Wine

“Here I got a bank account with a couple million from investors to build a restaurant, and I’ve already demolished the previous spot. I can’t say, ‘Hold on to my money,’ or ‘Take back those documents I signed.’ I had to figure out how not to lose my shirt and go belly up before even

In a sign of Austrian wine evolving with the climate, F.X. Pichler, one of the leading wineries in the Wachau region, is quitting the winemaker association Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus. The winery will no longer use the association’s designated classification categories for dry white wines by ripeness, such as Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd, starting with the

Tenuta San Guido’s Sassicaia is one of the world’s most acclaimed wines, the Bordeaux blend that created the super Tuscan category. In 2018, Wine Spectator named the 2015 Sassicaia Wine of the Year, the pinnacle of a classic Bolgheri vintage. Which made it odd when someone found a case of the wine lying on the

When it comes to Tuscany’s wine giants, Piero Antinori humbly stands near the top. At age 82, he has helmed his family’s 600-year-old business, Marchesi Antinori, for more than 50 years, and has partnered on wineries in Napa Valley, Washington and Chile. Antinori began making his mark in 1971, when he upended Tuscan wine tradition

Dolores Cakebread, co-founder of Napa Valley’s Cakebread Cellars, passed away peacefully in her sleep Oct. 2, at the age of 90. She and her husband, Jack, started their winery in 1973, and from the start, Dolores stressed the importance of great food paired with great wine, helping build Napa’s reputation for hospitality. In 1972, the

Jim Bernau, founder of Willamette Valley Vineyards, was installing an ultraviolet light component to his HVAC system in the winery, offices and tasting rooms to protect both staff and customers against COVID-19 when inspiration struck. “The light bulb went off when we started researching the UV light to kill COVID,” said Bernau. “It reminded me

Hostess extraordinaire Lucie “Lulu” Peyraud, matriarch of Bandol’s Domaine Tempier and a cook whose Provençal cooking inspired great chefs, died Oct. 7 at age 102. “Her contributions were so huge: Provençal lifestyle, cooking, welcoming feeling, etc. And, of course, joie de vivre,” said Domaine Tempier’s winemaker Daniel Ravier, in an email to Wine Spectator. “It

The Glass fire, which erupted Sept. 27 in the hills above St. Helena, burned wineries and vineyards. It also halted harvest and may prove to be the knockout punch for the 2020 vintage in both Napa and Sonoma. The preceding LNU Complex fires in August had already impacted the vintage, as smoke lingered over the

Restaurateur and chef Michael Mina has a new restaurant in Miami suburb Aventura, Ornos Estiatorio, featuring seafood-centric Greek cuisine and a similarly focused wine program. The Sept. 30 opening marks the San Francisco–based chef’s first Greek-style venture and joins the many carnivore-friendly restaurants in his Mina Group, including Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners Bourbon Steak

Wine Spectator has been continuously updating our coverage of the West Coast wildfires. The Glass fire in Napa is still blazing, as vintners inspect damage to their properties. Read the latest developments. The 2020 wildfires in California started in August, damaging and destroying residences and businesses, including wineries, hotels and restaurants, across the state. In

The relationship between alcohol and cancer is complex. Research has linked moderate alcohol consumption with a lower risk of some cancers including lung cancer and colon cancer. Other studies have shown a link between even light alcohol consumption and other cancers, particularly breast cancer. A new study from a team of U.K. and Australian researchers

After Suzanne Phifer Pavitt and her husband, Shane Pavitt, evacuated their winery near Calistoga, they feared the worst. Watching the feed from their Nest camera online, they could see the flames of the Glass fire come all the way to the front door of the house. When they returned Wednesday, they found both comfort and

For many fans of Napa Valley, the sight of the restaurant at Meadowood Resort engulfed in the flames of the Glass fire this week was heartbreaking. To Meadowood co-owner and vintner H. William Harlan, it was one more obstacle to be conquered. Meadowood was Harlan’s first real-estate purchase in the valley. He bought what was

Updated: Sept. 30, 5:30 pm PDT When the fires came in the middle of the night to Spring Mountain, 2,000 feet above the Napa Valley floor, Steve Sherwin and his son Matt were not going to give up without a fight. They began helping fire crews, trying to keep the flames away from Sherwin Family

Updated Sept. 28, 8:15 p.m. PDT The communities of Napa and Sonoma counties have been stunned and humbled by the devastation and uncertainty brought by the wildfires that continue to rage there. The Glass Incident fires, which ignited Sept. 27, have consumed more than 36,200 acres, destroying homes, wineries and other businesses, with countless others

Updated Sept. 27, 2020, 10:30 p.m. PDT “Brutal” and “relentless” were the words one California winemaker used after receiving evacuation alerts early this morning. The Glass fire, which ignited just before 4 a.m. near the community of Deer Park, quickly spread to the eastern foothills between Calistoga and St. Helena in the heart of Napa

Anyone suffering from pandemic pounds? Recent shutdowns have impacted physical activity for many of us, and the holiday season is approaching. But for those who worry that their glass of wine with dinner is contributing to the calories, researchers in the U.K. have published a new study analyzing the relationship between obesity and alcohol that

Back in March, the Destin Charity Wine Auction was up in the air, as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down live events across the country. But last month the auction roared back, as remote bidders helped raise $1.35 million for local children’s charities. Like many other philanthropic wine events, the Destin Auction had to employ new

Where there’s fire, there’s smoke. More than 100 wildfires are burning in 12 Western states this week, creating unhealthy air quality in many regions and causing new complications during the crucial harvest period in the country’s most prestigious wine appellations. With the sky—and vineyards—blanketed with smoke in many places, winemakers are anxious about the possibility of smoke-tainted wines. In

“My parents instilled in us to work hard and be sincere,” said Elizabeth Valdez, winemaker for Valdez Family Winery. Elizabeth, 29, is the oldest daughter of the late Ulises Valdez Sr., one of Sonoma’s most renowned vineyard managers. When Ulises passed away unexpectedly in 2018 at the age of 49, it was a horrible shock

Troy and Jill Campione were on the couch watching a Disney sing-along skit and sipping Piper-Heidsieck Champagne when inspiration struck. The six-time Video Contest finalists decided to add their own wine-centric lyrics to Beauty and the Beast‘s hit song “Be Our Guest” for this year’s “Wine at Home” theme, and film a music video. The

Updated: Sept. 17, 2020 Restaurants are inherently risky businesses, and this year the coronavirus pandemic has had a terrible impact on the industry. Despite their enormous efforts, some of our award-winning restaurants—from long-honored classics to exciting newcomers—have been forced to close their doors for good. Wine Spectator is grateful for their involvement in our Restaurant

Diego Planeta, the tireless force behind both his family winery’s success and Sicilian wine’s campaign to gain international respect, died Sept. 19. He was 80 years old. “He has certainly been one of the most influential people in the Sicilian wine renaissance, and I will greatly miss our discussions about the future of Sicily,” said

Zachys auction house scored big in its European debut Sept. 12, thanks to a consignment from the Grand Award–winning restaurant Enoteca Pinchiorri. The New York–based auction house sold over 2,500 bottles from restaurant owner Giorgio Pinchiorri’s world-renowned cellar in Florence, Italy, bringing in a total of $4.1 million. The event took place at Cabotte Wine

Chef Thomas Keller’s Wine Spectator Grand Award winner the French Laundry in Yountville, Calif., resumed indoor service this month with the launch of a luxurious new dining format. For $850 per person, parties of two to eight guests can book a lone table in one of the restaurant’s three storied dining rooms. The private atmosphere

It has been an unprecedented year for Sonoma’s vintners, who have grappled with COVID-19, tasting room shutdowns, wildfires and smoke, but that couldn’t stop the annual Sonoma County Wine Auction from going ahead this past weekend. One of the top charity auctions held in California wine country, it went virtual for 2020, with online events

Staying Home with Wine Spectator: Apéritif Wine Cocktails We’ve been juggling lots of roles this year! For news editor Mitch Frank, that means lots of activities for the kids, and appreciating the opportunity for an end-of-day cocktail. He introduces us to his gin and Americano creation, the Allora. Aug 19, 2020

A Perfect Match: Panna Cotta with Sparkling Rosé Chef Angela Tamura of Pèppoli in Pebble Beach, Calif. shares a recipe for creamy buttermilk basil panna cotta topped with tangy raspberry and balsamic vinegar sorbet—a dish that perfectly encapsulates summertime outdoors. Wine Spectator’s Hilary Sims explains why a sparkling rosé complements the varied flavors. May 10,

This Year’s Theme: “Wine Wanderlust” Where in the world has your love for wine taken you? Demonstrate this wine wanderlust in your video! Your approach can be as wide-ranging as the world of wine itself. This “wine wanderlust” can be literal or metaphorical—you don’t need to have actually traveled to a wine destination for it

Where in the World Has Wine Taken You? Tell us your wine wanderlust story and submit your video to Wine Spectator’s 13th Annual Video Contest. Anyone can enter—whether you’re a wine lover, work in the wine or restaurant industry, or are a student of film, culinary arts or viticulture and enology. (You just need to