You want to give wine for gift, and you want it to be special, either something they don’t have already, or something that will surprise, and impress them, yet something that they will also like the taste of. That seems like a tall order for what seems like a simple task, especially with the myriad of wine selections out there.

We’ve made it easier for you to gift for wine lovers with our first wine gift guide, that we are introducing just in time for the holiday gifting season.

For the wine lover on your list, be it a friend, colleague, customer, family member, or significant other, use our wine and olive oil gift guide to find a wine in line with their wine taste preferences, whether it’s bold red wines, old world wine, natural wine, orange wines, rose wines, champagne style wines, pet nat wines, even EVOO, use our list to find the best wine for gift giving and build your own wine gift baskets.

Less well known wines are gaining traction in the US, with sommeliers, wine store owners and journalists talking and writing about them more. We, also, focus on curating off-the-beaten-path grapes beyond the most widely sold wine varietals in the US. Yet, with this trend, it can be difficult for our customers to select wines made from grapes they never had. Here we have some alternatives to suggest if you’d like to venture out on your own to try new types of wines. Whether you are a Chardonnay, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Malbec or Syrah wine lover, here are some other wines you should look out for and try. Let’s journey to discover unusual wines!

Do you love wine but then struggle finding the ‘right words’ to describe it? Or are you on your way to becoming a wine expert and need a de-brief on terminology for wine tasting?

What does complex mean? Or what is a primary aroma? What is a smooth wine?

We are on a mission to teach you how to fish… for wine!

Here is a wine glossary of terms you can use during your next wine tasting or wine pairing to work your way to becoming a wine pro. Then put these descriptive wine words into practice by buying the wines which fit each definition. Then have wine tasting home party with your wine loving friends. Sooner rather than later you will master wine speak!

Get started by learning the wine description words inside.

Learn about the wild and multi-faceted sauvignon blanc grape and sauvignon blanc best wines from winemakers across Europe. For example,. how does sauvignon blanc taste and what impacts its aromas and flavors? There are more than just grassy, green sauvignon blancs out there. Find out more in this article.

Ever wonder

• what cork is made of?

• where cork trees are grown?

• how cork is harvested?

• what cork makes the best closures for wine?

• what does it mean when a wine is ‘corked’ and what causes it?

Learn all about cork and cork farming in this article after our visit live with a cork farmer in Alentejo, Portugal.

Let’s face it: Natural Wine is having a moment. Everyone in the wine world is talking about it in some way or form. But what is natural wine? What’s the deal with natty wine? Is natural wine organic? Is natural wine better for you? What defects are their in natural wine and how can you identify them? Become a natural wine expert in this article.

Pieces found of 8,000 year old amphora clay wine jars show what an ancient winemaking technique amphora was for Georgians, Armenians, Greeks, Romans and other ancient cultures. The ancient tradition of making wine in amphora, or a clay jar/vessel, fortunately still continues, like with 200 year old family estate winery in Spain Bodega de las Estrellas which craft natural wines using amphora from the 19th century. Amphora is a great way to make natural wines, thanks to the characteristics of clay and the shape of amphorae clay jars.

Discover for yourself the uniqueness of clay amphora in winemaking as we explore in this article the history of amphora wine, how to make amphora wine, and why it's a great choice for making delicious, harmonious natural wine.

So what’s up the acidity? Why do wine professionals avoid the ‘A’ word when describing a wine? Does it conjour up negative images of sourness and drinking vinegar? Yet, acidity is the necessary ‘evil’ in wine. In fact, in these days of global warming, with northern and colder weather climates trending, guess why that’s so?

Yes, it’s because of acidity. It is the ‘tough love’ element of wine, that which makes a wine interesting and sometimes thirst quenching. And it’s what we reach for as the warmer months come upon us. What exactly causes acidity to occur in wines? How do professionals evaluate acidity in wine? Find out in this article.

Confused about wine terminology, like natural wine, biodynamic wine, native yeast, col fondo, orange wine? While some terms are well defined, others can have alot of gray areas, so you’re not alone! When we seek out small, farm-to-glass wineries, we do vet them out based upon certain criteria. We put together this list of wine lingo that we use and are happy to share with you.

Did you know that in the ‘olden times’ sparkling wine was not made intentionally? The bubbles would just appear in the spring after the wine was harvested and bottled. Hence where the ‘ancestral method’ of making wine came about. This style of winemaking is ‘all the buzz’ as of late with the popularity, especially amongst ‘wine explorers’, of pet nat and col fondo sparkling wines. Read up in this article.

Learn all about Prosecco, its history, how it’s made, and where to find the best prosecco in this artlcle. Cin cin!

Ever wonder what the secrets are to finding good wine?

Vero came about because we unlocked the secrets! Find out in this article.

Conventional food and wine pairings teach us that sweet wines go with sweet foods… but did you know that sweet wines also pair great with savory dishes. But it needs to be a high quality sweet wine. Find out in this article.

The world of sweet wine is often greatly misunderstood. Good quality sweet wines can be every bit as complex and delicious as dry wines. Explore with us as we delve into how sweet wine is made and the history of sweet wine to understand why it is on the verge of resurgence in the wine world.

Explore the spectacular and historic Duoro region of Portugal where Port, and dry red wine too, is made today with age-old traditions such as foot trodding. Step on in!

Lambrusco is a historic, underrated sparkling red wine, with 17 grape varieties and many ways it’s wide, from dry to sweet, from charmat to champenois method. There is so much to know… and learn to enjoy! Read more to find out why you should be sipping on Lambrusco today.

Have you ever wondered:

• how rosè wines are made

• the different types of rosè wines

• what temperature to serve them at

• what food to pair with them?

Read our blog article to find out!

Is all sparkling wine created equal? Most definitely not! Read more about the history of sparkling wine, crucial differences in the wine-making processes, and what makes champagne, well champagne.