Cellar Stories

There are few wine rituals more debated — or more elegant — than decanting. Pouring wine from bottle to glass is one thing, but pouring it first into a sculptural vessel, letting it breathe, watching it swirl — that’s something else entirely. It feels thoughtful. It looks impressive. But is it necessary? At The Magnum Company, we’re fans of anything that makes wine more enjoyable. But we’re also pragmatic. So here’s our honest take on the decanter: when it helps, when it doesn’t, and why it might just deserve a spot at your table. Let’s start with what decanting actually...

The world of competitive winemaking is widely considered one of mutual respect, defined by calm – dare we say quaint – rivalry. Naturally, however, wherever a contest is involved, it's somewhat inevitable that a measure of controversy will follow. A fine example is the story of the Judgment of Paris, which inspired the film Bottle Shock. To set the scene, cast your mind back to 1976. Steven Spurrier and Patricia Gastaud-Gallagher, two of the three founders of the first private academy in France dedicated to studying wine, L'Academie du Vin, created a blind taste test known as the Paris Wine...

Few conversations strike as much fear as discussing wine. A drink that many consume nightly can still induce panic when someone at the table asks whether you think the wine is a little muted for this vintage. You have heard the terms before, but what do they really mean? Don’t worry we have you covered. Here are 10 typical wine terms and their meanings:1) OrganicDespite much misconception surrounding this little word, it simply refers to the farming that takes place in the vineyard and is classified as farming without the use of any synthetic chemicals.2) BiodynamicAlmost like the next step...

Bordeaux is undoubtedly one of the best known and celebrated wine regions in the world, with the top wines fetching astronomically high prices in today’s market. The devoted torch is passed from generation to generation of wine drinker and each new year brings much excitement and discussion as to whether it is going to be the next great vintage. The region has become pillared by its annual vintage reports and first growth Châteaux, but behind these lie a nuanced and often forgotten history whereby Bordeaux was not always king and indeed, Bordeaux as we know it did not even exist....