Top Wine Blogs for Aspiring Sommeliers

Wine has been a hot topic for millennia, entwined with our culture like no other libation. Wine is fun, engaging, desirable, and posh; it’s the one drink you must study to understand fully. Whether we talk about provenance or grape varieties, wine producers or vintage variations, terroir, or technology, the wine universe is immense.

It’s no surprise that wine education is mainstream, primarily online. Wine blogs abound, and many of them have been running for decades. Both wine enthusiasts and experts share their wine reviews, experience, and wine knowledge in many formats and styles, from videos to infographics. These are our favorite wine blogs online today, but we know they’re just the tip of the iceberg. So tell us if we missed your favorite wine blogs in the comments below.

Wine Blogs for the Trade

Vinography

This wine blog continues to expand and grow without becoming overburdened or outdated. In 2004, Alder Yarrow started his wine blog. Vinography is now a full-fledged online magazine. Important weekly features include tasting notes and industry news. These are not to be missed if you aim to become a wine professional.

The short-form articles are excellent and can be found in the “Ramblings and Rants” section. Plenty of worthwhile reads are here, and new content is published weekly. One caveat: there is a little too much obsequiousness to Jancis Robinson (Oxford Guide to Wine), but she is the author’s employer.

Wine Anorak

Without question, this is one of our favorite wine blogs. It started as a brilliant but simple personal endeavor from Jamie Goode, the only science writer to focus on wine. The blog has grown into a professionally published online wine magazine that offers brilliant articles on many aspects of the wine trade, not just winemaking.

While they grab some of the low-hanging fruit (wine reviews, travel articles, winemaker interviews), they consistently tackle the more challenging subjects. Essays on climate change, grape cloning, and regenerative viticulture are highlighted and often written by Mr. Goode himself.

Wine Academy Magazine at Cult Wine Investment

In any business, the best way to succeed is to bring in more money than you spend. While obvious, it gets lost in the living daydream of the wine trade. There is a lack of business-mined wine blogs that this publication fills.

We can’t comment on the company that supports this blog: we are not investment professionals and couldn’t fathom how such a business would work or if it would make sense to plow the trillions of dollars we earn from SOMM into wine investments.

What we can comment on is that this publication is putting out well-researched articles on the economics of the wine trade like no one else. Anyone running their own wine business should put this in their rotation.

Industry Wine Blogs on Life Support

We love these blogs, but updates have been few and far between.

Tom Wark’s Fermentation

Tom is a force of nature in the wine trade. This blog traffics in well-researched opinion pieces, the kind of deep thinking that is rare in most industries. So if you are looking for thought-provoking articles from a seasoned researcher, this is for you. There is a love of wine and science here, so don’t be surprised to see reports on economics, wine chemistry, and psychology. You will also see a piece or two on politics related to wine.

Tom stopped updating the blog in early 2022, but the content is strong, and Tom is very influential. He started “Wark Communications” a few years ago but seemed to keep those two worlds separate—one of our favorite wine industry blogs.

Tim Atkin is A Master in Wine whose wine blog has become a publishing house for some great wine writers. Poetic and occasionally obscure. https://timatkin.com/articles/

The Academic Wino The occasional message from a pro. Great information for the academically included. The site needs an update, but the content is very worthwhile. http://www.academicwino.com/

Wine Blogs for Newbies

Wine Folly

Wine Folly is the best wine blog for inexperienced wine enthusiasts on the web. When Madeline Puckette married her talents as a graphic designer and certified sommelier, she began publishing the most beautiful graphics, maps, and charts the wine world had ever seen. Above all, they were spot-on and accurate.

The blog began selling its maps and charts in print, and the vast material eventually became a New York Times Best-Selling book, rewarding Madeleine with a James Beard award. You can browse Wine Folly for hours, learning something new every time. Wine Folly has no competition for delivering wine knowledge in a compelling visual format.

Of all the wine blogs, this was the most successful in propelling its founder into the big leagues. Their maps and design are impeccable. However, their move into wine education programs has not been as successful.

Wine365

A new blog focused on lifestyle articles, including wine recommendations and book reviews. There are a few listicles thrown in for good measure. But what is surprising is the depth of good information on display here. For example, when they write about Pinot Noir, they know their stuff: they recommend regions as far-flung as Tasmania in Australia and Casablanca Valley in Chile, as well as the most classic areas such as Burgundy and Willamette Valley. This is the type of information most new wine drinkers need. It explains critical concepts without an over-reliance on nifty quips and graphics.

Fernando Beteta

Fernando Beteta is one of the most respected wine professionals in the industry. He earned the title of Master Sommelier in 2009 after a long history in hospitality. However, reaching the highest honor in the wine world didn’t stop Fernando from continuing to study, and he shared his knowledge in his blog.

Fernando’s blog is not for the faint-hearted; it’s focused on high-level wine expertise and digs deep into complex subjects like soils and blind-tasting skills. However, seasoned professionals and severe wine students will find Fernando’s blog valuable. Do you want to assess your wine knowledge? Fernando shares tests and quizzes regularly, but don’t get frustrated if they’re out of your league. These questions are tough!

The Hall of Old Wine Blogs

Wine blogs come and go over time. Here is a list of some golden oldies that have sat unloved or un-updated for years. Or have recently become mired down by sponsor content.

The Wine Wankers

Two Australians run the Wine Wankers blog with a spirited sense of humor. The blog has half a million followers globally because of its casual, relaxed tone. There are no pretentious takes on wine here: it’s all about personal experiences. Conrad and Drew write their separate blog posts, giving the website a refreshing duality that keeps you browsing for hours. Wine Wankers will review pretty spectacular wines, and it’s not all mainstream. Buying advice and fun stories abound.

Vine Pair

Vine Pair has taken a business approach to the blog. They’re a self-proclaimed “digital media company delivering accessible, entertaining, and inspiring content about drinks and the experiences you have with a glass in hand,” They do it very well. A dozen contributors create daily content at all levels of expertise, from wine regions to opinion pieces. Beautiful wine maps and an extensive list of wine reviews complete the picture. As a result, vine Pair is firmly positioned on all social media channels. Vine Pair sets a standard for serious media platforms, and their expansion to other beverages guarantees that their continuous growth has no limit.

Wine Library

If you’re into wine, you’ve probably browsed wine-related videos on YouTube, where you can find Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary hosts one of the first video wine blogs on the web, Wine Library TV, founded in 2006. Gary’s explosive personality and energy make his wine tastings and reviews fun to watch. Wine Library’s YouTube channel has over 1000 episodes where Gary has tasted it all. Want to know what wine pairs well with cereal? Gary’s got your back.

Get Virtual With a Wine Class

Eventually, every wine lover must move up from self-education and commit to formal wine education. If you prefer online wine education, you should review our reviews of the best online sommelier programs. We also review online wine-tasting classes, as well.

Want to recommend your favorite wine blogs?

Let us know in the comments!