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Here are some musings about wine. Everything we know about wine in a restaurant -- what pairs with what, where the value is, how to read a natural wine list. All written for wine people, by wine people.

How to choose wine at a restaurant when you don't know the list
No sommelier, no familiar names, table looking at you. Here is how to choose with confidence.
What wine goes with pasta? It depends on the sauce
Carbonara, arrabiata, cacio e pepe, bolognese -- the right wine is different for each.
How to read a natural wine list when nothing looks familiar
No brands, no producers you recognise, a very enthusiastic waiter. Here is how to navigate it.
How to find the good wine on a list when everything sounds the same
Three Sauvignon Blancs, different prices, no idea which one. Here is how to find something worth drinking.
How to sound like you know about wine when you really don't
A completely honest guide to bluffing your way through a wine list with confidence.
What to do when there's no sommelier and no one to ask
Most restaurants don't have a sommelier. Here is how to handle it.
How to order wine in a restaurant without looking like you have no idea
Where to look, what to ask, and how to find the right bottle every time.
The second-cheapest wine on the list -- is it really the worst choice?
The received wisdom is wrong. Here is what actually matters.
The best white wine in the UK right now -- by occasion
Dinner parties, summer afternoons, seafood, restaurants. Where the value actually is.
White wine prices UK -- what you actually get
An honest guide from £8 to £50 and where the real jumps in quality happen.
The best white wine under £20 -- where the value actually is
Picpoul, Albarino, Gruner Veltliner, entry-level Chablis. Where to spend it.
The best white wine for summer -- refreshing, food-friendly, worth every penny
Picpoul, Albarino, Riesling, English Bacchus. The summer whites that stay good even when they warm up.
What wine goes with steak? The cut matters more than you think
Ribeye, fillet, sirloin -- the right wine is different for each. And the sauce matters most.
What wine goes with lamb? The answer depends on how it is cooked
Roast leg, rack, tandoori, slow shoulder -- the right wine is different for each.
What wine goes with spicy food? Not what you think
Tannin and chilli heat is a bad combination. Here is what actually works.
Red wine with fish -- when it works and when it really does not
The old rule is mostly wrong. Here is when red wine with fish is genuinely the right call.
What wine to order in a restaurant -- a practical guide
How to read the list, find the value, and order with confidence.
Wine pairing with Indian food -- what actually works
Curry, tandoori, biryani, dal -- the wines that handle the spice and fat.
The best wine under 30 pounds -- where the value actually is
Thirty pounds is a good price point if you spend it in the right place.
How to read a restaurant wine list without pretending you know what you are doing
The structure, the pricing traps, and how to find something worth ordering.
Natural wine -- what it actually means and what to expect in the glass
Cloudy, orange, funky -- or brilliant. What natural wine actually means.
The best wine for a barbecue -- what actually works on the grill
Malbec, rose, and a few things most people get wrong.
The best rose wine in the UK right now
From Provence to English rose -- where the value is and what to actually buy.
What wine goes with fish and chips? The answer is simpler than you think
Batter, fat, salt, vinegar -- the wine needs to cut through all of it.
The best wine for a picnic -- what travels well and stays good
Not everything survives a bag, a blanket, and two hours in the sun.
Wine pairing with a seafood platter -- one bottle for everything on the plate
Oysters, prawns, crab, lobster -- they all want the same thing from a wine.
Wine with grilled vegetables -- the best pairings for summer and BBQ sides
Aubergine, courgette, peppers, asparagus -- each one wants something slightly different.
The best Champagne alternatives in the UK -- and why they are worth it
Cremant, Cava, English sparkling -- great bubbles for less than half the price.
Wine pairing with sushi -- what works with raw fish, rice, and soy
Tannin and raw fish is a bad match. Here is what to drink at a Japanese restaurant.
The best wine for a garden party -- crowd-pleasing bottles that work
One red, one rose, done. Here is what to buy without overspending or overthinking it.
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