September 2006

Features

• Sacred Hotel

• Secret Life of a Wine Salesman

  As she trails three New York City salespeople on their rounds, F&W's Lettie Teague discovers some terrific Burgundies and one great Gavi.

• Is Bordeaux's 2005 Vintage Worth the Hype?

  Is 2005 really the vintage of a lifetime or are its merits overblown? Robert M. Parker, Jr., gives his frank assessment and names his favorite producers.

• Bottles Reborn

• Cult Chardonnay's Newest Star

  The Chardonnays crafted by Sonoma visionary Mark Aubert leave most collectors nearly speechless with desire.

• A Chefs' Picnic by the Bay

  Enticed by Long Island wine country, chef Gerry Hayden and his wife, pastry whiz Claudia Fleming, recently opened a restaurant and inn there—an ideal spot for dreamy picnics.

• A Scene Grows in Brooklyn

  Brooklyn—yes, the gritty borough overshadowed by glamorous Manhattan—has become America's design central. Visionary boutique owner Dave Alhadeff invites some big talents over for dinner.

• American Wine Awards

  When F&W debuted the American Wine Awards nine years ago, the wine scene was very different. Few in the industry used terms like "natural winemaking" and "painstaking vineyard work." However, this year's winners, chosen by a panel of judges, share this emphasis on the grape.

• An American Lives the Tuscan Dream

  New York City wine merchant Marco Pasanella has turned the building where he lives and works into his own tiny piece of Tuscany.

• Batali Revs Up the Grill

  Chef Mario Batali, author of the new Mario Tailgates Nascar Style, is racing's No. 1 fan. At a championship competition in Charlotte, North Carolina, he grills a feast for his family and a few of the sport's biggest stars.

• Best Reds from Australia

• Big Wine: Good or Evil?

  The rise of "big" wine—ripe, rich, with lots of fruit and alcohol—is hugely controversial. Two top experts argue about whether bigger is better.

• Why We All Want to Cook (and Live) Like Annabel Langbein

  Annabel Langbein once made a living trapping possums and jumping out of helicopters to catch wild deer. So how did she become New Zealand's most respected food celebrity, with a lifestyle anyone would covet? Gareth Renowden finds out.

• Wine Clubs: A User's Guide

  The newest wine clubs are young, fun and focused on delicious, inexpensive bottles instead of prestige labels. Here, F&W's Ray Isle profiles one great L.A. group and tells how anyone can join in.

• Wine Navigator

• World's Great Wine Tours

  Want to taste wines at an elite Bordeaux château or a tiny Australian cult producer? Fat chance—unless you get an assist from one of these guides.

• Your Wine Questions Answered

• The Virtue of Homemade Vinegar

  All you need is red wine, water, patience and a good mother.

• 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.

• Must-Try Wine Cocktails

  Resuscitating a pre-Prohibition favorite, the most cutting-edge cocktail creators are once again adding wine to the mix.