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The Year in Review: 2025
featured, General Interest
, Dec 2025
The end of the year is always a time of reflection. Two thousand twenty-five has been a truly spectacular year, both personally and professionally. I have been blessed to have so many unforgettable experiences. I traveled more and worked harder than any year I can remember. Nevertheless, the balance of the scale in 2025 very much tips towards the positive. When I stop to take it all in, I can only summarize 2025 with one word: Gratitude.
Let The Italian Sparkling Wine Flow
Italy, featured
, Dec 2025
Sparkling wine remains the undisputed champion of holiday gifting and celebration. In Italy, producers continue to deliver an extraordinary mix of quality, diversity and value in a category that continues to grow. There has never been a better moment to explore all Italy has to offer in the realm of sparkling wine.
2025: The Year in Review
featured, General Interest
, Dec 2025
Time to look back on another year that was crazily busy from the start. As usual, I round up the wines, restaurants and of course, the music that made my 2025 one to remember. And to think…it’s not even over yet!
Sekt: Effervescent Germany and Austria
Germany, Austria, featured
, Dec 2025
This report brings together the effervescent efforts of Austria and Germany across an impressively broad geographic span. From electric Rieslingsekts to meticulously crafted traditional styles, the top Sekts from these two countries confidently rival the world’s finest sparkling wines.
Come Hell or High Water: Trentino-Alto Adige’s 2023 and 2024 Vintages
featured, Italy: North
, Dec 2025
Trentino-Alto Adige is in the midst of a modern renaissance. As dramatic climatic events reshape the landscape, the region’s winemakers are meeting the moment with resilience, delivering wines of striking quality, precision and poise.
Battle Royale! Bordeaux 1961, 1982, 1990 & 1995
featured, Verticals & Retrospectives, France: Bordeaux featured Verticals and Retrospectives, France: Bordeaux, France: Bordeaux Verticals and Retrospectives featured
, Dec 2025
In this Battle Royale, four renowned Bordeaux vintages enter the ring to see who comes out on top. Take a ringside seat for a wrestling tag match between 1961, 1982, 1990 and 1995. Let the “battle” commence!
Sun, Limestone and Heritage: Exploring Catalunya and Levante
Spain, featured
, Nov 2025
Ample sunlight, calcareous soils and a melting pot of different approaches set the tone for wine country in Mediterranean Spain. This report features 650 wines from the mountains that stretch from the border with France down to Alicante and Murcia.
The Exquisite 2021 Brunellos
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Nov 2025
Following the difficult 2020 vintage, readers have much to look forward to with the exceptional 2021 Brunellos. The wines are vibrantly fruit-forward, with highly expressive bouquets and crisp, crunchy textures. But the question remains: Do the 2020 Riservas stand up to the 2020 Brunellos?
Vacqueyras: The Long Road to Recognition
featured, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Nov 2025
Vacqueyras stands at a crossroads, balancing years of progress with the need to define its true identity among Southern Rhône regions. From vineyard setbacks to market shifts, the 2024 vintage captures both the challenges and quiet confidence of a region finding its voice. This report explores how Vacqueyras’ long road to recognition is edging toward self-discovery.
El Molino: The Essence of Napa Valley Classicism
featured, Verticals & Retrospectives
, Nov 2025
Despite boasting a history that stretches back to the late 1800s, El Molino remains one of Napa Valley’s most under-the-radar estates. I have only tasted these wines sporadically over the years myself, as the wines are rarely seen. Here, at her family’s historic St. Helena winery, proprietor Lily Oliver Berlin quietly crafts Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs of rare distinction. This vertical of the estate’s Chardonnay and Pinot Noir back to 1999 revealed a sleeping giant, an iconic Napa Valley winery waiting to be discovered. Readers who admire old-school, classically built wines will find so much to admire.