be light golden to tawny in colour, with a typical flavour profile of apricot, honey, nuts, and caramel. Best served cold, it pairs well with blue cheese and dark chocolate.

Valpolicella (which translates to “valley of many cellars”) is a wine region in northern Italy. The Valpolicella region is famous for red wines of four main styles: the easy drinking, fruity Valpolicella; the rich and accessible Valpolicella Ripasso; the epic, full-bodied, high alcohol Amarone della Valpolicella; and the sweet, delicious Valpolicella Recioto. Valpolicella, Valpolicella Ripasso, and Amarone della Valpolicella pair well with meat, pizza, and pasta, while Valpolicella Recioto is a favourite with tiramisu, blue cheese, and dried fruits.