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 Masthead • VOLUME 36, NUMBER 8

The Test of Time • The company we keep is as important as the bottles we share.

Soundbites

How WE Survives the Holidays • We’ll get through this together—with a little help from wine.

Aminé on How Those Drinks Got in His Songs • The rapper’s free-flowing collaboration with Kaytranada was fueled by natural wine.

Recipe of the Month: Humble Pie • This make-ahead dish saves time when entertaining and is a crowd-pleasing centerpiece.

Cocktail of the Month: Wintry Mix • This seasonal drink brings a West Coast warming trend to holiday tipples.

Wine Rises Where Niagara Falls • This Wisconsin AVA forms an ancient “backbone” supporting modern viticulture.

Sauvignon Gris • This gray grape is adding spice to California wine life.

Pairology: Sticky Fingers • CARAMEL IS SIMPLY SUGAR that’s heated until it melts and turns brown. Yet caramelized sugar is about as far from white sugar as glass is from sand. We all know it as an ingredient or sauce for desserts, but it’s also a tasty umami-laden base note for savory dishes, much like brown butter, sweet soy sauce and miso. Many Vietnamese dishes start with a simple caramel, which is then offset by salt (such as fish sauce) and acid (such as vinegar or citrus) to make magic. Try adding caramel as the sweet element on chicken wings, in pan sauces for pork or duck, with roasted vegetables, even in salad dressings. Or just stick your spoon in the jar, pop open a bottle and contemplate its beauty.

Hook, Wine and Sinker • SLO Coast winemakers, many of them anglers themselves, pair their wines with seafood fresh out of the water.

What Makes a Wine Age Worthy? • Cellaring rewards the patient.

Western Provence: Where Art Meets Wine • See the sights, walk the streets and sip the wines that inspired van Gogh.

Hold On • Not every wine is made to age gracefully, but the ones that are can be transcendent with a bit of time in the bottle (and proper cellaring). We’ve rounded up five we think you should hold on to, plus some unusual standouts and a bevy of Best Buys. Turn to page 111 to find full reviews and more wines rated.

Suds: How Clean is Your Glass? • An improperly maintained drinking vessel may inhibit your experience.

Viewpoint: The Vicious Circle • There is a banality to wine collecting and a “label thirst” that could be avoided.

Top 100 Cellar Selections 2023 • Looking beyond the obvious, these ageworthy wines are ripe for adventure and discovery. Go further with recipe pairings that make the most of a cellar splurge.

Barrel Hunting in Cognac • Unearthing hidden treasures in French cellars.

Climate Change's Canary in the Coal Mine • The growers and winemakers of Australia are at the forefront of mitigating disaster.

Green Fairy Tales • Everything you didn’t know you needed to know about absinthe.

A Journey Through the Hilltop Villages of the Southern Rhône Valley • Experience the rich heritage of French winemaking in one of the most important valleys of Europe.

Mele Kalikimaka • How to throw a classic Hawaii-inspired holiday celebration.

Wine Star Awards Nominees 2023 • This year marks the 24th anniversary of Wine Enthusiast’s Annual Wine Star Awards, honoring the individuals and companies that make...