Wine

Wine has been largely absent from the raging debate over inflation in recent months. While the wholesale price of beef is up by 20 percent and gas costs are at their highest level in seven years, a bottle of wine has been one of the few products consumers could count on to stay stable. Not

The team behind Wine Spectator Grand Award winner Acquerello in San Francisco opened Sorella (Italian for “sister”) on Dec. 1. “After spending 32 years perfecting the fine dining experience at Acquerello, we are ready for a new challenge,” co-owner Giancarlo Paterlini told Wine Spectator via email. “The time feels right for us to introduce a

After an external investigation that began one year ago, the Court of Master Sommeliers-Americas (CMS-A) plans to expel six Master Sommeliers: Bob Bath, Fred Dame, Fred Dexheimer, Drew Hendricks, Joseph Linder and Matt Stamp. The move follows allegations by multiple female wine professionals who were studying for the organization’s certification exams that some of the

Winemaker Eloi Dürrbach, owner of Provence’s Domaine de Trévallon, died Nov. 12 at his winery. He was 71. “For my father, either you did something with passion and excellence, or you didn’t do it all,” said his daughter, Ostiane Dürrbach Icard. He was a winemaker who was proud to do what he loved—produce great wines.

Burgundy’s historic Hospices de Beaune charity auction roared back to life Nov. 21 after delaying and limiting its 2020 auction, setting a new record in front of a packed house. The 161st iteration of the auction raised a total of $15.3 million, including premiums, for multiple charities. The highlight of the sale was a record

One of the world’s largest wine corporations is buying a Napa Valley winery, taking another step in adding more premium wines to its U.S. portfolio. Treasury Wine Estates announced yesterday a deal to acquire Frank Family Vineyards for $315 million. Frank Family is known for Chardonnay and also makes Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and sparkling

While chef Christopher Kostow’s Wine Spectator Grand Award–winning Restaurant at Meadowood has yet to be rebuilt after it was largely destroyed in the September 2020 California wildfires, his more casual Napa restaurant, the Charter Oak, is up and running. Now, the chef is bringing that concept to a pop-up at Montage Los Cabos. “The whole idea was

We all know that a glass of wine can impact our mood, whether it relaxes us at the end of the day, or increases our pleasure while drinking with friends while out on the town. But can it improve awareness of body, space and time? Researchers at the University of Lisbon in Portugal recently performed

It was a record-breaking weekend for the Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s Carnivale du Vin charity event, which took place on Nov. 5 and 6 in New Orleans. The 17th annual culinary-inspired wine auction raised $3.75 million to support local children’s charities focusing on nutrition and arts education, $175,000 more than the 2019 live event. Last year’s

Few French winegrowers will remember 2021 fondly. This year France recorded its smallest wine grape harvest since 1957. And it was just one of many nations that produced less wine this year thanks to challenges across much of Europe that included late-spring frost, hail, drought, vine disease and wildfire. Speaking from Paris last week about

Constellation is making it official. Following last year’s minority investment in California’s Booker Vineyard, the corporation is exercising an option in the agreement to acquire the collection in full. Constellation’s portfolio now includes the brands Booker Vineyard, My Favorite Neighbor and Harvey & Harriet. Constellation executives tell Wine Spectator that these brands saw double-digit growth

Producers in France’s Champagne region concluded this year’s harvest with a big sigh of relief. The 2021 growing season was one of the region’s most challenging in decades, dogged by frost, mildew and hail. But all is not lost, leading Champagne houses and growers insist. The reduced crop that they were able to harvest still

Perhaps no industry was impacted more directly economically by the COVID-19 pandemic than restaurants. According to the National Restaurant Association, sales in 2020 were $240 billion below estimates and more than 110,000 restaurants closed their doors permanently that year. Even as the U.S. recovers in staggered steps, the pain continues, with staff shortages and rising

After temporarily closing in March 2020 due to the pandemic, Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence winner Le Cirque reopened Oct. 28 at Las Vegas’ Bellagio hotel, with Dameon Evers taking over as executive chef. Former chef Chris Heisinger is now assistant executive chef of the entire Bellagio property. “I’m honored to be working

As world leaders meet in Glasgow this week for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to discuss the climate crisis, the wine industry is looking at ways it can reduce its carbon footprint. One Napa winery, Trefethen Family Vineyard, has partnered with Texas company Earthly Labs for an innovative carbon-capturing pilot program at

On Sept. 19, an oven caught fire at one of Argentina’s largest glass factories in Mendoza, quickly spreading across an entire floor, destroying machines and supplies. Verallia, which makes 35 percent of Argentina’s wine bottles, had to take its operations partially offline as it began repairs. The incident sent local wineries into panic mode. Making

Food scientists at Cornell University have found further evidence that red grape pomace offers potential nutritional benefits. They’re hoping that by using polyphenolic compounds from pomace, they can both reduce waste and improve people’s gut and heart health. Vintners are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their waste. One option is recycling pomace, the skins

“Man, it feels good to be here,” said California winemaker Mark Aubert, speaking from on stage at the 2021 New York Wine Experience. “If I had to do another Zoom wine tasting ….” Hundreds of winemakers and wine lovers in the room heartily agreed. After 18 months of pandemic ups-and-downs and uncertainty, the Wine Experience

Hubert de Boüard de Laforest, co-owner of St.-Emilion’s Château Angélus and winemaking consultant, was found guilty yesterday by a Bordeaux tribunal of knowingly using his public roles to influence the 2012 St.-Emilion classification. The court found that he participated in the ranking process despite having a financial interest in the classification and acting as an

Many of the world’s greatest winemakers could be found Thursday night in New York’s Times Square. They had not gathered to grab a show at the recently reopened theaters of Broadway. Rather, they came to lift glasses and toast being together again. After skipping 2020, the New York Wine Experience returned to the Marriott Marquis