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Three winemakers, three Spanish regions: Juan Gil, Bodegas Shaya, and Bodegas Morca
Spain is one of my favorite wine-producing countries. Even though I’ve yet to collect that stamp on my passport, when I drink a Spanish wine I can almost taste the Mediterranean sunshine in my glass. Recently in Texas, I got to sample some marvelous wines (and meet the winemakers!) at The Wine Authority. They came…
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A whirlwind of wine! A 2026 update from The Wine Fairy
A big, hearty “Cheers!” to those amazing readers who follow my wine adventures. There has been a lot going on behind the scenes at The Wine Fairy. Things are flowing fast. It’s been the craziest three months in my wine career–probably in my life. My brain is mush, my palate is exhausted…and yeah, I’m ready…
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The 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards: I’m longlisted!
This morning started with a small thrill–Château Giscours liked a recent post I made about enjoying their wine with dinner. A few minutes later, a much bigger surprise landed in my inbox: I’m longlisted for the 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards! My name is on the 2026 longlist in two categories: • Laurent-Perrier…
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What Is This Thing? Giambellino Bellini Wine Cocktail
This is what it’s like to write a highbrow-lowbrow wine blog: Sometimes we’re drinking a single-vineyard Pinot Noir, and sometimes we’re drinking a dubious orange liquid that we bought at ALDI. On What Is This Thing?, we look at various wine-adjacent products and try to determine: 1. What is this thing? 2. Should you drink…
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Close calls: Three recent blind-tasting traps–and what I learned from them
Identifying mystery wines isn’t easy at the best of times. But when a wine is chosen specifically to trip up the taster, it adds another layer of difficulty. I’ve been doing a lot of blind tasting practice since earning my WSET Level 3 certificate in February. I’m trying to get an honest look at my…
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The Wine Fairy on Substack
Some cool news: The Wine Fairy is now on Substack (@winefairymichelle). If you’d like, you can follow me there for the same articles and reviews you see on the blog, delivered via email or the Substack app. Or keep reading here, as always. (Or via the RSS feed–I know there are some of you who…
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Merlot Thursday: Sydney Back South Africa Merlot (2022)
Oh no–#MerlotThursday snuck up on me again. Fortunately, I have this bottle that a friend gifted me last night: A Kosher Merlot from South Africa. Happy Passover to those who observe it! This medium-bodied, lightly oaked Merlot is fresh and red-fruited with some earthy character. Red cherries, black plum, and spiced cranberry yield to deeper…
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Review: Truchard Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay (2023)
To drink a glass of well-made Chardonnay is like taking a short walk on a sunny afternoon. Is it thrilling? No. Are you going to tell a story about it at your next cocktail party? Probably not. But it’s pleasant. It’s wholesome. And when you’re finished, you feel a little glow inside–like you just ingested…
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Texas Wine News Roundup: Spring 2026
Spring is here in Texas! That means it’s time for bluebonnets, barbecue, and rosé on the patio. As Texas wine superfans, we’re always on the lookout for new wines to taste and new places to visit. Here are the five Texas wine stories that broke through the noise in the first quarter of 2026. Story…
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Merlot Thursday: “Madame de Beaucaillou” Haut-Médoc (2019)
Merlot’s fortunes are so low that it’s possible to walk into an upscale wine shop and not see a single bottle with the “M-word” on the label. When you ask for help finding a nice Merlot, they will look at you with either pity (as if you have no wine knowledge) or suspicion (as if…
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A Texas Tempranillo Experience at Red River Wines (Sadler, TX)
With its versatility, affinity for oak aging, and heat tolerance in the vineyard, Tempranillo is arguably the signature black grape of Texas. (It’s currently the second-most planted, after Cabernet Sauvignon–and gaining.) Since the first commercial plantings in the early 2000s, Texas winemakers have looked to this variety to craft bold reds with balanced fruit, spice,…
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The 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards: Last call!
March 8 is the last day to submit your entries for the 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards! (I know this because…well, I also put it off until the last minute.) The third edition of the awards will recognize wine communicators across six categories, spanning written, audio, and video content. Being at the Wine…