Let’s get one thing straight: Brick-and-mortar wine shops, beer shops and spirits shops will never go out of fashion. They’re so often community cornerstones, serving as places to learn and gather. But for so many of us, online shopping is a way of life. According to the International Wines and Spirits Record (IWSR), online beverage…
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All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from 5-8 samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide context—vintage, variety or appellation—but never the producer or retail price of any given selection. When possible, products considered flawed or uncustomary are retasted. […]
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In 2012, if you’d seen Scott Beattie brandishing a chainsaw outside Napa’s Goose & Gander, you might have wondered if the barkeeper had lost his mind. But in his quest to serve clear ice in rocks cocktails at the bar, Beattie had acquired huge slabs of sculpture ice, which he then cut down to blocks…
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Hear us out: Everything bagels and booze are an underrated combo. But forget the generous schmear of cream cheese. While you’re at it, lose the bagel, too. Everything bagel spice—an umami-rich, crunchy blend of poppy seeds, toasted sesame seeds, dried garlic, dried onion and salt—is the martini rim garnish we didn’t know we needed. Not…
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In 2015, bullets flew through a Napa Valley winery in a business dealing gone bad. Only a few years prior, investor Emad Tawfilis gave Robert Dahl $1.4 million to finance his winery. But when a private investigator reveals Robert’s shady past, a legal battle quickly turns into a deadly negotiation.Follow the podcast and join us…
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Snowboarding down the vineyard rows on Howell Mountain at CADE Estate. Skiing across the upper blocks at Thomas Fogarty Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Making snowmen on the usually desert-like ridges that rise above the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County. These are just some of the social media-shared scenes happening across California…
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A magical mix of talent, resources, terroirs and an increasingly favorable climate has resulted in an English wine industry that has exploded in recent years. World-class traditional method sparklers and cool-climate table wines are produced by 197 wineries across Britain, from nearly 900 vineyards. Thanks to the industry’s rapid growth (plantings are up 70% in…
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Less than 5% of French wine comes from Burgundy, but don’t let this region’s size fool you. Bottles from this tiny area vary in flavor, style and complexity, making a bottle of Burgundy something truly special. “Burgundy is no more than 60 miles from North to South, and it produces some of the most beautiful…
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When you think of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, you probably picture Mickey Mouse ears and long lines for rides. However, Disney World is more than just Cinderella’s castle and “It’s a Small World.” Whether you fancy a rum-spiked, Star Wars-themed concoction or a perfectly poured pint of craft beer, Disney’s drink scene is…
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It’s 2023, which means that deep in your cellar is a bottle just bursting with flavor, ready to finally be enjoyed this year. But don’t go into this experience unprepared. Opening a vintage wine after it has spent some much-needed time in storage is a very special experience; our wine experts are here to break…
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