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.
Dry January 2027: 7 Moves Wine Buyers Should Make Now
Only 54% of U.S. adults now drink. January's customer buys less but chooses better. Seven moves to win the quiet month and the February rebound.
Chilean Cabernet vs Napa Cabernet: 7 Differences That Matter at the Table
Same grape, different wine. Chile's ungrafted Cabernet vines and Andes nights make a fresher, more savory red than Napa. Here is when to open each.
7 Chicago Steakhouse Cuts and the Perfect Wine for Each (2026 Holiday Guide)
Chicago chars its steaks harder than anywhere. Here is the bottle that stands up to each cut, from dry-aged ribeye to filet, this holiday season.
6 Iconic Chicago Foods and the Wines That Pair With Them
Deep-dish, Italian beef dipped, a hot dog dragged through the garden: Chicago's greatest hits are built on salt, fat and acid. Here is the wine for each one.
7 Wine Trends for 2027 Every U.S. Wine Buyer Should Plan For Now
Millennials are now 31% of U.S. wine drinkers and Boomers just 26%. Seven data-backed trends that will decide which bottles win shelves and wine lists in 2027.
Carmenere vs Merlot: 7 Differences Every Wine Lover Should Know
Chile sold Carmenere as Merlot for over a century until a French expert spotted the difference in 1994. Here is how to tell them apart, glass by glass.
Tex-Mex Wine Pairings: 7 Matches for Fajitas, Chili and Enchiladas
Fajitas, red chili and enchiladas are hard on wine. These 7 bottles, from Rioja Gran Reserva to Moscato d'Asti, cool the heat and make Tex-Mex night better.
How to Import Spanish Wine to the USA: 7 Steps for 2026
A federal permit, a label approval for every wine, an FDA notice for every shipment and a distributor in every state. The full path to importing Spanish wine.
Piedmont Thanksgiving: 6 Italian Wines for Every Course of the 2026 Table
Skip the usual Pinot. One Italian region pours for the whole Thanksgiving table: Gavi to start, Barbera for the turkey, Barolo for the roast, Moscato for the pie.
Spanish Cabernet? 7 Things to Know About Navarra's International Grapes
Spain grows serious Cabernet, Syrah and Chardonnay, and Navarra is where. 7 things US wine lovers and buyers should know, plus the bottles to try.
Holiday Party Wine Math 2026: How Many Bottles You Really Need, Plus 7 Wines to Pour
20 guests, 3 hours, 14 bottles. The 10-second formula for holiday party wine, the red-white-sparkling split, and 7 bottles that do the job.
Chilean New Year's Eve 2026: 7 Traditions and the Wines to Pour
Twelve grapes, a bowl of lentils, a gold ring in the flute: Chile's New Year's Eve rituals make a perfect menu. Here is the wine for each one.
6 Iconic California Dishes and the Imported Wines to Pour With Them
Cioppino, fish tacos, Santa Maria tri-tip, Dungeness crab: California's iconic dishes are immigrant foods, and they shine with Rioja, Nebbiolo and Cape whites.
Barolo vs Barbaresco: 7 Differences Every US Wine Buyer Should Know
Same grape, same Piedmont hills, a few miles apart. So why does Barbaresco taste so different from Barolo? Seven differences that matter on a US wine list.
Ribera del Duero vs Rioja: 7 Differences Every US Wine Buyer Should Know
Same grape, different altitude: Ribera del Duero and Rioja both pour Tempranillo, but they drink nothing alike. Here is how to choose, pair and list both.
7 Holiday Wine Gifts With a Story Worth Telling in 2026
A 1940 Graciano vineyard, a six-grape South African blend, a 95-point Gran Reserva: seven holiday wine gifts matched to the people on your list, story included.
7 Friendsgiving Potluck Pairings for a Chilean Red Blend (2026)
A Friendsgiving potluck needs one wine that works with everything. Meet the Chilean red blend built for it, plus 7 dishes to pour it with this November.
7 Iconic New York Foods and the Imported Wines That Match Them
Pastrami on rye, a New York strip, chicken parm, dumplings, cheesecake: seven NYC classics and the Rioja, Barolo, Pinotage and Moscato that make each one better.
How to Serve Barolo: Decanting, Temperature and the Right Glass in 3 Steps
Most disappointing Barolo was opened too late, poured too warm and served in the wrong glass. Three small fixes turn the same bottle into a different wine.
How to Read a Spanish Wine Label: 4 Colors and 12 Words
Green, red, garnet or blue: the seal on the back of a Rioja tells you how long it aged. Decode any Spanish wine label in under a minute.
Thanksgiving 2026: 4 Bruce Jack Wines for Every Course, From Turkey to Prime Rib
Pinotage with smoked turkey, Sauvignon Blanc with sage stuffing, a 93-point Napa red for prime rib: the Thanksgiving wine plan most guides skip.
7 Seafood Pairings for Chilean Sauvignon Blanc This National Seafood Month
October is National Seafood Month. Here are 7 dishes, from grilled shrimp to ceviche and oysters, that a 90-point Chilean Sauvignon Blanc pours right alongside.
7 Wine Pairings for Florida Stone Crab Season 2026
Stone crab season opens October 15. Mustard sauce, drawn butter, key lime: here are 7 wines that make Florida's favorite claws taste even better.
7 Italian Wine and Pizza Pairings for National Pizza Month 2026
Americans eat 3 billion pizzas a year and most grab the wrong wine. Seven pies, seven Piedmont bottles, from Margherita with Barbera to hot honey with Gala Rosé.
7 Spanish Wine and Cheese Pairings for Your Fall Board (2026)
Americans eat 41.9 lbs of cheese a year, and fall is board season. Seven Spanish matches, from aged Manchego with 93-pt Rioja to smoky Idiazábal with Garnacha.
Halloween and Día de Muertos 2026: 7 Wine Pairings for a Record $13.5B Season
Halloween falls on a Saturday and Día de Muertos follows: three party nights in a row. Seven wines for candy, mole, pan de muerto and pumpkin, plus a retail playbook.
7 Holiday Roasts and the Chilean Red That Matches Each (2026)
Prime rib, leg of lamb, glazed ham, Hanukkah brisket: seven holiday roasts, four Chilean reds from the Maule Valley, and the serving trick most hosts miss.
Virginia Oyster Month 2026: 7 Oyster Dishes and the Wine for Each
Virginia leads the East Coast in oysters, and November is Oyster Month. Here is the wine for every way Virginians eat them: raw, roasted, fried, stewed and stuffed.
Italian American Heritage Month 2026: 7 Classic Dishes and the Piedmont Wine for Each
Sunday gravy, chicken parm, cannoli. This October, match 7 Italian American classics with the Piedmont wine that makes each one shine, from Barbera to Barolo.
Spanish Wine for Thanksgiving 2026: 7 Pairings for Every Course
Pinot Noir isn't the only Thanksgiving answer. Seven Spanish wines, from Cava to a 95-point Rioja Gran Reserva, matched course by course for November 26.