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.
Latest from the Journal
Guides and notes from beyond the obvious.
- Great Wine Doesn't Have to Be Famous WineSome of the most memorable wines come from places you've never visited, grapes you've barely heard of, and producers whose names aren't on everybody's wish list.5 min read
- Three Questions I Ask Before Recommending Any BottleThe right wine isn't necessarily the most expensive, the most celebrated or the one with the highest score. It's the one that fits you and your moment.5 min read
- Beyond the Label: Why Wine Scores Don't Tell the Whole StoryA 95-point wine sounds impressive. But what does that number actually tell you, and how much should it influence what you drink?6 min read
- How to Start Your First Wine Cellar: 12 Bottles Worth Waiting ForYou don't need a château, an underground cellar or an extraordinary budget to start collecting wine. You need curiosity, somewhere suitable to store your bottles, and a little patience.11 min read
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.
Wherever you start, you are welcome.
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