The Burger’s Best Bottle Is Crozes-Hermitage
A great burger deserves more than a default red. Northern Rhône Syrah brings pepper, freshness and exactly the right weight.
JQ Louise
JQ Louise is the publisher of Santé, which has written about wine, spirits and the table since 1996. A Boston-based journalist and founder of The JQ List, she covers wine regions, hotels and restaurants from the vineyard and the dining room, and is the author of Historic Maps of Boston.
Six Bottles for Autumn: The Santé Tasting Edit
Six bottles for an autumn wine tasting at home, from sparkling to sweet, with how to host it, the tasting order and what to look for.
What to Drink in Lisbon: The Wine Bars Worth the Walk
Eight Lisbon wine bars from Chiado to Graça, what to order at each, and the Portuguese bottles to carry home once the hills are done.
Santé’s Holiday Gift Guide, Part One: For the Wine Lover
Santé’s holiday wine gift guide: showpiece bottles, glassware, decanters, books and experiences for the wine lover.
Lobster and the White Wines of Pessac-Léognan
Sweet, rich lobster needs a white with texture and freshness in equal measure. Bordeaux’s great dry whites deliver both.
Mulled Wine Done Properly: The Bottle, the Spices, the Method
Never boil it, never use a wine you would not drink, never drown it in sugar. The bottle, the spices and the method for mulled wine that tastes of wine.
Beaujolais Nouveau Is Coming. Drink the Crus Instead
Beaujolais Nouveau arrives Nov 19. Here is why the ten Beaujolais crus, from Morgon to Fleurie, deserve your attention instead.
Cassoulet and the Black Wine of Cahors
South-west France’s great bean and confit dish has a partner from the same corner of the country. Cahors Malbec brings the structure it needs.
Rye vs Bourbon: The Difference, and When to Pour Each
Bourbon is at least 51 percent corn, rye at least 51 percent rye grain, and that one swap decides sweetness, spice and which cocktail each belongs in.
Thanksgiving, Planned Early: Twelve Bottles for Every Role at the Table
The Thanksgiving wine guide: 12 bottles for every role at the table, how much to buy, and why to shop now for Nov 26.
Ceviche and Albariño: A Coastal Partnership
Lime-cured fish needs a white that can match its acidity and its salt. Galicia’s Albariño was made for the job.
The Best Sparkling Wines Under $30 (That Aren’t Prosecco)
Traditional-method bubbles from Penedès, Alsace, Burgundy, New Mexico and the Anderson Valley that beat Prosecco on depth without breaking $30. Ten bottles worth carrying home.
The Grown-Up Halloween: Black Wines, Dark Chocolate and Cocktails After Dark
A grown-up Halloween wine pairing guide: dark wines, a chocolate and wine tasting, and cocktails done properly for October 31.
Coq au Vin and the Case for Morgon
Burgundy’s great braise is usually matched with Burgundy. A cru Beaujolais from Morgon is the smarter, livelier choice.
Thanksgiving Wine Pairing: One Bottle for the Whole Table
Turkey, gravy, cranberry, sweet potato and twelve opinions at one table. The single bottle that handles all of it, and the six versions worth buying now.
Plan Now: The Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction
The 166th Hospices de Beaune wine auction is Nov 15, 2026. Its history, how the auction works, and how to attend the Trois Glorieuses.
Roquefort and Sauternes: The Great Contrast
Salty blue cheese and golden sweet wine are the best-known proof that opposites attract at the table.
Decanting, Demystified
How to decant wine, and when not to: sediment vs aeration, which wines benefit, decanter shapes and a practical timing guide.
How to Store Wine at Home Without a Cellar
No cellar, no problem. The temperature, light and placement rules that keep wine sound in an ordinary house, and the point at which a wine fridge earns its keep.
Pumpkin, Squash and Wine
Pumpkin wine pairing for soups, risotto and tortelli di zucca: the Viognier, Vouvray, white Rhône and orange wines that suit the season.