April 2025

Before the establishment of the American Viticultural Area (AVA) system, winemaking in the United States was a bit like the Wild West. There was the challenge of cultivating European grape vines in American soil, not to mention phylloxera to contend with. Then there was the fact that, sometimes, winemakers didn’t even know what grapes they …

For Over 100 Years, California Winemakers Called This Grape by the Wrong Name Read More »

Wine service in high-end restaurants isn’t geared for speed. It’s geared for leisure, hand-holding, and an aura of sophistication, but that’s not always what people are regularly in the market for. As such, it might not come as a huge surprise that fine-dining establishments have been struggling when it comes to moving wine. Rather than …

The VinePair Podcast: Wine Needs to Embrace Casual Dining Read More »

Several years into Espresso Martini-mania, what appeared to be a trend at first is proving to be a new staple in cocktail bars across the globe. And as much as bartenders occasionally bemoan the drink’s popularity, there’s no denying that Espresso Martinis are both delicious and versatile. Whether it’s made with vodka, tequila, or rum, …

7 Cocktails to Make with Coffee Liqueur That Aren’t Espresso Martinis Read More »

“Cocktail College” is brought to you today by Balcones. Listener, we love an innovator here at “Cocktail College,” which is why we’re excited to be working with Balcones. Born in Waco, Texas, Balcones has been at the forefront of Texas’ very own whisky revolution since 2008. With releases including the Lineage and Texas One single …

The Cocktail College Podcast: Remember the Maine Read More »

Portrait of the blindfolded goddess of justice Themis isolated on black background with copy space, as a legal concept Generally speaking, I prefer to know what things are before I put them in my mouth. The wine world, however, maintains a near-obsessive fixation on the opposite practice: Tasting blind a game whereby you might find …

Blind faith: Eliza Dumais on our obsession with tasting blind Read More »

A study on nearly 50 European wines from several countries found many bottles contained traces of ‘forever chemical’ compound TFA, or trifluoroacetic acid, said non-profit group Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe). While levels varied, PAN Europe policy officer Salome Roynel said findings were ‘a clear wake-up call for the EU’, amid growing regulatory scrutiny of …

Traces of ‘forever chemical’ TFA found in European wines Read More »

The general thesis of the craft-brewing “movement” — such as it was/is — at its founding midway through last century was that beer wasn’t a commodity until macrobrewers made it into one. This was a compelling thesis, and I think it’s borne out by the facts. But craft brewing is just one small segment of …

Walmart’s Ripoff Beers Are a Recession Indicator. Brewers Must Answer Anyway. Read More »

Celebrating A Life of Leadership, Compassion, and Dedication April 24, 2025, Dayton, Ore. — It is with deep sadness that Founder & Proprietor, Bill Stoller, passed away peacefully in his […]