Welcome to Opening a Bottle

European wines explored, explained and celebrated through virtual tastings.

sign-up
Photo collage of Clos Cibonne winery

Behind the Idiosyncratic Wines of Clos Cibonne

To create some of the most unusual, complex and age-worthy rosé wines in France, Clos Cibonne relies on their peninsular terroir, 110-year-old casks, the development of flor, and an ancient and neglected grape — Tibouren.

Read the Story
Pinot Noir Grapes Ripening in Sonoma, California

Our Next Class on Zoom

Pinot Noir: Old World vs. New

Join us for our next virtual tasting on January 22, 2022 at 8pm EST as we dive into the world's most celebrated red grape.

Learn more

Exclusive for Subscribers

Our newest content just for subscribers.

This Week's Free Stories

Opening a Bottle's Top 12 Wines of 2021. ©Opening a Bottle

Top 12 Wines of 2021

A look back on a year where Etna, Friuli, Provence and Alsace reigned supreme.

This article is free to all readers.

Visit the List

Wines to Admire

What we've been drinking and enjoying. Short, concise and if not educational, at least a little entertaining. Available to paying subscribers.

A Life in Wine with Andrew Jefford

One of the world's most esteemed wine writers sits down with our Editor-in-Chief to discuss his career, the role of poetry in his life, the bourgeoning wine culture of Languedoc, and the surprise of Asolo Prosecco.

This article is free to all readers.

Read the Interview

Essential Winemakers

Our curated list of the most compelling winemakers from around the nation's we know best: Italy and France. Available to paid subscribers. Each profile includes comprehensive info on practices, philosophy, tasting notes on top wines and visitation info.

Recent Updates Among the Essential Winemakers

Winemakers we have recently added, as well as some deemed "still essential" after a fresh review.

Timorasso has more acidity, so in a way it is also like Chenin Blanc. It is a white wine with tannin.”

–Luca Currado of Vietti on Timorasso, a specialty white-wine grape of Piedmont.

Subscription Plans to Opening a Bottle

Join Opening a Bottle

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of upcoming seminars and content updates, or become a paying member for more exclusive access, including free access to seminars, our top bottle reviews, tasting reports and the Essential Winemakers of Italy and France.

FREE SIGN-UP
GET ACCESS

Vineyard Stories

A deep-dive into singular places of viticulture. Free to all. Go to this section.

How We Rate Wine - Wine bottles for Opening a Bottle ©Kevin Day/Opening a Bottle

How We Rate Wine

Our reviews are written for beginners to wine as well as "wine obsessives." And we use icons to indicate vineyard practices, history, and other compelling details that matter m0st to understanding a wine's story.

LEARN MORE
Icons Guide

Things That Matter to Us in Wine

Throughout the site we hallmark wines and wineries with icons denoting what is special about them. Here are just a few of the things we find fascinating in wine, and why. Learn more with our guide to all wine icons.

About Opening a Bottle

A worldwide network of wine experts propels this magazine ... just kidding. It's mostly a passionate wine obsessive in Colorado with some help from his very, very talented friends.

Key to Our Wine Icons

– Practicing Organic
 – Certified Organic
 – Practicing Biodynamic
 – Certified Biodynamic
– Promotes Biodiversity
– Old Vines
– Heroic Viticulture
– Volcanic Soil
– Traditional Winemaking
– Clay Vessel Winemaking
– Family-Operated Winery
– Historic Winery
– Co-operative Winery
– Négociant
– Stay at Winery
– Olive Oil Producer
– Age-Worthy Wine
– Expensive Wine (+$100)
– Requires Some Searching

Support Us

Disabling your ad blocker will help support our mission.

Allow ads Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Click here to log in.

Skip to content