Innehållsförteckning för December 15, 2024 från Wine Spectator

Visit WineSpectator.com/121524 to find links to all of the following resources. TOP 100 WINES OF THE YEAR On Nov. 11, we begin unveiling the Top 10 Wines of 2024—complete with videos, tasting notes and more—culminating with the Wine of the Year on Nov. 15 and the complete Top 100 list on Nov. 18. Don’t miss the year’s most exciting wines! FREE RESOURCES FOR ALL WINESPECTATOR.COM READERS DAILY WINE PICKS Every day of the week, get a recently reviewed wine handpicked by our editors for its value, collectability or another wow factor that makes it worthy of the spotlight. Visit WineSpectator.com to see each day’s pick, plus the full archive of these standout wines. WINE & HEALTH Keep on top of the latest research with our regular Health News reports, get…

Three Napa wineries filed a joint lawsuit in federal court in September alleging that Napa County officials violated their constitutional rights. Summit Lake Vineyards, Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery and Hoopes Vineyard filed the complaint with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. This is the latest development in a growing battle with the county as vintners and growers cite government overreach, confusing regulations and inconsistent enforcement. Multiple parties have filed lawsuits regarding use permits and water rights in recent years. Four million tourists visit Napa annually, and many stop at small wineries. In their complaint, the three wineries argue that county regulations are “an ever-changing patchwork of undocumented ‘policies’ and procedures. The few written ordinances Napa County does have are so vague that county…

The popularity of sparkling wine sees no signs of letting up, with winegrowing regions around the world producing outstanding examples to satisfy global demand. Yet despite the ongoing competition, France’s Champagne region maintains its premier position. The wines’ reputation for luxury is part of the lure for consumers, but more important is their remarkable level of quality. This is especially true of bottlings from the creme de la creme of Champagne houses, which deliver complexity and depth of flavor seamlessly knit to vibrant acidity and fine texture. Looking at the broader market for Champagne, it’s my impression that there’s greater diversity today than there was 10 years ago—or even five years ago. This evolution has been fueled by a number of factors, including a huge spike in Champagne sales post-pandemic.…

Pina Barware Seamless Porcelain Mixing Glass pinabarware.com, $30 Cut glass mixing glasses in the Yarai style are so common that they’ve become nearly ubiquitous. For home bartenders who may enjoy something different, this porcelain mixing glass ($30) from Pina Barware offers a refreshing alternative. With its distinctive design and the capacity to stir up to three cocktails at a time, this glass adds style and functionality to any home bar setup. Pina Barware produces other high quality, professional-grade products, so pair the glass with other essential bar tools like “The Pina Totem” cocktail spoon ($23), “The Bender” julep strainer ($12) and a slim or bell-shaped jigger ($15) to cover the bar equipment needs of a stirred cocktail fanatic. Arteriors Trainor Bar Cart arteriorshome.com, $2,600 The Arteriors Trainor Bar Cart is…

One of the best business decisions I ever made was acquiring Food Arts magazine in 1989. There were two motivating factors. First, the incredible distinctiveness of the magazine, aimed at a niche audience of chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality professionals. At the time no other publication offered such insightful coverage. And second, Michael Batterberry. Michael held the role of editor-in-chief, with his wife, Ariane Batterberry, as publisher. Michael was a brilliant food authority who communicated stylishly with his audience in a rich and respectful way. We worked together from the time his magazine joined M. Shanken Communications until, sadly, his passing 21 years later in 2010. Never once did we have a disagreeable moment. Michael was the captain of the Food Arts ship and had total freedom to chart its course…

Bill Foley knows a good deal when he sees it. A few months after California-based Vintage Wine Estates (VWE) declared bankruptcy, more than 20 wineries and brands from the firm are set to come under new ownership following an auction in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. While final approval for the bids is still needed, Foley Family Wines & Spirits is set to acquire Swanson Vineyards, Sonoma Coast Vineyards and Cosentino, as well as the Cherry Pie and Bar Dog brands, for $15 million. As reported by Shanken News Daily, Foley had filed a stalking horse bid that was not exceeded by other bidders. Jayson Adair of Adair Wines aimed for more premium brands, with his company paying $85 million for Clos Pegase, Girard, B.R. Cohn, Kunde and Viansa.…

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell is accustomed to working hard fine-tuning his explosive game. But this offseason, the five-time NBA All-Star was introduced to a new challenge at The Prisoner Wine Company in Napa Valley. Mitchell spent a day immersed in a wine education experience as part of what the winery calls an “NBA star wine apprenticeship,” learning about branding, blending and pairing wine with food. Mitchell noted that it was only a few years ago that he started discovering wine. “This is my first time in Napa Valley. I knew I needed to learn what’s behind the wine.” It was an opportune day for Mitchell to arrive, as Sauvignon Blanc grapes arrived at the crush pad that morning. He sampled the grapes, and Chrissy Wittmann and Todd Ricard, The…

Writing about the rise of food purveyors in 1990, Michael observed: “Food editors have a lot in common with the new breed of specialty suppliers. Both are driven to forage for the tastiest tidbits, and neither can wait to pass along their finds.” This was apparent in every issue. Thoughtful predictions and reporting quickly established Food Arts as a go-to source for popular media, frequently cited in the Washington Post, New York Times, USA Today and many others. 1989 The story “Grand Dame of Virginia Cooking” celebrates chef and author Edna Lewis, then 73, champion of Southern cuisine. 1989 “Say Cheese” explores the return of cheese to fine dining. 1990 The new ‘it’ ingredient: “The Best Balsamic” is aged in barrels like fine wine. 1991 “Vitality of Vermouth” highlights the…

Regiis Ova Temptuous Trio Gift Set regiisova.com, $350 Chef Thomas Keller teamed up with caviar expert Shaoching Bishop to launch Regiis Ova with a mission: Offer top-quality caviar at super competitive prices by going straight to the source (the same sturgeon farms that chef Keller offers in his restaurants). The Temptuous Trio Gift Set includes three 30-gram tins of baerri reserve, royal white sturgeon and osetra—complete with tin opener and mother-of-pearl spoon. Jet Set Candy Caviar Charm jetsetcandy.com, $1,498 (also available in gold vermeil for $248) Some of us like to wear our love of caviar, and this mini solid 14-karat gold caviar charm from Jet Set Candy is a stylish way to do just that. A tiny replica of a Russian sturgeon tin dangling next to a miniature mother-of-pearl…

Highly Recommended The issue’s most impressive wines. Includes top-scorers and wines that represent optimal purchases based on their combination of score, price and availability. 97 Jasper Hill Shiraz Heathcote Georgia’s Paddock 2022 $95 AUSTRALIA This stunner oozes with fresh and preserved fruit flavors of blackberry, huckleberry and blueberry, followed by wave after wave of details including spices, rosemary, date-nut bread, mocha, tobacco, palo santo, salted black licorice and tapenade on a plush, creamy frame, with a long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2037. 100 cases imported.—M.W. 95 Alfred Gratien Brut Champagne Cuvee Paradis 2016 $125 FRANCE A vivid, mouthwatering Champagne, with rapierlike acidity creating a well-defined springboard for flavors of ripe black cherry and raspberry, quince paste, lime blossoms and Marcona almond. The finely detailed mousse cushions the firm frame…

The 2024 harvest at Israel’s Dalton Winery was punctuated by nonstop rocket and drone attacks launched from just across the border in Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon. As tractors rolled through the vineyards at night, collecting the last of the Cabernet grapes, the sky was lit up by the glow of exploding rockets and the resulting wildfires that have scorched parts of northern Israel since Hezbollah’s campaign began on Oct. 8, 2023. Across Israel, Lebanon and the West Bank, the growing conflict ignited by Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, has upended winemakers’ livelihoods and lives throughout the region. Harvest is traditionally a time of perseverance and celebration, but as the military campaign in Gaza continues, Israel and Hezbollah battle and Iran launches missile attacks, vintners on all sides are simply trying…

Second only to the cover, the most anticipated page of each issue of Food Arts was the final one, which bestowed the publication’s Silver Spoon Award for Sterling Performance. The award was originally created for the March of Dimes Gourmet Galas in New York City and Boston. The first Silver Spoon went to journalist and author Craig Claiborne, a longtime food editor and restaurant critic for the New York Times who also contributed to Food Arts. The second award was presented to chef and restaurateur Jasper White, who died earlier this year at the age of 69. In May 1990, Food Arts announced that beginning with that issue, every edition would bring to light a new winner from the fields of professional gastronomy. This included not only writers and chefs,…

Hestan Thomas Keller Insignia™ Commercial Clad Stainless Steel 7-Piece Cookware Set hestanculinary.com, $1,370 This line from Hestan was designed with top chef Thomas Keller—the name behind Grand Award–winning destinations the French Laundry in California and Per Se in New York—to be ergonomic and easy to handle, with thoughtful details like a universal lid that fits each pan. It’s easy to store and reduces clutter. The set is wider at the base, not taller, to increase the surface area for cooking (better for browning and searing) and is good to use on gas stoves, induction stoves and anything in between. And did we mention that it’s dishwasher safe? Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato Hand Care Duo flamingoestate.com, $116 A kitchen essential too often overlooked: delicious-smelling and hydrating hand soap. Tomato scents…

Stainless Steel Grill Grids surlatable.com, $50 Every barbecuer knows the pain of losing a bit of vegetable or meat that slips through the grate into charred, smoky oblivion. There are a few solutions, like kebab skewers or just being extra careful with particular foods, but those are time consuming and don’t reliably result in success. With these stainless steel grill grids, you’ll be able to roast any collection of smaller grilled bites, and also flaky fish, without fear. Grizzly Series Ultimate Pitmaster Bundle thecookingguild.com, $518 Whether you’re fileting a delicate piece of fish or divvying up a full rack of ribs, this five-piece knife set gets the job done with ease and style. Produced in collaboration with chef Kevin Bludso (whom you may recognize from Netflix’s Barbecue Showdown), these knives…

It sometimes feels like wine has a habit of falling into the briny deep. On July 23, Polish wreck diver and underwater photographer Tomasz Stachura announced that he and his Baltictech team had discovered the wreck of a 19th-century sailing ship near Oland, an island off the coast of Sweden—and it was crammed with bottles of Champagne and mineral water. “I have been diving for 40 years, and it often happens that there is one bottle or two … but to discover a wreck with so much cargo, it’s a first for me,” Stachura said in a statement. Indeed, a fair amount of serendipity led to the find. “We were just checking out new spots, which I had been [researching] for years out of pure curiosity,” said Stachura, who noted…