A critical first step in the tasting of any wine is to inspect its color. Don’t even think about bringing the glass to your nose or lips without taking note of its shade, intensity of color, and sediment. Subtle differences in color can tell you a myriad of things, from the age of the wine […]

Provence is undeniably best-known for its rosés—dry, pale-pink, and more ubiquitous than ever—but scratch the surface and you’ll discover plenty of stellar reds and whites worth seeking out, as well as a robust wine culture that stretches back centuries.  Located off the Mediterranean coast in southeastern France, Provence draws a steady stream of travelers, thanks […]

On May 8, 1889, Vincent van Gogh arrived in Saint-Rémy de Provence and checked himself into the Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum. His mental health had deteriorated and he regularly suffered from hallucinatory spells, including an episode that led him to famously mutilate his own ear. Despite the precarity of his mental state, Van Gogh was […]

It’s widely believed that the best environment for storing wine long-term is an underground cellar, free from light, temperature fluctuations, and vibrations. For obvious reasons, this isn’t a viable storage solution for the majority of wine lovers. The good news is that there are more practical (and affordable) alternatives out there—no home renovation project necessary. […]

In the same way that not all dating advice is created equal—turns out it’s perfectly fine not to wait three days to call and, no, they’re not always just playing “hard to get”—not all wine advice is good wine advice, even if it comes from a “professional.” If you’ve ever been shamed for ordering a […]

Just like with movies or restaurants, critics have long evaluated the quality of wines using rating systems. Created with the aim of helping consumers with their wine purchases, these scoring scales have radically changed the industry, influencing what kinds of wines are produced and sold and shaping consumer tastes.  The most prominent points system is […]

The world of wine is bound by some pretty old-fashioned rules—pair white wine with fish, uncork champagne only for special occasions, and so forth. Ostensibly, these wine rules were designed to ease social interactions and give people the confidence to navigate tricky situations like business lunches and formal dinners.  It’s ironic, then, that these conventions […]

Last July, the VIVANT team traveled to Burgundy to meet Pierre-Henri Rougeot, a sixth-generation winemaker in Meursault.  During the interview—parts of which are featured in the Burgundy Route des Grands Crus and Wine Tasting Essentials Experiences— Rougeot talked about the history of his estate, his unique winemaking approach, and the importance of gender diversity in the […]

Raise your hand if you’ve ever chosen a wine based on its label art. Yup, we thought so (and, for the record, we have too). There’s so much information to process on any given label that it’s normal to feel your eyes glaze over and your hand reach for the most eye-catching bottle. And when […]

Burgundy is home to some of the best, most terroir-driven wines in the world. It was here, actually, that the concept of terroir was born; in the Middle Ages, Benedictine and Cistercian monks—the region’s first vignerons—studied and documented nuances in the soil. Burgundy’s prestigious bottles command high prices, and producers are fiercely protective of the […]

When it comes to wine, old age has cachet. Bottles from centuries past are among the world’s most sought-after, but it’s also widely and wrongly assumed that all vino gets better with age. What about old vines or vieilles vignes? Is there any truth to the saying, “The older the vine, the better the wine?”  Before […]

Silky. Wooly. Velvety. Ever wonder why wine professionals describe wine like they would the contents of a sock drawer? It’s not winesplaining, it’s somm-speak, and it’s a useful language to know when tasting or purchasing wine. Incorporating zany descriptors like these into your vocabulary can help you remember distinctive flavors and more readily identify what […]

Winemakers can be an elusive bunch. So on the rare occasion that you get face time with a vigneron during a tour or tasting, it’s normal to feel a little tongue-tied. But don’t let the intimidation factor hold you back—most producers are thrilled to field questions and share their passion. Plus, the more questions you […]

Let’s face it: diving into the world of wine can be overwhelming. With so much information out there, it’s difficult to know where to start and what to focus on. Should you home in on one region? Enroll in a WSET course? Blow your budget on a “research” trip to Burgundy? We put these questions […]

Each of us is shaped by the place we’re from—and wine is no different. The origin of a wine tells you what you can expect from a bottle, from taste and flavor profile to price. It also guarantees a certain level of quality. Nobody wants to blow $65 on a counterfeit bottle of “Champagne.” Simply […]

Over the years, sulfites have become an antagonist in the world of wine: from headaches to hangovers, the preservative compound has taken the blame for a wide range of bodily ailments. But are they really the enemy? To evaluate the merits of these anxieties, it’s best first to ask: what are sulfites, exactly, and how […]

The adage “what’s old is new again” holds true when it comes to orange wine. The ancient wine style is trending after dipping into relative obscurity over the past century. And while its color, which can range from yellow and pink to amber, is the style’s most distinguishing feature, there are other reasons to love […]

Think of Bordeaux as the grandparent of the wine world. The French region has a storied history going back centuries, and to this day is grounded in traditions that have been defined over generations. Bordeaux has shaped the wine industry in more ways than one. Wine regions everywhere have emulated its blending technique: Bordeaux’s star […]

Of all the facts and figures listed on a wine label, the vintage—that is, the year the grapes were harvested—is perhaps the most overlooked. The date is not always prominently featured on the bottle, nor is it as evocative as other information such as the region or producer.  However, vintage is a major determinant of […]

You may not know what tannins are, but we’re willing to bet you’ve encountered them before. The plant-derived compound can be found in a variety of foods, including dark chocolate, walnuts and cranberries, and is known for its bitter, astringent taste. In wine, tannins add depth and sophistication, especially to age-worthy red wines like Cabernet […]

Sustainable wine may be having a moment, but the low-interventionist philosophy that underpins natural, biodynamic and organic winemaking stretches back thousands of years. Ultimately, these styles are about getting back to basics, rejecting industrialized, mechanized farming methods that involve chemical and technological manipulation in favor of a more holistic, good-for-the-earth approach. The result? Wines that […]

Humans have been making wine for at least 8,000 years. And while techniques have evolved, tastes have changed, and new regions have emerged over time, the raw ingredients and chemical processes have more or less remained the same. After all, wine is just fermented grape juice. What separates the decent bottles from the collector-worthy ones […]

It’s hard not to feel intimidated when you’re just starting to learn about wine. From the countless regions and industry jargon to the hundreds of exotic-sounding varietals, the subject can seem elusive, but it shouldn’t be. Wine is for everyone, after all—and our immersive Experiences are a great way to dive in. Fortunately for beginners, […]

Each year, Château de Pommard produces less than 1,800 bottles of Simone, its rarest cuvée, available on allocation only. Now for the first time, VIVANT members have the opportunity to taste this remarkable wine with a new Tasting Kit containing six tasting tubes of Simone 2018 and a dedicated Live Experience, “Simone 2018: The Soul of […]

It’s safe to say we’re all ready for the New Year. You might be counting down to midnight this year from home, but celebrations still call for bubbly. VIVANT is here to transport you to Champagne without leaving your couch. Just in time to raise a glass to 2021, four new Live Experiences from Champagne […]

You’re probably in the habit of looking for organic labels when shopping for groceries. When picking up a bottle of wine, don’t forget similar ecolabels help you identify responsibly made wines that taste better, are better for you, and better for the planet. Eco-certifications guarantee the producer meets a set of criteria of sustainable practices. […]