Sitting around talking about N.W.A., Sam Cooke, gospel music and jazz—not to mention the occasional scene-stealing appearances of their dog Bella—that’s what you get when in the company of the Kenwards in their Napa Valley home. We are drinking some of America’s finest wines, those of Tor Kenward, and it dawns on us . . . is it crazy... Read more →

The Loire rocks. The white wines they make in this part of France are unlike anywhere else in the world. Once you get used to the names, and they’re not easy—Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé, Vouvray, Anjou, Muscadet, Montlouis-sur-Loire and Savennières, to name a few—the rewards are great. There is nowhere else in the world where you can find... Read more →

Where in the world does a winery have to deal with a war being fought across the border from their vineyards? If not for the miracle of a cease-fire declared just one day before harvest, they would have lost everything. This is not a story most wineries would tell. But this is the story of Flam. And this is a story of Israel. I meet Gilad... Read more →

Like a steady stock in a volatile market, Gary Farrell Winery has maintained the quality of its brand over the course of 30-plus years. However, the buzz around the brand name became dormant. With new leadership firmly in place, a rising star on the team, and a refreshed vision for the future . . . is a resurgence on the horizon? “What... Read more →

Why 13? Because 100 is too damn many. Because 13 is more satisfying than 10 or 12. Because we believe, like the Chinese do, the number 13 is a fortuitous one. We don’t taste 10,000 wines in a year like the major wine critics do, but we have tasted over 1,000 wines in 2015. And we feel that’s enough to give you the names of 13 wines that... Read more →