THE POUR

Cabernet Blanc, Syrah, Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, Malbec, Muscat — wait, what’s a muskrat doing in a lineup of wines?

All kidding aside, Muscat wine may not be the most recognized varietal in your neighborhood, but that doesn't mean it's not worth a spot in your rotation. You’ve probably heard of Moscato or Moscatel — yes, the same grapes — but withhold your judgment long enough to learn what there is to appreciate about Muscat wine.

They tell you dark beer is for winter and citrusy beer is for summer. They tell you to stick with red wine when it’s cold and leave the white wine for warmer weather — but what haven’t they told you?

We’re here to say, emphatically, that you can and should drink white wine in the winter, especially Gewürztraminer.

Ge-what’s it? Yes, it’s a mouthful, but this superb white wine — most known in Germany, France, and Austria — is one you shouldn’t overlook, even if the forecast still has freezing temperatures and snow.

Sure, some white wines are light, simple, and better suited to hot, breezy summer days lounging in the sun. But let’s explore a few different Gewürztraminers and learn why they make a fine fit for snowy afternoons and cozy evenings protected from winter’s worst.

When you start paying attention to wine, you’ll hear a lot about certain wine regions — and when you pay attention even longer, you’ll hear about two gems from Italy: Barolo and Brunello.

They may not be name-dropped as much in American restaurants and some shops, but you can bet Barolo and Brunello are a recurring topic of recommendation when you’re looking at high-quality wines, especially from the Old World (classic European wine regions).

Here's what you should know about both varietals.

There is probably no wine more popular around the world than Cabernet Sauvignon.

With roots in France and explosive prevalence in the New World winemaking powerhouse of California — as well as Argentina, Australia, Chile, Italy, and South Africa — it’s for good reason that they say in the wine world, "Cab is king." Don't know what that means? It’s a good thing you’re here: we'll tell you everything you need to know about this deliciously popular red wine.

Wine is a never-ending universe of different flavors from different places. You could keep trying different wine varietals every week and for every occasion and still not get to the bottom of all that the world of wine has to offer.

But let’s not be shy about experimenting and sampling and exploring a few corners of wine varietals we’ve never tried — let alone heard of.

Wine is produced in all sorts of little pockets around the world. Don’t get us wrong — we love the classic French and Italian and Californian works of wine genius. We should also, though, be willing to try wines from strange, lesser-known, and unexpected regions. Whether you're a big traveler or enjoy staying close to home, here are some rare varietals to try.

You’ve probably heard someone rattling off the wine list at a restaurant or mention their favorite types of wine. You’re familiar with a lot of names they mention: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Rosé — but one of the names makes you wonder: Malbec. Is Malbec wine, a philosopher you missed in Psych 101, or an obscure cat name from the Internet?

If you haven’t tried it yet, Malbec is a red wine well worth your time. Here's what to expect.

“Can you grab us some wine glasses?” your friend asks as she opens a bottle in the other room. Then, you open the cabinet and realize you had no idea how many types of wine glasses there are.

There are actually six main types of wine glasses to suit different kinds of wine and some of those have three or four subtypes!

No, it’s not overkill or just for looks. Depending on what you’re drinking, you want different shapes of wine glasses to highlight the features of each different type of wine. Let’s take a look at the main types of wine glasses and why they matter for your drinking experience.

One of the most famous regions for winemaking in France is the Bordeaux region located in southwestern France. Most people associate this area with fantastic estates, beautiful chateaus, and wonderful wines. As glorious as this region is, there always seems to be a little bit of confusion surrounding where certain types of wine are made.

If you’re willing to pause for a minute and explore the left and right banks of Bordeaux, you may find it easier to pick the exact Bordeaux wines that make you and your palate happiest. You’ll discover that the reds and whites from this region are some of the most desired.

Italy is known for many things: fashion, food, and wine. Oh, the wine. So much passion goes into products that come from this boot-shaped country, and Amarone della Valpolicella, simply referred to as Amarone, is one of those complex, passionate contributions.

An American classic, a glass of Zinfandel is so deep and rich in color, it nearly appears black. In fact, the grape is classified as having a black skin. Zinfandel is considered to be America’s grape. What makes this luscious wine so uniquely American is that Zinfandel is grown exclusively in California. Paso Robles, Sonoma, Napa Valley, Central Valley, and Lodi are all regions that produce quality Zinfandel. What you may not know is that this wine can be traced to the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Italy and Croatia.

Wine Party Tip: Pick up a bottle of American Zinfandel & Italian Primitivo and compare side by side. What do you think?

A few Minnesota connections lead to some of the best Zinfandels around. Ken Rosenblum, a Minnesota native who headed West to become a veterinarian, founded Rosenblum Cellars. They are known for exquisite food friendly Zinfandels. Ken has been dubbed the “King of Zins” for good reason. He makes some of the best.  Dave Ready Jr., from Murphy Goode, is huge Vikings fan and his Liar’s Dice Zinfandel is well balanced and superb. Frog’s Leap ownership also includes Bob & Sue Greenberg who operate the Young Quinlan building in downtown Minneapolis where Haskell’s has its corporate headquarters.