Our Top Wine Stories of 2020
From an exploration of malolactic fermentation deep-dive to Italy’s up-and-coming Timorasso grape, here are the wine stories that ranked highest with our readers this year
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What Corks Will Wine Pros Be Popping on NYE?
We asked 14 industry insiders to share the bottle of sparkling wine they’ll be opening to toast 2020’s end—and why it’s the right wine for this moment
The New Conversation About White Wine and Tannins
More winemakers are using partial skin contact to create whites with firmer tannin structures and greater complexity
How Winemakers Craft Clean Natural Wines
Why are some natural wines marked by volatile acidity, Brett, and mousiness, while others aren’t? Alex Russan investigates
When Wine Pros Lose Smell and Taste to COVID-19
After being temporarily robbed of career-essential senses, sommeliers and wine journalists reflect on how the experience changed them
Wine Auctions Pivot—Quite Profitably—to the Virtual World
How the booming success of remote auctions is transforming the fine wine market
Walla Walla Confronts Phylloxera
Washington’s vast appellation is battling the dreaded vineyard pest for the first time. Why are some wine producers more worried than others?
Portugal’s Vintners on the Forefront of Climate Change
Hit harder than most wine regions by rising temperatures and drought, this small country emerges as a global leader in responding to the climate threat
What is Natural Wine?
A new definition aims to bring clarity and consensus to the polarizing category, yet it may have the opposite effect
The Future of Trade Tastings
Wine fairs and portfolio tastings are canceled around the world. When will they return, how can they evolve, and—in the meantime—what can take their place?
Can Rootstock Trials Save Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon?
Climate change is threatening Napa’s greatest asset. Andy Beckstoffer’s new research aims to preserve its future
How Producers are Rethinking Rosé in 2020
Challenged by social distancing, tariffs, and a wine glut, rosé producers weigh in on what to expect, from bag-in-box and growlers, to a marketing shift for more serious times
