Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Wine Enthusiast Magazine is one of the most respected and quoted authorities in the world of wine and spirits. We feature the hottest trends in everything related to wine. Our seasoned editors do the work for you, with over 700 expert ratings and reviews in each issue. Plus, in-depth features on all aspects of cocktails, spirits, beer, inventive wine and food pairings, trendy recipes, savvy travel features, and more.

Wine Enthusiast • VOLUME 34, NUMBER 9

IN THIS ISSUE: LOOKING BACK TO LOOK AHEAD • Our Best of Year issue embraces contradiction.

OUT & ABOUT: SIPS AND SNAPS AROUND THE GLOBE

WINEMAG.COM: HOW DO YOU MAKE WINE FOR THE AGES?

ITALY’S VOLCANIC SPARKLER ERUPTS • If you’re looking for a special bottle of bubbly, Lessini Durello has it all. Native grape that only excels in a small, specific area? Check. Volcanic soils? Check. Metodo classico? Check. Racy, elegant and savory? Check. These wines tick all the boxes for fans of dry, vibrant sparklers that boast longevity and personality. Read on to discover more about this radiant, under-the-radar, bottle-fermented sparkler from northern Italy.

GRAPE ON THE GO: GRÜNER GOES GLOBAL • Austria’s beloved white wine grape embarks on a delicious roadshow.

CASK TO COUPE • Barrel fermenting is trending in Champagne, lending body and cellar potential to the region’s bubbles.

MIND, BODY & WINE • Wineries are proving that wine and wellness can go hand-in-hand. From vinyasa in the vines to sip and cycle, these winery experiences promote balance beyond the bottle. Meet four California wineries that offer visitors more than tastings.

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH: MEET YOUR MOCHA • Don’t even talk to us until we’ve had our coffee-chocolate cocktail.

BICOASTAL WINE • These winemakers are choosing to produce wine on both coasts.

WINTERIZE YOUR COCKTAILS • You don’t have to change over your whole bar when temperatures drop. Here are some tricks to make classics suit the season.

PAIROLOGY: CHEDDAR DAYS AHEAD • Cheddar is one of the country’s best-loved cheeses. Only mozzarella is more popular in the U.S., and that’s because of pizza. Few cheeses have the diversity of styles that cheddar does, partly because its name, which comes from the English town where it was originally made, has no legal status in any country. Though plastic-wrapped supermarket cheddar has its fans—especially for melting—cheese lovers should try long-aged, clothbound styles to see the heights that humble cheddar can reach. Its versatility is reflected in the many wines that pair with its complex flavors.

Q&A: DIGGING IN WITH PATRICK MCGOVERN • Patrick McGovern, a molecular archaeologist who specializes in alcoholic drinks, tells us what we can learn from wines of the distant past.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH: SALMON NOIR • Fish your wish for a Pinot-friendly one-pan dish.

VIEWPOINT: DRINKING BEYOND THE SPARKLING STANDARD • Champagne is delicious—we can’t argue there. But it’s time to reconsider the go-to, as there’s so much more to the world of sparkling wine.

THE ENTHUSIAST 100 OF 2021 • The most exciting wines reviewed this year.

MANO A MONOPOLE • For these Sonoma growers and winemakers, an intimate relationship with the vineyard creates wines with a deeper sense of place.

TOP 100 SPIRITS OF 2021 • From apple brandy to single malts galore, these are the bottles to pour, store and explore.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD • Italy’s high-altitude Alto Adige region produces crisp white wines with finesse.

TOP 50 BEERS OF 2021 • The year’s best brews to savor.

A TALE OF TWO VINTAGES • IN WASHINGTON STATE, WHERE STEADINESS IS KEY, 2018 AND 2019 WERE STANDOUTS.

A NEW DOURO IN AN ANCIENT LAND • Wines from the wild Douro...