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European wines explored, explained and celebrated through stories, reviews and virtual tastings.

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Aging bottles of Chianti Classico wine in the cellar of Badia a Coltibuono ©Kevin Day/Opening a Bottle

Understanding the History of Chianti Classico

Contrary to what you might expect, the wines of Chianti Classico have always been a moving target. To understand their future, its best to first understand their past.

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This Week's Free Stories

Photo collage of Albert Bichot wines.

Tasting Report: Domaines Albert Bichot's 2020 Releases

From Chablis to Mercurey, Fixin to Meursault, this under-the-radar négociant has proven that they are a winery to seek out. This tasting report is available to everyone for a limited time.

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Recent Updates Among the Essential Winemakers

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

Article: Montalcino Mastery at Il Marroneto

Montalcino Mastery at Il Marroneto

Our first report from Tuscany looks at the staunchly traditional Brunello di Montalcino winery, Il Marroneto, where precise techniques are being passed down to a new generation.

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50 Wines to Admire

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

For Wiener Gemischter Satz, all of the grapes are harvested at once and co-fermented — underripe, ripe, overripe and all. ©Wieninger/Winebow

We try to produce a certain style of wine addicted to the terroir of the vineyard, and try to find a mix where the most successful or most interesting wine comes out — no matter what the varieties are in there.”

–Fritz Wieninger, Austrian winemaker, on the practice of making compelling field blends in the hills above Vienna

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.

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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

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