Wine
from the December, 2009 issue
10 Great Reds for Holiday Roasts
Here, robust red wines to match a substantial holiday roast.
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December, 2009
Wine-Giving Strategies: 5 Ways to Make Party Hosts Happy
Here, five strategies for successful wine-giving.
December, 2009
Value Champagne
Ray Isle names an excellent basic Champagne, plus four super-value alternatives.
November, 2009
10 Top Thanksgiving Bottles
The ideal Thanksgiving wine can pair comfortably with a wide range of flavors. Here are 10 terrific choices.
November, 2009
Thanksgiving: Wines to Kick Back and Pour
Yes, wine belongs on the Thanksgiving table. But it’s also a good accompaniment for all the shopping and TV-watching that takes place over the long holiday weekend.
November, 2009
Thanksgiving: Wines for the Rest of the Week
Using up holiday leftovers requires some ingenuity and a high tolerance for repetition. Pour these great wines to reduce the chances of hearing a chorus of “turkey again?”
November, 2009
Rajat Parr’s Favorite Wines
Rajat Parr, star wine director for chef Michael Mina’s restaurant group, reveals his top bottles at every price.
November, 2009
Thanksgiving: Post-Turkey Wine Reading
Lulls during the holiday weekend are ideal for catching up on some reading, particularly about wine (after all, someone has to figure out which bottle to open next).
November, 2009
Thanksgiving Wines: 4 Favorite Varietals
A good Thanksgiving wine is bold and fruity enough to stand up to The Meal—and doesn’t cost much.
November, 2009
Great American Ciders
Good hard ciders usually come from tart heirloom apples such as Foxwhelp and Baldwin. These ciders are crisp, light in alcohol, great with food and deeply American—perfect for the Thanksgiving weekend.
November, 2009
Best Big Party Wines
Buying wine for a house full of guests can be expensive. Here, some under-$10 stars.
October, 2009
Most Promising New Winery
F&W honors Anthill Farms Winery, an upstart making terrific wines in Sonoma County.
October, 2009
Wine Classics to Try: Australia
Ray Isle spotlights three excellent Australian wines: an intense Shiraz, a great-value blend and a crisp Riesling.
October, 2009
Buying Guide: Lettie Teague’s Favorite Grüner Veltliners
Here, five of Lettie Teague’s favorite Grüner Veltliners.
October, 2009
Wine Classics to Try: Spain & Portugal
Spain and Portugal have their own distinct classics. Here, four excellent bottles.
October, 2009
Wine Classics to Try: Austria & Germany
Austria and Germany are known for terrific white wines, like the Riesling and the Grüner Veltliner below.
October, 2009
Wine Classics to Try: France
France still produces many of the world’s benchmark bottles. Here, four classics.
October, 2009
Wine Classics to Try: The Next Great Classics
To become a classic a wine has to be superb, of course, but it also has to play a crucial role in building an up-and-coming region’s reputation. Here, three that qualify.
October, 2009
Beer and Cheese
Andrew Myers of Washington, DC’s CityZen prefers pairing cheese with beer, not wine. Here, his picks:
October, 2009
Wine Guide’s Best Value Bottles
Anthony Giglio tasted wines at all prices to make the recommendations in this year’s book. Here, his favorite values.
October, 2009
Wine Classics to Try: United States
The U.S. is making excellent wines, and not just in California. Here, five classics spanning the West Coast.
October, 2009
Wine Classics to Try: 1 Classic Wine, 2 Different Styles
Even when the type of wine is identical, New World and Old World styles vary dramatically, as these eight fabulous bottlings make clear.
October, 2009
Importer of the Year
F&W honors an importer that brings in brilliant high-end bottles and amazing everyday values.
October, 2009
Wine Classics to Try: Renowned Classics & Their Body Doubles
Here, five true classics and five bottles that are similarly excellent but less costly.
October, 2009
Winemaker of the Year
F&W honors Charles Smith, a former rocker making excellent wines in Washington State.
October, 2009
Wine Classics to Try: History-Changing Wines
Sometimes a renegade wine is so good, it creates an entirely new tradition.
October, 2009
Wine Classics to Try: Chile & Argentina
South American wines appeared in U.S. wine shops in the early 1990s, and they quickly gained a reputation for value. Here, four of Chile and Argentina’s best bottles.
September, 2009
Ultra-Value California Wines: Great Bottles for $7 and Less
September, 2009
5 Fail-Safe California Wine Values
Some California wines have such a strong track record that vintage essentially becomes moot. Here, five bottlings you can always trust.
September, 2009
Next Great California Wine Regions
These up-and-coming regions are producing stellar wines at terrific prices.
August, 2009
Tips for Finding Light Wine
Here are three ways to track down delicious wines that are refreshingly moderate in alcohol.
August, 2009
Big, Balanced Red Wines
August, 2009
Ray Isle’s Top Napa Wine Stops
For anyone as happy at the fifth tasting room of the day as the first, F&W’s Ray Isle shares some of his Napa picks.
July, 2009
A Lesson in New Argentinean Wines
Writer Anya von Bremzen discovers Argentina’s big new wine trends—from Mendoza reds to Salta whites—during a raucous tasting tour of Buenos Aires.
July, 2009
Best Beers for Wine Lovers
Wine drinkers can find much to love in many styles of beer. Here, four top sommeliers share their suggestions.
July, 2009
5 Great Swiss Wines
Few Americans even know that Switzerland makes wines. These delicious bottlings are available in the U.S. and are worth searching out.
July, 2009
Lettie Teague’s Favorite 5 Wine-list Finds
Here, five excellent bottles that Lettie discovered while tasting with Chris Cannon and Francesco Grosso of Manhattan’s Marea. Prices are suggested retail.
July, 2009
New Favorite Wine Regions
Sommeliers are the wine world’s early adopters, often tasting through hundreds of wines a week in order to stock their lists with extraordinary finds. Here, three of their latest go-to regions.
July, 2009
Summery Sauvignon Blancs
Refreshing Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect summer wine. Do a little continent-hopping with these southern-hemisphere bottlings.
June, 2009
Best Wine Pairings for Burgers
The type of meat determines the best wine match (unless the burger is smothered in strong-flavored condiments).
June, 2009
5 Best Beach-Safe Wines
June, 2009
Wine-Chilling Cheat Sheet
The fastest way to chill wine is in a bucket with ice and water. Here, some guidelines, starting at room temperature.
May, 2009
5 Best Places to Study Wine
Here are five of the top schools in the United States for would-be wine professionals (or passionate amateurs) looking to get a thorough education in the basics.
May, 2009
Five Terrific Chablis
F&W’s Ray Isle tracks down terrific deals from Chablis, a classic source of subtle, largely-unoaked Chardonnays.
May, 2009
Wine in Season: Rosé
April, 2009
Coastal Chile’s Best Wine Values
The vineyard regions near Chile’s windswept Pacific Coast—Casablanca, San Antonio, Leyda and Limarí—have become some of the world’s best sources for crisp, zesty whites.
April, 2009
Cleveland’s Top Wine Spots
Lettie Teague set out to explore Cleveland’s wine scene. Here are her five best finds.
April, 2009
Northern California’s Best Wine Values
The wine regions of Northern California make lots of expensive Cabernets. But they also produce many amazing values, from crisp Sauvignon Blancs to lush, fruity Zinfandels.
April, 2009
South Australia’s Best Wine Values
South Australia makes great affordable Shiraz, no question. But it’s also a source for succulent Chardonnays and spicy Rhône-style whites, as well as firm Cabernet-based reds.
April, 2009
Mediterranean Spain’s Best Wine Values
Spain’s warm coast is a great source for robust reds, made mostly from sun-loving varieties like Grenache and Monastrell.
April, 2009
Southern France’s Best Wine Values
The Languedoc-Roussillon, Rhône Valley and Provence regions produce spicy Syrah- and Grenache-based reds, and exotic whites from varieties such as Clairette and Viognier.
April, 2009
5 Top Slovenian Wines by Ales Kristancic
Ales Kristancic’s wines are available in the U.S., but they may require some hunting. One good resource for finding wines is the website wine-searcher.com.
March, 2009
New Wines to Try
Great new bottles are hitting the shelves. Here are three types of wine to look out for.
March, 2009
Buying Guide: 5 Tips for Frugal Drinkers
Keep this advice in mind whenever you’re contemplating ordering the least expensive wine on a restaurant’s list.
March, 2009
Best New Greek Wines: White
Greece is producing excellent wine, and its whites are particularly good. Here, Ray Isle spotlights 11 noteworthy bottles.
March, 2009
Best New Greek Wines: Red
Greek white wines may be more consistent, but the best Greek reds are fantastic. Here are nine terrific bottles.
February, 2009
Best BYOBS in America: New York, New Orleans, Napa, San Francisco, Chicago
Wine-shop owners on where they love to bring their bottles.
February, 2009
Top Half-Bottle Sources
F&W’s Lettie Teague found five great spots to score wine in half-bottles.
February, 2009
Weeknight Dinner Deluxe: Wine Pairings for Chicken
January, 2009
Super Wine-Pairing Values
What’s better than a great dish? A perfect pairing. Here are five bargain bottles that match up nicely.
January, 2009
Sommeliers’ Favorite Italian Wines
F&W asked top sommeliers at three new Italian restaurants to recommend a favorite Italian bottling:
January, 2009
New Sparkling Wines from Italy to Austria
Sparklers are popping up in unexpected places. Here are three exciting new bottles.
December, 2008
Champagne: 10 Top Prestige Cuvées
These bottles often represent the best of the best in Champagne. Têtes de cuvée come in a variety of styles, and in vintage as well as nonvintage bottlings.
December, 2008
5 Great, Affordable Sparkling Wines
We all love Champagne, but we don’t always love paying for it. These affordable sparklers—from California, Spain and Italy—deliver great pleasure at greatly reduced cost.
December, 2008
Great Older Vintages: Top Wines, Top Years
Buying older bottles can be rewarding—but tricky. To get good value, look for top wines from these great—and relatively overlooked—years.
December, 2008
Global Value Cabernets
Great Cabernet grows around the world. Here are 11 spectacular values.
December, 2008
California Cabernets to Watch
These names aren’t quite famous, but they’re all producers of stellar Cabernet Sauvignon. Though they aren’t necessarily cheap, these picks offer tremendous value.
December, 2008
10 Top Affordable Champagnes
Reasonably-priced Champagnes can be terrific. Here are 10 of the best.
December, 2008
Best Places to Buy Older Vintages
Finding well-aged, properly-stored wines at sane prices is a difficult task. Thankfully, some retailers make it easy. These five shops offer real gems.
December, 2008
Napa Valley Classic Cabernets
The oldest names in Napa produce some of its greatest Cabernet Sauvignons. Here are 11 instant classics.
November, 2008
Holiday Wines | Tip 1: Buy Great Wine Values by the Case
Finding good wine and then socking away a case of it (typically 12 bottles) saves money, as many wine shops offer case discounts of around 10 to 15 percent. It also saves trips to the store.
November, 2008
Holiday Wines | Tip 5: Use Terrific $12-and-Under Wines for Punch
Seek out inexpensive wines that would be equally delicious in a bowl of punch or on their own. There are wonderful $12-and-under bottles available these days, particularly from Spain and South America.
November, 2008
Buying Guide: Six Terrific French-Made American Wines
French expertise shines on American soil. Here are six great American wines by French winemakers.
November, 2008
Top Regions, Top Red Wines
Below, a guide to America’s top red wine regions and some of the grape varieties for which they’re famous.
November, 2008
Holiday Wines | Tip 3: Select Food-Friendly Wines
November, 2008
Holiday Wines | Tip 4: Pick Affordable Sparkling Wines
Celebratory alternatives to pricey Champagne include cava from Spain and Prosecco from Italy, among others.
November, 2008
Real-estate Guide: 5 Wine Communities
Dying for a vineyard view? Here are five sites that get you close to the vines.
November, 2008
Holiday Wines | Tip 2: Look for Wine Screw Caps
October, 2008
Great Values from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Love zippy, minerally, delicious white wines? Look to the Mosel region for fantastic Rieslings at reasonable prices.
October, 2008
American Wine Awards 2008: Best New Winery
F&W honors Breggo Cellars, a new California producer making graceful, aromatic wines.
October, 2008
American Wine Awards 2008: Best Wines for Under $20
F&W honors 20 of the best bottles—and best values—out there this year.
October, 2008
Is Wine a Smart Investment?
The stock market may be a roller coaster, but wine investors still anticipate steady returns. Writer Paul Sullivan examines the new wine funds.
October, 2008
American Wine Awards 2008: Best Wines for Over $20
F&W honors some of the best American wines at any price.
October, 2008
American Wine Awards 2008: Importer of the Year
F&W honors Neal Rosenthal, the pioneering importer who’s brought scores of terrific, natural wines to America’s shores.
October, 2008
American Wine Awards 2008: Outstanding Sparkling Wine
F&W honors a bottle from Schramsberg, California’s quintessential sparkling winemaker.
October, 2008
Great Values from Bordeaux
Though it produces some of the world’s rarest and most expensive wines, there are great values to be found in Bordeaux.
October, 2008
Great Values from Barossa Valley
Australia produces some of the biggest, most lush reds in the world. As these bottles prove, they’re terrific values as well.
October, 2008
Great Values from Napa Valley
Though prices keep heading skyward in California’s most revered wine region, there are terrific deals to be had—like these eight delicious, affordable offerings.
October, 2008
Great Values from Piedmont
Home to Italy’s great Nebbiolo-based reds, Piedmont offers value with delicious Dolcettos and Barberas.
October, 2008
Great Values from Rhône Valley
Some of the world’s great wines come from France’s Rhône Valley, and often at relatively sane prices. Here are nine especially good values.
October, 2008
American Wine Awards 2008: Winemaker of the Year
F&W honors Celia Masyczek, maker of some of Napa’s most esteemed wines.
October, 2008
Buying Guide: Winemaker Sashi Moorman’s Best Wines
October, 2008
Buying Guide | 5 Best Wine Investments: A Pro’s Picks
David Sokolin, a wine retailer in Bridgehampton, New York, and the author of Investing in Liquid Assets, suggests five wines with the greatest investment potential.
September, 2008
5 Napa Cabs You Need to Know
The ’80s were the dawn of the cult Cabernet era: the big, big reds that go for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars—if you can find them.
September, 2008
Robert Parker On Wine Trends: The Culinary Revolution
September, 2008
Robert Parker On Wine Trends: The Rise of the Wine Critic
September, 2008
Robert Parker On Wine Trends: Wine Is Now Number One
September, 2008
Robert Parker On Wine Trends: Exciting New Wine Regions
August, 2008
Three Italian Party Wines
This trio is a great introduction to Brian Larky’s Dalla Terra Winery Direct portfolio.
August, 2008
Buying Guide: Five Naturally Good Wines
Producers might go out of their way so their wines qualify as “natural,” but F&W’s Lettie Teague still prefers those that qualify as “good.” Here, she picks five terrific bottles that fit both bills.
July, 2008
Sommeliers’ Top Imported Wines
Seven sommeliers from restaurants around the country share their recommendations for favorite wine importers and wines from the importers’ portfolios.
July, 2008
Best New Wine Lists ’08
July, 2008
The Scent Squad
Here’s a quirky new way to get some aromatherapy: Choose a favorite wine-grape varietal and discover every which way to capture its signature scent, whether it’s edible, drinkable or spritzable.
June, 2008
New Pairing to Try:
Malbec + Grilled Steak
Malbec, like Cabernet Sauvignon, has firm tannins that help it pair beautifully with steak, plus its fruit is as robust and dark.
June, 2008
New Pairing to Try:
Monastrell + Grilled Pork or Beef
Spanish Monastrell, known as Mourvèdre in France, has the same luscious fruit that makes Zinfandel so good with grilled pork, but with a spicy edge that arguably creates an even better match.
June, 2008
New Pairing to Try:
Albariño + Grilled Fish
Albariño shares Sauvignon Blanc’s grapefruity tang, making it a great partner for grilled fish, yet it has a flinty minerality all its own.
June, 2008
Beer vs. Wine Pairings
Beer expert Sam Calagione and wine pro Marnie Old, along with F&W editors, rated these recipe pairings.
* = good pairing
** = very good pairing
*** = spectacular pairing
April, 2008
Snapshot: Pennsylvania
April, 2008
Snapshot: Missouri
April, 2008
Snapshot: New York
April, 2008
Snapshot: Arizona
April, 2008
Snapshot: Idaho
April, 2008
Snapshot: Virginia
March, 2008
Five Favorite House Wines
House wines now have cachet and feature serious bottlings from first-class wineries. Here are five of F&W’s Lettie Teague’s favorite house wines.
March, 2008
Washington State Reds: 20 Top Bottles
December, 2007
Holiday Wine Survival Guide: Advice for the Host
F&W’s Ray Isle gives his best wine buying and serving advice for the clued-in and the clueless—from how many bottles to purchase for a party to what gifts to give an oeno-snob.
December, 2007
Holiday Wine Survival Guide: Ideal Party Wines
Inexpensive, versatile, delicious wines for every gathering—from cocktail parties to dinners.
December, 2007
Unbeatable Wine Gift Ideas
Five unbeatable epicurean combinations that redefine the ordinary gift set, plus perfect bottles for wine experts, hosts and more.
October, 2007
Burgundy: What You Need to Know Now
With the stellar 2005 vintage and the rise of supertalented young winemakers, world interest in Burgundy has reached a fever pitch. Here's the lowdown.
October, 2007
The Promise of Paso Robles
Esteemed critic Robert M. Parker, Jr., believes the Paso Robles area of the Central Coast shows some of the greatest potential in all of California. Here, he reports on the wineries that astonish him.
October, 2007
Burgundy: The Movers & Shakers
With the stellar 2005 vintage and the rise of supertalented young winemakers, world interest in Burgundy has reached a fever pitch. Here's the lowdown.
October, 2007
Burgundy: The Cult Bottles
With the stellar 2005 vintage and the rise of supertalented young winemakers, world interest in Burgundy has reached a fever pitch. Here's the lowdown.
October, 2007
Burgundy: Under-the-Radar Bottles
With the stellar 2005 vintage and the rise of supertalented young winemakers, world interest in Burgundy has reached a fever pitch. Here's the lowdown.
October, 2007
Burgundy: America’s Best Sources
With the stellar 2005 vintage and the rise of supertalented young winemakers, world interest in Burgundy has reached a fever pitch. Here's the lowdown.
October, 2007
7 Rules for Perfect Pairing
F&W's Ray Isle simplifies the task of pairing food and wine into seven mantras; Test Kitchen Supervisor Marcia Kiesel creates enlightened recipes for each.
September, 2007
Italian Grapes from A to Z
There are thousands of different italian wine grapes, but only a dozen essential ones to know. here, the bottles to buy and the antipasti to serve with them.
July, 2007
Finding Wine of a Certain Age
Blogger Tyler Colman scoured auctions and quizzed wine-shop clerks in pursuit of a great bottle from his birth year, 1971. Here, his advice on how to buy older vintages.
June, 2007
10 Best Online Wine Shops
From mega-Web sites to tiny, quirky specialists, these e-merchants can procure great wines in top condition.
April, 2007
New Wine Shops for Foodies
A new breed of wine-shop owner is bringing all kinds of excellent food pairings into the store, from artisanal cheeses to tapas.
April, 2007
Wine: A Field Guide to the Future
Here, a look at what’s next in wine, from the best new tech tools and the smartest gadgets to the most exciting new cult producers.
February, 2007
Best wines $10 & Under
September, 2006
Three Inspiring Cellars
Who says cellars need to be boring basement rooms with ugly shelves? F&W asked three design firms to create something new and thought-provoking.
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