The Manzanos Wines Journal
Stories of wine, passion, and craftsmanship from around the world, by the team behind a Spanish wine importer serving all 50 states.
Hispanic Heritage Month 2026: 6 Wine Moves for America's Next Wine Drinkers
One in five Americans is Hispanic and wine is short of new drinkers. Six Spanish and Chilean wine moves for Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept 15 to Oct 15.
7 Fall Dishes That Call for an Oaked Chilean Chardonnay (2026)
Americans still love a rounder, oak-touched Chardonnay, and fall food is where it shines. Seven dishes, serving temps and what to skip.
Georgia Game Day Wines: 7 Tailgate Pairings for Fall 2026
Pulled pork, pimento cheese and peach cobbler deserve better than warm beer. 7 Georgia tailgate pairings, from 92-point Garnacha to a 95-point Rioja.
White Truffle Season 2026: 6 Piedmont Wines for Your Fall Truffle Menu
Alba's white truffle fair opens October 10. Here are the six Piedmont wines, from Barolo to a 95-point Moscato d'Asti, that make every truffle dish shine.
Spain's 2026 Harvest Came Early: 6 Things US Wine Buyers Should Know
Rioja started picking on August 6, one of its earliest harvests ever, and 2026 is its first vintage with lower-alcohol rules. Here is what it means for your glass.
Wine Tariffs in 2026: 6 Numbers Every U.S. Wine Buyer Should Know
US wine imports fell 25.2% in value in H1 2026, yet the average price per liter dropped. Here is what the tariff headlines get wrong, and what buyers pay.
Chile's 2026 Harvest Came Two Weeks Early: 5 Things US Wine Buyers Should Know
Half of Chile's growers picked two weeks early in 2026, and 80% of the crop graded good to excellent. Meanwhile US-bound shipments fell 33%.
8 Wines for Pennsylvania's Fall 2026 Restaurant Table
Fifty-nine restaurants open in Philadelphia this fall, inside America's biggest control state. These are the 8 wines that earn a slot on the list.
Nebbiolo d'Alba vs Barolo: 5 Reasons It Wins the By-the-Glass Slot in 2026
Italy still leads U.S. wine imports by volume, but its price per liter fell 16.9% in 2026. Barolo's younger sibling is how Piedmont keeps a glass pour.
Beyond Tempranillo: Rioja's 4 Other Red Grapes, Decoded for 2026
Rioja is legally allowed five red grapes. Almost every American wine list pours exactly one. Meet the other four, and the one that handles hot vintages best.
Your Q4 Wine List: 7 Moves to Make Before Thanksgiving 2026
US wine imports fell 16.8% by volume in the first half of 2026. The buyers who win Q4 aren't importing less, they're buying smarter. Seven moves to make now.
Fiestas Patrias 2026: 7 Chilean Wine Pairings for the Dieciocho Table
Chile's national day lands inside Hispanic Heritage Month. Here are 7 pairings, with serving temperatures, that turn asado and empanadas into a Chilean wine sale.
Massachusetts Pours More Wine Than Any State. 6 Bottles Built for Its 2026 Lists
Massachusetts diners order 72% more restaurant wine than the US average, yet guests have capped the glass at $16. Six bottles that solve both at once.
The 5.5% Bottle: Why a 95-Point Moscato d'Asti Is the Smartest Low-ABV Play of 2026
It won Decanter Gold and 95 points at 5.5% alcohol. Moscato d'Asti is the low-ABV answer US wine lists have been missing, and it belongs nowhere near the dessert page.
Tempranillo 101: What Spain's Signature Red Actually Tastes Like
Spain picks it early, and that one habit explains the whole wine. What Tempranillo tastes like, what to eat with it, and the serving temperature most people get wrong.
South African Wine's US Tariff Fell From 30% to 12.5%: What Buyers Should Do in 2026
South Africa's US wine duty dropped from 30% to 12.5% in the same year the Cape delivered its best harvest in years. What that changes for your list.
Chilean Pinot Noir in 2026: 5 Reasons It Owns the By-the-Glass Slot
Chile sells 8 of every 10 US bottles under $10. That is exactly why its Pinot Noir is the most underpriced glass pour on an American wine list right now.
New Jersey BYOB: 7 Bottles to Bring When You Are the Wine List
New Jersey caps any company at two liquor stores and bans corkage fees outright, so the diner picks the wine. Seven bottles built for a BYOB table.
Beyond Barolo: 3 Piedmont Wines Americans Keep Missing
Ask for a Piedmont wine and Americans say Barolo. Three DOCG bottles from the same hills pour better on a Tuesday, and land at a fraction of the cost.
5 Spanish White Wines That Deserve a Glass Pour in 2026
Rioja plants nearly nine rows of red for every row of white. That lopsided ratio is exactly why Spain's whites are the smartest pour on a 2026 list.
The US Wine Market Is Sorting, Not Shrinking: 5 Numbers That Explain 2026
Americans bought 81 million fewer cases of wine than in 2019, yet spent a record $115 billion. Both are true, and the gap explains everything about 2026.
Chile's $5 Ceiling: Why Maule Valley Cabernet Deserves a Better Slot in 2026
81% of Chilean wine shipped to the US retails under $10. That is a shelf-position verdict, not a quality one, and Maule Valley Cabernet is the proof.
7 Spanish Wines Every Chicago Tapas Table Needs in 2026
From Rioja and steak to Navarra whites with garlic shrimp, here are 7 Spanish wines built for Illinois tapas tables, with the pairing logic behind each.
Piedmont's Moment: 5 Duchessa Lia Wines Built for 2026's Lighter Table
2026's dominant wine trend is restraint, and it runs straight through Piedmont. Here's your Duchessa Lia field guide, from Barolo to Moscato d'Asti.
Navarra Rosado: Spain's Original Rosé and Late Summer's Smartest Pour
Before Provence went pink, Navarra was already mastering rosado. Here's why Spain's original 100% Garnacha rosé is late summer's smartest, best-value pour.
South African Sauvignon Blanc: The Cool-Climate White Winning 2026 Wine Lists
The world's biggest wine market is drinking less and paying more. Cool-climate Cape Sauvignon Blanc is the fresh, value-forward white built for 2026.
6 Chilean White Wine Pairings to Steal the Rest of Summer 2026
The US wine market is flat, but Chile is booming, and its bright, food-friendly whites are the reason. Six Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay pairings for late summer.
Texas Runs on Tempranillo: 6 Spanish Reds Built for Brisket and the Steakhouse
Texas adopted Tempranillo as its signature grape, and it came straight from Rioja. Here are 6 Spanish reds built for brisket, ribeye, and tapas night.
4 Piedmont Wines Built for 2026's Biggest Trend, From Duchessa Lia
2026's wine winners are lighter, lower-alcohol and less oaky. Piedmont was built for this moment, and 4 Duchessa Lia bottles prove it.
The 4 Levels of Rioja: Crianza to Gran Reserva Explained
One word on the back label decides if a Rioja costs $12 or $60. Learn to read Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva like a pro buyer.