Slideshows

Some years ago, the tide of opinion turned against Merlot after a scene in the film Sideways convinced audiences that well-tutored palates avoid this varietal. Today, Syrah has met a similar fate, falling out of favor with U.S. consumers. Yet, just as many of the world’s most captivating reds are produced from Merlot—Château Pétrus and […]

The winemaker Mark Aubert is perhaps best-known these days for the supple, silky Chardonnay he crafts from the finest vineyards in Calistoga. Yet he made his original reputation with the red wines he produced for such important labels as the Peter Michael Winery, Bryant Family Vineyard, Sloan Estate, and Colgin Cellars. His passion for Chardonnay—the […]

Never has necessity given birth to more arresting offspring than in Portugal’s Douro Valley, where production of fortified wines is capped by government regulators to ensure that the supply of port does not exceed global demand. The portion of each harvest that does not make the cut for Portugal’s best-known bottlings is diverted into table […]

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 […]