David White

Embracing the Rhone Rangers

"Raise your hand if customers regularly come in and ask for a good Cabernet." I recently issued this directive to a group of 40 sommeliers, retailers, and other wine industry insiders from across Washington, D.C. Unsurprisingly, just about every hand shot up.

Virginia Rising

"I don't understand why the D.C. public doesn't realize its Sonoma and Napa is just a day's drive. It's an easy, straight shot out of the city, and there are incredible wines," exclaimed Sebastian Zutant, the co-owner of The Red Hen, a popular restaurant in the nation's capital known for its serious yet quirky wine list.

At Wine-Focused Restaurants, Embracing the Unknown

"Representing real people who make real wine has always been very important to me," explained Danny Fisher, the general manager and beverage director of Ripple, a wine-focused restaurant in Washington, D.C. "When you're drinking wine -- or any kind of beverage, really -- you want to know that someone has put time and effort into it. It shouldn't be mass produced, toyed with, or manipulated." Fisher and I were chatting about the wisdom -- or foolishness -- of loading up a restaurant wine list with small-production, unfamiliar offerings.

Drinking Wine in Bourbon Country

For two minutes each May, the world turns its attention to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

Comic Books and Thoroughbreds, Inspired by Wine

Outside the Bay Area, few wine enthusiasts realize that California's wine scene is incredibly welcoming.

Trading a Desk Job for One in the Vineyards

Finding Shane Finley was easy.

Great Wines Tell an Honest Story

Spring has finally arrived. Lemonade stands will start popping up soon. And when the mercury rises, it's nearly impossible to pass one without making a purchase.

Reclaiming California's Diversity

If you ask a typical wine consumer to imagine a California red, they'll almost certainly think of Cabernet Sauvignon. If you ask that same consumer to imagine a white, they'll almost certainly think of Chardonnay.

America's Unquenchable Thirst for Wine and Exploration

"The wine world is a big, fabulously diverse place, and arguably the greatest pleasure that oenophilia offers is the pleasure of discovery -- of finding new grapes, regions, and wines." These words appear in The Wine Savant, a new book from Michael Steinberger, the former wine writer for Slate and a current columnist for Men's Journal.

Bridging the Whole Foods Gap

"Although modern consumers are far more concerned about the origins of their food than they once were, keenly eyeing the source of that organic spinach, their concern goes out the window when it comes to wine."

Celebrating Balance in Pinot Noir

"If a Pinot Noir is overwhelmed with fruit -- or, indeed, by any element, like oak, fruit extraction, fruit ripeness, or alcohol -- you're going to lessen the possibility that the wine can express essential place. And for me, Pinot Noir is all about essential place."

In 2014, Drink Something Old and Something New

January is the perfect time to reflect on the previous year and make resolutions for the new one. For those of us who take wine seriously, it's smart to include wine in our New Year's resolutions.

Big Love for Big Champagne

Wine writers love explaining why Champagne and other sparkling wines deserve a spot at the dinner table all year long.

For Value, Avoid the Familiar

'Tis the season to party. With 2014 just a few weeks away, holiday party season is in full swing. So hosts everywhere are assembling menus, fretting about guest lists, and blowing their budgets on decorations. Fortunately, selecting wines doesn't have to be stressful or expensive.

Rioja Gran Reserva: Expensive -- But a Remarkable Value

Each year, the wine world eagerly awaits Wine Spectator's "Top 100" list. Since 1988, the magazine's editors have looked back over the wines they've reviewed over the previous 12 months to rank the 100 wines that most impress them "based on quality, value, availability, and excitement."

Kermit Lynch's Journey of Wine Discovery

"When I wrote the book," explained wine merchant Kermit Lynch, "I thought the oenologists were going to take over."

A Consumer Revolution in Wine

"This democratization of wine is great," asserted Jancis Robinson, one of the world's leading wine authorities, over coffee one recent morning.

Toss Those Tasting Notes

Ever tasted a boysenberry? What about cat pee?

Wondering What To Drink? Ask a Winemaker

Imagine if BMW's design chief admitted that Ford produces some of his favorite cars. Or if the CEO of Coca-Cola confessed that every now and then, he craves a Pepsi.

Cru Beaujolais: Fresh, Vibrant, and Perfect for Early Fall

All wines are appropriate for all seasons. There's nothing wrong with enjoying a simple white or crisp rosé in the winter, and big reds work all year long.