wine spectator

Video games

Yummy Links: From Cupcake Holders to School Lunches

Source

magazines

Win a Wine Knot and a Subscription to Wine Spectator!

The contest has ended.

The contest has ended. Thanks to everyone who entered, and stay tuned for the winner!
If you've got several bottles of wine cluttering your house, or if you've just wished you had a place to store the ones you're planning to get, then a Wine Knot ($105) might be just the thing you need. It was recently featured as one of our January Must Haves, and you'll be happy to hear that we're actually giving one away! And, if that wasn't enough, we're also going to pair it with a year's subscription to Wine Spectator Magazine.

To enter to win this fab prize, YOU MUST LOG IN and take the "red or white wine?" quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by completing the quiz once you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member and log in before you take the quiz. If you're not already a member, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Don't forget to log in before you take the quiz in order for it to count!

Apologies to all of our international readers: This contest is open to U.S. residents only. Winners will be chosen randomly from among the quiz-takers. The contest ends on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 5:00 p.m. PST. For more info read the official rules.

Good luck and don't forget to tell all your friends and family so that they have a chance too!

Take the Quiz
Wine

Does a Wine's Score Matter?

Wine is a super subjective drink; to one person a merlot may taste harsh and to another it could be full of flavor.

Wine is a super subjective drink; to one person a merlot may taste harsh and to another it could be full of flavor. That being said, I do take into account a wine's score when choosing what wine to purchase. Created in the 1970s by wine critic Robert Parker, the 100 point American wine rating system is widely used by wine magazines to rank a wine's overall taste, appearance, and aroma. Wine merchants often use a wine's score to sell certain bottles.

But what happens when the wine's are mislabeled? A recent study conducted by the Washington Post food section concluded that 6 percent of the signs showing a wine's score were incorrect. The Post states:

The vintage available was usually unrated or had received a lower score, though there were occasions when the actual wine displayed had received a higher rating.

Wine Spectator acknowledges these errors as a nuisance, but have no solution to stop the false advertising. This makes me question the system's credibility and in the future I may not pay as much attention to the rating. What do you guys think? Does a wine's score matter?

Source and Source

Wine

YumSugar Gift Guide: Wow the Wine Snobs

Everyone knows someone who is totally wacko about wine.

Everyone knows someone who is totally wacko about wine. They refuse to drink two buck chuck and know the difference between Barossas and Barolos. Wondering what to get in-the-know winos for the holidays? Don't give them wine — it'll be too difficult to pick something out for them — but instead give them a wine tool or accessory.

Wine coasters make excellent stocking stuffers and will protect the snob's counter surfaces from Sangiovese stains. To really impress, indulge her with a professional wine essences kit. Learning the subtle aroma of each wine will elevate her snobbery to the next level!

Browse below for more ideas.