wine is sent to WoW unsolicited. These are generally accepted (since no "arrangements" - wink, wink - have been made), and are lumped in with all other wines for review. Literature on a wine (including the bottle's back label) is never read until after all notes and evaluations have been completed.

All wines are tasted in varietal-specific Riedel Vinum-series stemware, unless the tasting is conducted away from WoW headquarters and these amazingly fragile goblets aren't available. In those rare cases, the most appropriate glass lying around is always used.

Advertising

You won't find any on this site. Nor is there any in the emailed wine reviews. Advertising is tricky: It sure would improve WoW's bottom line, and would ensure that reviews remain free to you, but it can also compromise objectivity. Even if ads don't influence reviews, the perception may be that they do.

Advertising may one day appear on WoW, but only if we are satisfied that they will have no greater effect on written content than Corey Hart's music career had on non-Canadians. (Alright, that wasn't fair. His career didn't mean much for Canadians, either.)

Wilder on Wine (WoW): A new and unstuffy voice in wine

Through wine reviews, columns and occasional pop culture references, WoW's mission is to make wine less confusing than dating, and even help you pick the right bottle on your next date! Critiques and rants are always written for consumers (rather than to impress other wine critics) and try not to take themselves too seriously. WoW reviews provide solid wine purchase recommendations, always emphasizing the affordable and accessible. After all, what good is reading a review of a 1982 Chateau Haut Brion if you can't find or afford it? Rather, most reviews you receive from WoW will be for wines under $20, and widely available.

WoW columns dig into specific topics and give you more information on them. (Maybe too much information. What can we say, we love this stuff.) Want to know what the difference between Sauvignon Blanc and Fume Blanc is (or isn't)? Desperate to find out the best way to order wine in a restaurant? These columns will help.

How Wine is Reviewed for WoW

Almost all wine is purchased by WoW, which sucks for us, but is good for you. We don't request free bottles of wine for reviews, as there is too often a quid pro quo that is expected. If reviews aren't done objectively and without strings attached, they're pretty worthless to you. Occasionally a bottle of