David White

With Wine, Endless Treasures Await

On January 12, 2007, one of the world's greatest violin players set up shop in the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station in Washington, D.C. Wearing jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball cap, 39-year-old Joshua Bell pulled out his instrument -- handcrafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1713 and purchased in 2003 for nearly $4 million -- and played six classical songs for rush-hour commuters.

Rest Easy, Wine Lovers -- Perception Is Easily Fooled

One glass of Cabernet Sauvignon was described as "powerful and heavy." Another was described as "subtle and refined." The only difference? The music that was playing while people drank the wine.

In Its Greatest Moments, Wine Provides an Idealized Reality

Fifteen years ago, Stephen Tanzer, one of the world's leading wine critics, described the Cabernet Sauvignon from Ridge's 1991 harvest in Monte Bello Vineyard as "among the top dozen made in California during the last 20 years."

Investing Our Hearts in Champagne

"Here you have this wonderful, miraculous thing, with hundreds of thousands of little tiny bubbles that are defeating gravity and exploding in this gentle fragrant foam on the lip of the glass. There is something beautiful -- in a kind of giddy way -- about just the sight of Champagne." It was slightly surprising to hear wine importer Terry Theise make this statement.

Craft Beer Boom Benefits Wine Industry

About 50 million cases of beer were purchased on Super Bowl Sunday. It's no wonder Anheuser-Busch, America's largest brewer, purchased three and a half minutes of ad time during the big game.

Are Modern Sommeliers Educators? Absolutely.

I was out past midnight one recent Wednesday, despite a meeting early the next morning. When I headed home, my route took me through Washington, D.C.'s popular 14th Street corridor, where a few bars and restaurants were still open.

Three Wine Trends to Watch for in 2015

2014 will likely go down as the year that powerful wine critics lost their grip on the marketplace.

War, Wine, and Giving Thanks at Christmas

One hundred years ago this week, France launched its first major offensive against Germany in World War I. The fight took place in the winegrowing region of Champagne, which the German army had invaded just weeks after hostilities broke out. Nearly 200,000 lives were lost in the three-month battle.

Delectable: A Wine App That Could Revolutionize Drinking

Alexander Niehenke began to appreciate wine ten years ago. But for the first four years, it was simply a beverage he enjoyed with dinner from time to time, especially when cooking at home.

Rethinking the Tasting Note

"This first wine is a fighter; he's loud. The second wine is pensive; she has a dark side." This past Saturday, as I led a seminar in Chevy Chase, Maryland, one of the participants offered these tasting notes while comparing two wines.

With Priest Ranch, Craig Becker Is Betting On Honesty

"No one needs a new wine brand," explained Craig Becker, a veteran Napa Valley winegrower, over breakfast one recent morning.

A Napa Valley Tech Entrepreneur Is Revolutionizing Customer Service

Earlier this year, the number of wineries in the United States passed 8,000. When the news hit, Napa Valley tech entrepreneur Paul Mabray took to Facebook to remind his followers that "in a world of infinite wine choices, the only differentiator is service."

New Zealand Offers More Than Hobbits and Sauvignon Blanc

New Zealand is home to about 700 wineries. And even though the nation is best known for a single variety from a single region, its winemaking history goes back to 1819

America's Thirst for Wine Insatiable, Despite Rise of Cocktails, Craft Beer

Younger consumers are eating and drinking adventurously. This bodes well for the wine industry

Life Is Richer with Wine

Wine demands to be shared. Enjoying a glass alone is fine, of course. But there's an emotional component to wine appreciation. That's a big reason why enjoying a bottle with friends is always more meaningful than drinking alone.

In Napa Valley, a Community Rallies

John Trinidad, a wine industry attorney who lives on Main Street in Napa, was cleaning up from a party when his home started shaking.

The Terroirist Manifesto of Anselme Selosse

"Nature is larger and bigger than all of us. It's crazy to think that man can dominate nature." Anselme Selosse issued this profound statement while explaining his winemaking philosophy one recent morning at his small property in Avize, a village in Champagne's Côte des Blancs.

Didier Gimonnet: Maintaining Tradition in Champagne

"Gimmonet is not trendy," explained Didier Gimonnet, a third-generation vigneron in Champagne. "It's unfashionable."

Beaujolais: The Greatest Secret in Wine

One hundred years ago, the Wine Society, a wine club in London, offered its members a Beaujolais from the appellation of Moulin à Vent for $29 per case. It offered cases of Burgundy from the appellations of Beaune and Pommard for around $36 each.

Tony Terlato Is Betting on Millennials

"When I was in college, we drank beer. When my sons were in college, they drank draft beer. But when my granddaughter was in college, she'd get together with five girls, go out to a restaurant, and they'd each put $10 toward a $60 bottle of wine."