About Through The Terroir
Through The Terroir is really just about making wine simple again.
No jargon. No pretence. Just honest opinions on bottles worth drinking.
This isn’t about memorising regions or trying to sound clever. It’s about finding wines you actually enjoy and understanding why you enjoy them.
Why this exists
Wine can feel overcomplicated. Too many rules. Too much jargon. Too many people telling you what you should like.
I’ve been there and this site is about cutting through all of that.
It’s about helping you find wines you genuinely enjoy, whether that’s a £10 supermarket bottle or something a bit more special.
Who I am
I’m James, a UK based wine enthusiast who’s learned by drinking, testing, and comparing bottles across supermarkets, wine merchants, and restaurants.
My Wine Journey didn’t start with qualifications or textbooks. It started with curiosity, good food, and a few standout bottles that made me want to understand more. I learned that wine doesn’t have to be stuffy, it can be enjoyed by anyone, at any budget.
This is where it really started.
Ian managed the restaurant, and looking back now, he was the first person I came across who really knew his stuff when it came to wine.
Not in a showy way, not in a textbook way, just in a way that made you want to listen.
He’d talk about wines like they had stories behind them, not just flavours. I remember him telling me that Amarone was Frank Sinatra’s favourite wine, and at the time that just made it feel iconic. It wasn’t just a bottle anymore, it was something bigger.
We used to have training once a month at the restaurant, and honestly, it wasn’t your typical staff training. It was more like something out of Wolf of Wall Street. By the time he’d finished talking, you were ready to run through a wall and get out on the floor. You couldn’t wait to get to work, which is not something you say very often in a bar or waiter job.
He used to run tastings, invite me along to trade events, and I remember one private tasting he got me into after he moved into wine distribution. At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate how good that experience actually was. Now I look back and realise how rare it is to be in rooms like that.
And then there were the quieter moments.
After a shift, opening a bottle and just talking. No pressure, no structure, just tasting and discussing whatever came to mind.
That’s where the real learning was, even if I didn’t realise it at the time.
What you’ll find here
Straightforward guides, honest recommendations at real prices, and tasting notes that actually make sense.
You’ll also see wines scored using the familiar 100 point system, but focused on how enjoyable they are in real situations, not just technical quality.
How to use this site
If you want to learn, start with the guides.
If you just want something good to drink tonight, head straight to Bottles Worth Buying.
And if you’ve found a wine and want to know if it’s worth it, check the reviews I’ll keep adding more as I go.
Let’s talk wine
Got a question, a recommendation, or a bottle I should try? Drop me a message. I’m always happy to chat wine.