Last month, Matter of Taste, the continuing global series of exclusive events for Wine Advocate members and guests, returned to New York City for the final event of 2019.
“Matter of Taste is our way of connecting with our readership, where we can actually show the wines that we have been tasting all year-round,” says The Wine Advocate’s editor-in-chief, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW, who hosted a Chappellet retrospective tasting, as well as a Hundred Acre portfolio perspective with Jayson Woodbridge, both of which were sold out.
Held at the famed Ziegfeld Ballroom in Midtown Manhattan, over 500 guests attended the event, which featured a walk-about tasting consisting of 298 wines all rated 93 points and higher, as well as a lineup of esteemed masterclasses hosted by our own troop of reviewers and notable winemakers in the industry.
“What makes this event special is that so many of the winery principals or winemakers are here to pour their wines,” says Joe Czerwinski, who hosted an intimate masterclass with Penfolds's chief winemaker Peter Gago. The duo led attendees through an eight-vintage retrospective of Australia’s most famous wine, encompassing six decades of winemaking history.
“The whole world is your oyster, really,” adds Gavin Speight, vice president of wine and marketing of Napa-based Old Bridge Cellars, of the event.
Cappadocia becomes the latest Turkish destination in The MICHELIN Guide, adding to İstanbul, İzmir and Muğla in the upcoming 2026 restaurant selection.
Starting life in 2011, the youthful Moselle PDO (Protected Designation of Origin — AOC in French) produces fresh, floral wines on clay-limestone soils. In the context of global warming and thanks to the impetus of a new generation of dedicated winegrowers, this little-known region has lately been growing from strength to strength and gaining traction. Maéva Rougeoreille and Jean Dumontet, both 2025 MICHELIN Sommelier Award winners, share their favorite wineries and pairing suggestions.
Wine is reason enough to travel, but throw in beautifully designed tasting rooms and showstopping views and you’ll see why these restaurants in the vines are worth the trip all on their own.
Discover peaceful hotels surrounded by lush vineyards in Provence, Bordeaux and Champagne, along with regions of Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Hungary.