Claire Fontaine

Senior Wine Writer & WSET Diploma

WSET Diploma holder and former sommelier in Lyon. Covers French wine regions, classic European estates, and wine education.

36 articles and counting

Regions

Austrian Wine Guide: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and the Wachau

Explore Austria's finest wines from the terraced Danube vineyards of the Wachau to Burgenland's golden sweet wines. An essential guide to Austrian wine.

Feb 27, 202618 min read

Regions

Central Otago: New Zealand’s Pinot Noir Frontier

Discover Central Otago, the world’s southernmost wine region and New Zealand’s Pinot Noir capital. Explore schist soils, alpine landscapes, and benchmark producers.

Feb 27, 202618 min read

Regions

Priorat: Catalonia's Grand Cru and the Resurrection of a Forgotten Region

Uncover Priorat's llicorella slate terroir, century-old Garnacha vines, and the 1989 renaissance that made it Spain's only DOCa alongside Rioja.

Feb 27, 202618 min read

Regions

Alsace Wine Guide: Grand Cru Riesling, Gewurztraminer & Terroir

Explore Alsace wines across 51 Grand Cru vineyards: crisp Riesling, aromatic Gewurztraminer, rich Pinot Gris, and Crémant d'Alsace from one of France's most distinctive and historic wine regions.

Feb 26, 202618 min read

Regions

Provence Wine Guide: Rosé Capital of the World, Bandol & Beyond

Discover Provence wines from the world's rosé capital: pale Côtes de Provence rosé, powerful Bandol Mourvèdre, elegant Cassis whites, and 2,600 years of Mediterranean winemaking heritage.

Feb 26, 202617 min read

Regions

Beaujolais Wine Guide: 10 Crus, Gamay & the Natural Wine Movement

Discover Beaujolais wines from Morgon to Moulin-à-Vent: 10 distinctive crus, Gamay grape mastery, carbonic maceration, Beaujolais Nouveau, and the region's pivotal role in natural winemaking.

Feb 26, 202618 min read

Regions

Languedoc-Roussillon Wine Guide: France's Largest & Most Dynamic Region

Explore Languedoc-Roussillon wines across 200,000+ hectares: bold Corbières and Minervois reds, sweet Banyuls and Rivesaltes, natural wine pioneers, and France's most exciting value-driven wine region.

Feb 26, 202618 min read

Education

French Wine Classification Guide: AOC, 1855 Bordeaux & Burgundy Crus

Master the French wine classification system: AOC/AOP hierarchy, the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, Burgundy's Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, Saint-Émilion rankings, and Alsace Grand Crus explained.

Feb 26, 202619 min read

Regions

Loire Valley Wine Guide: From Muscadet to Sancerre

Explore France's longest wine river: crisp Muscadet, elegant Chinon Cabernet Franc, age-worthy Vouvray Chenin Blanc, electric Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc, and sparkling Crémant de Loire across 70+ appellations.

Feb 26, 202619 min read

Regions

Jura Wine Guide: Vin Jaune, Savagnin & France's Most Singular Region

Discover Jura wines: legendary Vin Jaune aged under voile for 6+ years, rare Vin de Paille, Savagnin and Poulsard from France's smallest and most radical wine region with cult producers.

Feb 26, 202618 min read

Education

Wine Cooperatives in France: History, Quality Revolution & Hidden Gems

Discover how French wine cooperatives evolved from survival necessity to quality leaders, producing 40% of France's wine. From Languedoc giants to Alsace gems, find exceptional cooperative wines at unbeatable value.

Feb 26, 202617 min read

Education

Négociant vs Domaine Wine: Understanding French Wine's Two Traditions

Learn the crucial difference between négociant and domaine wines in France: how each system works, which produces better value or quality, and how to read French wine labels to make informed buying decisions.

Feb 26, 202616 min read

Education

Wine Faults Guide: How to Identify Cork Taint, Oxidation, Reduction & More

Master wine fault detection: recognize cork taint (TCA), oxidation, volatile acidity, reduction, Brettanomyces, and heat damage. Learn what causes each fault, whether the wine is salvageable, and when to send a bottle back.

Feb 26, 202617 min read

Guides

En Primeur Buying Guide: How to Buy Bordeaux Futures

Master the en primeur system for buying Bordeaux futures: understand campaign timelines, pricing strategy, investment potential, top wines to buy, risks to avoid, and practical tips for first-time buyers.

Feb 26, 202617 min read

Guides

French Cheese & Wine Pairing by Region: The Definitive Guide

Master French cheese and wine pairing region by region — from Normandy Camembert with Cidre to Alsace Munster with Gewürztraminer. Covering 46 AOP cheeses, classic and surprising combinations, and the terroir logic behind every match.

Feb 26, 202616 min read

Regions

Savoie Wine Guide: Alpine Wines, Mondeuse, Jacquère & Mountain Terroir

Explore the alpine wines of Savoie: crisp Jacquère from Apremont and Abymes, elegant Altesse (Roussette de Savoie), powerful Chignin-Bergeron from Roussanne, structured Mondeuse reds, and the mountain terroir that makes these French wines uniquely compelling.

Feb 26, 202618 min read

Guides

Grower Champagne vs Grandes Maisons: The Complete Guide

Understand the complete Champagne hierarchy from Grandes Maisons like Moët and Krug to grower producers like Jacques Selosse and Egly-Ouriet: label codes, terroir, dosage levels, pricing, vintage vs non-vintage, and how to find exceptional bottles.

Feb 26, 202619 min read

Regions

Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé: The Loire's Premier Sauvignon Blanc

An in-depth guide to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé: the three soil types of Sancerre (silex, terre blanche, caillottes), key producers like Dagueneau and Vacheron, Sancerre Rouge, satellite appellations, aging potential, and food pairings with Crottin de Chavignol.

Feb 26, 202620 min read

Guides

Sherry: The Complete Guide to the World's Most Misunderstood Wine

Master the world of Sherry: from Fino and Manzanilla to Amontillado, Oloroso, and Palo Cortado. Explore the Marco de Jerez, flor yeast, the solera system, albariza soils, top bodegas like González Byass and Valdespino, and food pairings with jamón and tapas.

Feb 26, 202618 min read

Guides

Wine Glassware Guide: Which Glass for Which Wine and Why It Matters

A comprehensive guide to wine glass shapes and how they affect aroma, flavor, and tasting experience. Learn which glass to use for Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, white wines, and dessert wines, plus expert advice on crystal vs. glass, premium brands, and proper care.

Feb 26, 202618 min read

Education

Sparkling Wine Guide: Prosecco, Cava, Crémant & Beyond

Discover the world's best sparkling wines beyond Champagne: Italian Prosecco and Franciacorta, Spanish Cava, French Crémant, German Sekt, and South African Cap Classique across 6 countries.

Feb 25, 202617 min read

Education

Wine Aging & Cellaring: Which Wines to Age, How Long, and Why

Learn which wines improve with age, how long to cellar Bordeaux, Burgundy, Barolo and more, the science behind wine evolution, and how to build ideal storage conditions at home.

Feb 25, 202617 min read

Education

Wine Decanting Guide: When, Why & How to Decant Wine Like a Pro

Master the art of wine decanting: which wines benefit from decanting, how long to aerate red and white wines, decanter types, and the science behind why aeration transforms your glass.

Feb 25, 202615 min read

Regions

The Rhône Valley: From Powerhouse Syrah to Elegant Southern Blends

Explore the Rhône Valley's two distinct wine worlds: Northern Syrah masterpieces from Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie, plus Southern blends from Châteauneuf-du-Pape across 77,000 hectares.

Feb 20, 202618 min read

Guides

How to Read a Wine Label: Your Complete Decoder Guide

Master wine labels in minutes: decode French AOC, Italian DOCG, German Prädikat, and New World labels. Understand quality tiers, vintage years, and what really matters on the bottle.

Feb 18, 202615 min read

Guides

Cheese & Wine Pairing: The Ultimate Guide to Perfect Combinations

Master cheese and wine pairing with science-backed principles: fat vs tannin, salt vs sweet, regional matching. Classic combos from Roquefort-Sauternes to Comté-Vin Jaune explained.

Feb 15, 202616 min read

Guides

Wine Serving Temperature: The Easiest Way to Improve Every Glass

Wine serving temperature guide: reds at 60-68°F, whites at 45-55°F, sparkling at 40-50°F. Complete chart by grape variety with quick-chill techniques.

Feb 12, 202613 min read

Guides

Wine Investment: A Practical Guide to Building a Fine Wine Portfolio

Wine investment guide: 10% annualized returns since 2003, Bordeaux to Burgundy picks, storage costs, auction strategies, and portfolio allocation advice.

Feb 10, 202617 min read

Guides

Rosé Wine: The Complete Guide to the World's Most Versatile Wine

Complete rosé wine guide: 3 production methods, Provence to Tavel styles, color vs flavor myths debunked, food pairings, and top producers worldwide.

Feb 8, 202615 min read

Guides

How to Store Wine Properly: The Complete Guide

Wine storage guide: ideal 55°F/12°C temperature, 60-70% humidity, proper lighting, vibration control, and cellar solutions from $100 to $10,000+.

Feb 7, 202614 min read

Regions

German Riesling: The World's Most Misunderstood Great Wine

German Riesling guide: the Prädikat quality system explained, Mosel vs Rheingau styles, dry to sweet spectrum, top producers, and aging potential.

Feb 3, 202617 min read

Guides

Wine & Food Pairing: The Definitive Guide to Perfect Matches

Wine and food pairing guide: 6 science-backed principles, classic and creative combinations, regional pairings, and expert shortcuts for every meal.

Jan 28, 202616 min read

Regions

Burgundy Wine: Understanding the World's Most Complex Wine Region

Burgundy wine guide: Grand Cru to village wines, the 50km Côte d'Or, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay terroir, classification hierarchy, and top domaines.

Jan 25, 202620 min read

Regions

The Complete Champagne Guide: From Dom Pérignon to Grower Revolution

Champagne guide: méthode traditionnelle, 16,000 growers, 6 atmospheres of pressure, prestige cuvées, vintage ratings, and grower vs grande marque explained.

Jan 22, 202620 min read

Guides

Wine Tasting for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Tasting Like a Pro

Learn wine tasting in 5 steps: sight, swirl, smell, sip, and savor. Master aroma identification, palate training, and tasting note vocabulary like a sommelier.

Nov 25, 202515 min read

Regions

The Complete Bordeaux Wine Guide: Left Bank, Right Bank & Beyond

Complete guide to Bordeaux wine: 111,000 hectares, 60+ appellations, Left Bank vs Right Bank, 1855 classification, top châteaux, and investment strategies.

Sep 15, 202518 min read