The wine of the month
During the first twenty one days of each month, NJ Wines presents the wine of the month. NJ Wines tastes hundreds of wines every month and among them, the wine of the month is chosen. The criteria that a wine will qualify as the wine of the month is that it has got at least 3,5 NJP in rating and that it stands out both by its quality and its aroma/flavour complexity. The wine shall also be available on the wine market.
November 2025: Enjingi, Venje, Bijelo, 2010 (approx. 18 EUR/21 USD; selling price on the internet excluding delivery costs) white dry blend wine, Kutjevo, Slavonia, Croatia, 5,0 of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (21-11-2025 by Nenad Jelisic)
That a white wine can be so complex and concentrated and have such a good tannin structure is absolutely incredible. Unlike the 2006 vintage, this fabulous vintage, and the same applies to the 2008 vintage, is considerably more tannin rich, but still very complex, concentrated and aroma rich and flavour rich. Anyone ... Read more
News and other things about wine
DID YOU KNOW THAT (By Nenad Jelisic)
Here, NJ Wines will present brief wine news and wine facts every month.
Sugar content in red and white wines, 0 to 4 grams of sugar per litre of wine (dry wine), 5 to 18 grams of sugar per litre of wine (semi-dry wine), 19 to 45 grams of sugar per litre of wine (semi-sweet wine) and 46 or more grams of sugar per litre of wine (sweet wine). (19-11-2025)
Sugar content in sparkling wines, Zero Dosage: 0 to 3 grams of sugar per litre of wine (super dry), Extra Brut: 0 to 6 grams of sugar per litre of wine (very dry), Brut: 0 to 12 grams of sugar per litre of wine (dry), Extra Sec/Dry: 13 to 17 grams of sugar per litre of wine (semi-dry), Sec/Dry: 18 to 32 grams of sugar per litre of wine (between semi-dry and semi-sweet), Demi Sec: 32 to 50 grams of sugar per litre of wine (semi-sweet) or Doux: 51 or more grams of sugar per litre of wine (sweet). (19-11-2025)
Aconcagua (pronounced: ah-kohn-kah-gwa) is a Chilean wine region that consists of three districts/valleys: Aconcagua Valley, Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley. The actual San Antonio Valley consists of four wine areas: Leyda, Lo Abarca, Rosario and Malvilla. The region has 5,277 hectares under vine and its three districts and four areas, as the region itself, are classified as appellations (Denominación de Origen). (19-11-2025)
Alsace is a French wine region that has 15,548 ha planted with grapes. Alsace is known for its white wines made from Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Tokay-Pinot Gris and Muscat. The wine from Alsace must keep a natural alcohol content of 8,5%. It is permitted to chaptalize, i.e. improve the sugar content (increase the alcohol content) by adding sugar or concentrated grape must to the must before the fermentation. The wine region has 51 Grand Crus that cover 850 ha. The maximum yield is a whopping 80 hl/ha. For the Grand Crus, the maximum yield is limited to 66 hl/ha. (19-11-2025)
Alsace grapes, dominate Riesling (22,2%), Pinot Blanc (21,9%), Gewurztraminer (19,3%), Pinot Gris (15,5%), Pinot Noir (10%) and Sylvaner (Silvaner) (8,8%). The strange thing is that Muscat (2,3%), which belongs to the grapes that "make Alsace famous for its white wines", is grown less than Sylvaner and the Pinot Noir. (19-11-2025)
Alsace soils, limestone, silicon mixed soil and silty soil. (19-11-2025)
THE TOP 10 WINES 2025 AND THE BEST WINE 2025 (07-12-2025 by Nenad Jelisic)
This is the thirteenth year in a row that NJ Wines presents the year's 10 Best Wines and the year's Best Wine. During 2025, NJ Wines tasted a few thousand wines that were, and still are, available on the wine market. From all these wines, NJ Wines selected the year's 10 Best Wines and the year's Best Wine. The most important criterion in the selection was of course the quality of the wines, but also the availability of the wines today. Of the year's 10 Best Wines, three come from France, two from Croatia, two from Bosnia and Herzegovina, two from Portugal and one from Spain. This year, Croatia proved with the year's best wine and the year's third best wine that it belongs to one of the world's best wine-producing countries. Note that NJ Wines' wine tasting year always starts the first week of December of the previous year and ends the last week of November of the current year, i.e. for the wine tasting year 2025 it started the first week of December 2024 and ended the last week of November 2025. This year, seven wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2024, eight wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2023, three wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2022, no wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2021, four wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2020, two wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2019 five wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2018 six wines got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2017 no wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2016 one wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2015 one wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points), in 2014 no wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) and in 2013 one wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points). NJ Wines is very happy about the positive result, but NJ Wines does not believe that the global quality of wines has changed as much in a positive direction as the tasting results show. NJ Wines was just lucky to taste some of the world's best wines in 2025.
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT SEPTEMBER 2025 (24-09-2025 by Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment September 2025. The wines got the following points (Note that the wines are arranged in alphabetical order, that the wines that have got more than 3,0 NJP, if any, are presented or will be presented under "Make sure to try these wines, wines that have got at least 3,5 NJP of possible 5,0 NJP", that NV = non-vintage wine, that Systembolaget = a government owned chain of all liquor stores in Sweden and that NJ Wines does not taste wines from Boxes, Paper-packaging and PET-bottles because NJ Wines believes that these types of packaging destroy the wonderful wine culture. The Boxes also make people drink much more than they should.):
1. Abrigados, Reserva, 2023 (11 EUR/13 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Portugal, 1,0 NJP, 2. Acrobat, Chardonnay, 2023 (16 EUR/19 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, USA, 1,0 NJP, 3. Alsace, Grand Cru, Schlossberg Riesling, 2023 (21 EUR/24 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry wine, France, 2,0 NJP, 4. Altos de José Ignacio, Albariño, 2024 (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Uruguay, 1,0 NJP, 5. Antonelli, Montefalco Rosso, 2022 (14 EUR/17 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Italy, 1,0 NJP, 6. Casas Patronales, Maucho, Malbec, 2024 (9 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Chile, 1,0 NJP, 7. Cuvée No 7, Brut, Blanc de Blancs, NV (9 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white dry sparkling wine, Brazil, 0,0 NJP, 8. De Bortoli, DB, Chardonnay, NV (10 EUR/12 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Australia, 0,0 NJP, 9. Deep Roots, Riesling, NV (9 EUR/11 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry wine, Germany, 0,0 NJP, 10. Dicey, Dice, Pinot Noir, 2023 (11 EUR/13 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, New Zealand, 1,0 NJP.
NEW WINES IN REGULAR ASSORTMENT JUNE 2025 (06-09-2025 by Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines has tasted all Systembolaget's new wines in regular assortment June 2025. The wines got the following points (Note that the wines are arranged in alphabetical order, that the wines that have got more than 3,0 NJP, if any, are presented or will be presented under "Make sure to try these wines, wines that have got at least 3,5 NJP of possible 5,0 NJP", that NV = non-vintage wine, that Systembolaget = a government owned chain of all liquor stores in Sweden and that NJ Wines does not taste wines from Boxes, Paper-packaging and PET-bottles because NJ Wines believes that these types of packaging destroy the wonderful wine culture. The Boxes also make people drink much more than they should.):
1. Alta Alella, Mirgin, Reserva, Brut, 2022 (13 EUR/16 USD in Sweden) white dry blend sparkling wine, Spain, 0,5 NJP, 2. Cantina Kurtatsch, Pinot Noir, 2024 (17 EUR/20 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Italy, 0,5 NJP, 3. Casas Patronales, Gran Reserva, Carmenère, 2023 (12 EUR/14 USD in Sweden) red dry wine, Chile, 2,0 NJP, 4. Chin Chin, NV (7 EUR/8 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Chile, 0,0 NJP, 5. Euphoria, Rosé, 2024 (11 EUR/13 USD in Sweden) rosé semi-dry wine, Greece, 0,0 NJP, 6. Euphoria, Spumante, NV (8 EUR/9 USD in Sweden) white semi-dry blend sparkling wine, Spain, 0,0 NJP, 7. Jean Vidérue, Côtes du Rhône, 2022 (8 EUR/9 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, France, 0,5 NJP, 8. Joaquín Rebolledo, Godello, 2024 (15 EUR/18 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Spain, 1,0 NJP, 9. Los Haroldos, Reserva, Chardonnay, 2024 (13 EUR/15 USD in Sweden) white dry wine, Argentina, 2,0 NJP, 10. Maison Petit Perle, Blanc, 2024 (9 EUR/10 USD in Sweden) white dry blend wine, France, 0,5 NJP.
Make sure to try these wines, wines that have got at least 3,5 NJP of possible 5,0 NJP
Tamaral, Vendimia Seleccionada, 2022 (15 EUR/17 USD in Sweden) red dry blend wine, Ribera del Duero, Castile and León, Spain, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (21-10-2025 by Nenad Jelisic)
The last time it happened was in 2017 with the 2014 vintage, and now it has happened again with the 2022 vintage, that the wine got 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points). Wonderful interplay between tartaric acid, tannins and fruitiness. The wonderful interplay between the tartaric acidity, the tannins and ... Read more
Churchill's, Dry White Port, NV (29 EUR/34 USD in Sweden) port wine, Porto, Douro, Portugal, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (20-09-2025 by Nenad Jelisic)
With this dry Port, Churchill's winery confirms once again that it belongs to one of the world's absolute best port wine producers. That to begin with to produce dry ports is something new in the port wine industry, but the fact that it is something new does not matter at all when Churchill's is in question because Churchill's always ... Read more
Vinarija Dingac, Dingac, 2019 (approx. 33 EUR/38 USD; selling price on the internet excluding delivery costs) red dry wine, Peljesac, Central and South Dalmatia, Dalmatia, Croatia, 5,0 of 5,0 NJP (100 points of 100 points) (31-08-2025 by Nenad Jelisic)
That man can get brilliant wines from Plavac Mali grape proves this wine and wines from winemakers such as Bakovic, Grgic, Kiridzija, Madirazza, Mandek, Milicic, Milos, Plenkovic, Skaramuca, Tomic and Vinarija Svirce. The best wines made by Plavac Mali come from the island of Hvar and the peninsula of Peljesac. This wine ... Read more
The world's restaurants
The restaurants, which NJ Wines has viisited, tried their food and wines as well as rated food’s quality, food's taste, how the food is presented and looks, wine selection, decor, atmosphere, service and cleanliness, are presented here.
Arlanda's best restaurant before the security control - Sky Horizon at Sky City, Terminal 5, Sweden, 4,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP, (10-10-2025 by Nenad Jelisic)
Sky Horizon is a modern restaurant at Sky City at Terminal 5. I have visited the restaurant twelve times so far. Of these twelve times, I visited the restaurant six times during July and August 2025, and each time I felt very welcome by the service-oriented and very nice staff. Of all the restaurants that exists at Terminal 2 and Terminal 5, this restaurant is the best in every way. Note that there is no restaurant in Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 before the security control. While at Sky City at Terminal 5 there are seven restaurants. At the Sky Horizon there is a possibility to choose from various starters, main courses and desserts. The dishes for all tastes. In addition, there is a fairly large selection of white and red wines by the glass and bottle as well as about forty spirits and a few beers by bottle and tap.
Eskilstuna's best pasta place - Mocca Deli, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP, and Eskilstuna's best pizza place - Pizzeria Pepperoni, Sweden, 5,0 NJP of 5,0 NJP (27-10-2024 by Nenad Jelisic)
During the last fifteen months, NJ Wines has tasted and rated food in all pizzerias and restaurants located in NJ Wines' city of Eskilstuna. NJ Wines visited all of these pizzerias and restaurants or ordered their food home. There are many restaurants in the town of NJ Wines, but even more so there are pizzerias. The quality and taste of the food varies greatly, from 0,0 NJP to 5,0 NJP. Unfortunately, most of the pizzerias and the restaurants have got 1,5 NJP of 5,0 NJP or even less. In this article, NJ Wines wants to highlight the absolute best when it comes to pastas and pizzas i.e. Mocca Deli and Pizzeria Pepperoni. What applies to over 99% of pizzerias and restaurants in Eskilstuna, including the best ones, is that one has to pick up salad, bread, drinks and food by him/herself. NJ Wines wonders why? The only logical explanation is that all these restaurants want to save money by having customers do jobs that their employees would do. In a lot of restaurants and pizzerias, the owners expect that the customer also clear the table after the meal. Note that this is nothing unique to Eskilstuna, the same applies to 99% of pizzerias and restaurants in Sweden. NJ Wines believes that this way of working is not good and means that many who are looking for a job in the restaurant and pizzeria branch never get it. However, NJ Wines understands that the very small pizzerias and restaurants cannot afford to hire more staff, but it does not have the same understanding when it comes to the large pizzerias and the restaurants.
Tuzla's restaurants, Bosnia and Herzegovina (26-12-2022 and 15-02-2024 by Nenad Jelisic)
NJ Wines visited many of Tuzla's restaurants during June and July 2022 and June and July 2023. The restaurants, which were visited, ranged from those specializing in just one dish to those that had a wide selection of dishes and could be opened in any city in Europe. As Bosnia and Herzegovina was occupied by many different empires, mostly by the Ottoman Empire (just over 400 years) and then by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, its food tradition has been greatly influenced by it. Furthermore, Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of three major religions, Muslims, Orthodox and Catholics, each of which has its own food traditions. All this makes Bosnia and Herzegovina a unique culinary place when it comes to food. And therefore, if you get the opportunity, you should definitely visit and try different cuisines in some of Bosnia and Herzegovina's cities such as Banja Luka, Mostar, Sarajevo or Tuzla. Also, people in Bosnia and Herzegovina are very nice and helpful.
Everything you need to know about Vega Sicilia (29-11-2025 by Nenad Jelisic)
The text excerpts from NJ Wines' extensive wine dictionary are presented here. The text excerpts will be changed one to four times a month. You can read about exciting wines, appellations, wine districts, wine regions, etc. by clicking above on the "Wine glossary and wine facts".
Vega Sicilia, a Spanish wine estate that is located in the Ribera del Duero appellation. Vega Sicilia, along with the wine estate Dominio de Pingus, is considered to be the absolute best wine estate in Ribera del Duero. The wine estate has 250 hectares planted with vine. The vineyards, which are distributed over 57 lots on 19 different terroirs, are located at an altitude of almost 900 m above sea level. Some of the vineyards' vines are up to 160 years old. Vega Sicilia produces three different wines: Unico, Valbuena 5° and Reserva Especial. Both Unico and Valbuena 5° consist mostly of Tempranillo (about 80% to 90%). For the production of Unico, in addition to Tempranillo, more Cabernet Sauvignon than Merlot is used. While for Valbuena 5° is the opposite. Malbec is used for the production of Valbuena 5° and very rarely for the production of Unico; the vintage 1987 consists of Malbec. Unico (about 100,000 bottles) is the most internationally known wine among them. Reserva Especial (about 10,000 bottles) is a non-vintage wine that is produced every year by making a blend of best oak barrels from, usually, three different (best) vintages. Valbuena 5° (about 180,000 bottles), which is aged shorter time than Unico, is made from grapes from young vines.
Vega Sicilia grapes, 80% is Tempranillo. The rest consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.
Vega Sicilia soils, clayey limestone dominates, but there is also an area that consists of alluvial sediment. The soil consists of 19 different types of soils.
Vega Sicilia, Unico (red dry blend wine; 80% to 90% Tempranillo, up to 10% Merlot and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon), Ribera Del Duero, Spain, the best vintages, until vintage 1961 none; 1962, 1964, 1967, 1970,, 1981, 1982, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014.
Vega Sicilia, Unico, Reserva Especial (red dry blend wine; a blend of three vintages; year shows when the wine was released on the market; 80% to 90% Tempranillo, up to 10% Merlot and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon), Ribera Del Duero, Spain, the best blends (NV), 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Vega Sicilia, Valbuena 5° (red dry blend wine; 80% to 90% Tempranillo, up to 20% Merlot and Malbec and up to 10% Cabernet Sauvignon), Ribera Del Duero, Spain, the best vintages, until vintage 2009 none; 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
NJ Wines
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