Slideshows

Though Dana Estates’ first release was its 2005 vintage, the winery is nevertheless deeply rooted in the history of Napa Valley. The property’s owner, Hi Sang Lee—a longtime wine enthusiast and importer in his native South Korea—has developed close friendships with many of California’s leading vintners. His own career as a producer of fine wine […]

At gatherings where more than two oenophiles are present, the question inevitably arises—in one form or another—of which wine is a given grape fancier’s favorite. Though responses to this query are as varied as the varietals themselves, among the cognoscenti, Nebbiolo always figures prominently. The reason for this is simple: Just as certain gemstones reflect […]

Wine is often cloaked in a mantle of romance by marketing directors who are intent on moving inventory. True romance, however, does occasionally emerge from the vineyards, as the vintners Solène Christophe-Fabre and Guillaume Fabre well know. The couple, both natives of France, met among the vineyards of Bordeaux shortly before Guillaume traveled to the […]

The holy grail of white Rhônes returns… In 1834, when Antoine Jaboulet established himself as a grower and négociant, he more than likely never imagined that he was founding one of France’s most notable viticultural dynasties. His firm later came to be known as Paul Jaboulet Aîné when one of his twin sons named the […]

Like so many legends, the house of Dom Pérignon is the subject of numerous tales. Although the monk whose name is now synonymous with great Champagne is often credited with having discovered the method for making sparkling wines, the historical record indicates that his contributions mainly involved improving the conditions under which the world’s premier […]

The past several years have witnessed significant changes at Burgundy’s Maison Louis Jadot. Last year the venerable négociant completed its first harvest in decades without the daily presence of Jacques Lardière, the master vigneron who retired at the end of 2012 after 42 years as Jadot’s technical director. A philosophical man who chose a career […]

A white wine with heart. Many wineries in California include the word family on their labels—a descriptor intended to suggest not only that the contents of the bottle are the result of a multigenerational labor of love but also that future generations will heed the call of the vine. In many instances, the families in […]

Those who contend that Chardonnay grown in the sacred precincts of Chablis and the Côte de Beaune makes the best white wine on the planet can certainly find plenty of liquid evidence to support their argument. The soils of Burgundy, after all, have nurtured white wines of renown since the age of Charlemagne. These campaigners, […]

For some, viticulture is a career of choice, while for others it is a calling. One suspects that Dick Erath falls into the latter category. After experimenting with making his own wine at home, Erath, an engineer by training, enrolled in courses at the University of California, Davis. Not long thereafter, he moved his family […]