The journal

Notes on food & wine

Short essays on pairing, tasting, and the occasional disaster — written for people who like to eat.

Page 2 of 2 · 40 articles total

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Apr 8, 2026

The Sunday roast wine: rules from a British table

By Sandy McKee

Beef, lamb, chicken, pork — four roasts, four wines, no compromise.

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Mar 29, 2026

The five wine flavor profiles every drinker should know

By Jill Wells

Once you can name what's in the glass, you can pair anything. Here are the five flavor families that explain almost every wine.

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Mar 22, 2026

Tannin explained: why your mouth puckers

By Jill Wells

That drying sensation in a young Cabernet? It's the same compound in steeped tea — and it tells you what to eat with the wine.

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Mar 15, 2026

A map of red wines from light to bold

By Jill Wells

Memorize this spectrum once. You'll know what to order with every dinner from then on.

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Mar 8, 2026

Sweet vs dry: the wine list terms that confuse everyone

By Jill Wells

If you've ever ordered a wine described as dry and tasted fruit, you've been lied to. Sort of.

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Mar 1, 2026

Why fish and white wine isn't actually a rule

By Jill Wells

The old rule is half wrong. Some fish prefer reds. Here's the actual logic, and the dishes where it shows up.

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Feb 26, 2026

Three principles for pairing wine with food

By Stacey Palmer

Forget the long lists. Three ideas explain almost every successful pairing — and every failed one.

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Feb 19, 2026

Salt and acid: wine pairing's underrated tools

By Stacey Palmer

Most pairing guides obsess over flavor matching. The real work is being done by salt and acid, every time.

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Feb 12, 2026

When the textbook pairing fails: matching wine to mood

By Stacey Palmer

The technically perfect pairing isn't always the right one. Sometimes you want the wine that fits the moment.

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Feb 5, 2026

The case for red wine with fish (yes, really)

By Stacey Palmer

The old rule was made for cod and chablis. Modern menus have moved on.

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Jan 29, 2026

How to read a wine list with confidence

By Stacey Palmer

Three questions to ask yourself before the sommelier reaches the table. Forty seconds, maximum.

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Jan 22, 2026

Five daring wine pairings that shouldn't work — but do

By Scott Turner

After two decades of restaurant floors, these are the pairings that consistently surprise diners.

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Jan 15, 2026

Champagne with fried chicken: the case

By Scott Turner

Pairing's most photographed combination. Here's why it actually works — and how to do it on a budget.

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Jan 8, 2026

Beyond Cabernet: unexpected wines for grilled steak

By Scott Turner

The default works. So do five other wines that take steak somewhere more interesting.

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Dec 30, 2025

Pairing wine with dessert: beyond Sauternes

By Scott Turner

Sauternes is the default. Here's what works for the desserts Sauternes doesn't.

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Dec 22, 2025

When pink wine actually belongs on the table

By Scott Turner

Most rosé gets drunk at brunch. It belongs at the dinner table — for these five meals specifically.

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