Wine Wisdom

Winemaker Jacob Parton standing in front of a 2,500 litre oak foudre

What is a Foudre?

A foudre is a French term for a large wooden vat used for maturing, transporting and aging wine. Pronounced foo-druh, it is often used by winemakers to control the amount of oak flavour used in making wine.

Cheers to Blanc de Noir cuvee

Blanc de Noir Cuvée: The Inspiring Story

Visionary or crazy? Time will only tell how our Managing Director Ben Thomson’s latest project, Blanc de Noir Cuvée, will go down in our history books. For now, we’re calling the idea one of his finest. Read on to find out the history of innovative winemaking at Best’s and to learn more about the newest wine in our family, Blanc de Noir Cuvée.

Best's Decanting Young Reds

Decanting Young Reds

Decanting younger red wines (screw top or cork) always improves their flavour. See the benefit from allowing a young red wine breathe. The younger, more tannic the wine, the more time it needs to “breathe”.

Pruning Grapevines

5 Things you need to know about Pruning a Grapevine

As the weather turns colder the focus turns to the vineyard to prune whilst the vines are dormant. The following is a list of the five main things you need to know.

Best's Wines

Tasting Wine Like A Pro

Learn to swirl, taste and assess and store wine and get our best tips on writing tasting notes

Pinot Meunier vs Pinot Noir

Viv Thomson shines a light on Pinot Meunier – one of the oldest varieties growing in our vineyard – and explains the differences between this grape and its close relative Pinot Noir.

Best's Riesling - Thumbnail

Our Riesling Explained

A brief run through of Riesling at Best’s, what, when, why and how? Riesling at Best’s Great Western has a long and illustrious history. Henry Best planted Riesling in our Concongella Vineyard in 1868.

Best's Open That Bottle Night

How to get involved in Open That Bottle Night

Open That Bottle Night Day is celebrated annually on the last Saturday of every February. This is your invitation to join in the global celebrations that are Open That Bottle Night.

The Secrets of Cellaring Wine

The Secrets of Cellaring Wine

The Best’s team share their expertise on how to cellar wine to make sure your precious bottles will be at their prime in years to come.

Best's Does Drinking Wine Cause Headaches

Does drinking wine cause headaches?

There are many theories surrounding the effects of wine on wellbeing and health, and we’re often asked by visitors why drinking wine – particularly red wine – can bring on a headache.

What Vine Leaves Can Tell Us

What Vine Leaves Can Tell Us

Have you heard of ampelography? It’s the study of vine leaves and it has been invaluable in identifying some of the grape varieties growing in our Nursery Block.

How To Open Old Wines

With a healthy collection of aged and rare wines in our cellar. The team at Best’s has loads of experience opening these bottles with all the required pomp and ceremony. So how to open old wines safely?

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