Discover beyond the obvious.
Guides, independent advice and stories for people curious about wine, and about the people who make it.
Prestige, price and scores can matter. They should never replace curiosity.
Some of the best moments in wine come from a lesser-known producer, an overlooked region, an unusual grape, or a bottle with far more character than its reputation suggests. We look for those, and explain why they are worth your time.
“A lesser-known €30 bottle can be more interesting than a famous €100 one.”
Fabrizio Di Carlo, founder
A thoughtful €30-40 Etna Rosso, from producers such as Tenuta delle Terre Nere, Graci or Benanti, can often be more exciting than a famous €100 bottle bought mainly for the label. Not because expensive wine is inherently worse, but because value in wine is not just about price. It is about character, context, and whether the bottle actually has something to say.
Prices are indicative, as of today in Germany. They vary by country and over time.
What we write about
Six themes, from forgotten grapes to how value is made in a cellar.
Alternatives to famous appellations, forgotten grapes, regions in renaissance.
Personal discoveries and tasting notes, with the human side left in.
Pairing, dinners, weddings, gifts, travel and restaurants.
Independent family wineries and the people preserving regional traditions.
Building a cellar, drinking windows, storage, provenance and vintages.
How value is made in wine, from scarcity to provenance, without promising returns.
Who it is for
Wherever you start, you are welcome.
Independence
Conflicts of interest, said out loud.
Wines&Joy has interests of its own in wine and may support wineries. When we have a stake, a partnership, a sponsorship or a free sample connected to something we write about, we say so on that page, in plain words.
Read our disclosure