July 31, 2009

Previous issue: June 30, 2009

 

Special Report

Discovering Pacific Northwest Wine Country  A six-day journey takes you to the top vineyard districts of Oregon and Washington, where great wines, fine cuisine and homey lodgings are all part of the allure of the area's burgeoning wine culture

Map  Follow Steiman's route, including day-by-day listings of the best wineries, restaurants and accommodations along the way

ABCs of Oregon and Washington Terroir

• WineSpectator.com BONUS VIDEO:  Some of Washington's best wines get all or part of their grapes from the smallest appellation in the state—Red Mountain. Join Harvey Steiman as he tours the region and talks with some of the winemakers.

Features

Tasting Reports

California Chardonnay  The 2007 vintage offers great quality across the board, with Napa and Sonoma setting the pace as the state's winemakers pursue an increasing range of styles

• WineSpectator.com:  An alphabetical chart of all wines tasted for this report is available.

• The Old New Guard  Veteran vintners who are moving in intriguing new directions

Washington  Red wines are the key players, with Cabernet, Syrah and Merlot showing strength

• WineSpectator.com:  An alphabetical chart of all wines tasted for this report is available.

• WineSpectator.com BONUS VIDEO: Coming soon:   Ask sommeliers about their favorite varietal and, chances are, the answer will be food-friendly Riesling. Well-known in Germany and Austria, the varietal is coming on strong in Washington. Join Harvey Steiman as he tastes a pair of his favorites.

Menu

Summer Savoir Fare  Chef Laurent Tourondel's menu of seasonal produce and fruits de mer takes advantage of the grill for an informal dinner party

• East End Options  Wine-friendly restaurants on the East End of Long Island

Grapevine

World  Women's wine-drinking preferences surveyed

• WineSpectator.com  Keep up with breaking news as well as the people, places and happenings that wine lovers are talking about.

Science  Defining green in Oregon; DNA testing for wine; new uses for pomace; health briefs

Savvy Shopper  Distinctive whites and flavorful reds

Cheese Matching  California-made cheeses to the state's Chardonnays

Spirit  Warm-weather cocktails

Vintage Spotlight  2007 Vintage Port barrels

• WineSpectator.com:  An alphabetical chart of all wines tasted for this report is available and website members can see the full notes and add the wines to their Personal Wine List.

Wine Auctions  Hong Kong markets sizzle in first quarter; mature Vintage Ports offer value

• WineSpectator.com  Keep tabs on the auction market. Website members can check our Auction Price Database, which tracks prices for more than 12,000 collectible wines, and the latest auction results. Also available is a free calendar of upcoming auctions.

Private Cellars  A collector emerges in France

Departments

This Issue

This Issue  Marvin R. Shanken

Letters

Letters

Columns

James Laube  Barbecue for breakfast

• WineSpectator.com  In recent blog posts, James Laube examines wine price cuts and waived corkage fees, looks at the high stakes for winemakers in this tumultuous economy, and shares impressions of some exciting reds from Sine Qua Non.

Matt Kramer  Taking vinegar seriously

• WineSpectator.com  Matt Kramer's recipe for Petti di Pollo in Carpione

Wine Talk

Wine Talk  NFL star Morten Andersen

2009 VIDEO CONTEST  Submit your wine videos to our third annual video contest and you could win great prizes. We are looking for short, original videos that are educational and entertaining. Our editors will select the finalists, which will be posted on Wine Spectator.com; viewers will vote in the winner. The entry deadline is Aug. 31, 2009. Here are the complete rules. NEW ON WINE SPECTATOR VIDEO: Chile's Cool Reds  Pinot Noir and Syrah are two of the country's hottest cool-climate varietals. Join James Molesworth for a closer look. Mosel Primer  Top winemakers explain why Germany's Mosel Valley is a prime place to grow Riesling. QUESTIONS ABOUT WINE  Dr. Vinny, our Web site's resident expert, tackles all of your questions, from the definition of winemaking terms to the best way to store your wines.

RECIPE SEARCH  Inspired to try some new dishes for summer? Find hundreds of delicious, wine-friendly recipes, searchable by ingredient, food type and matching wine type. WINE SPECTATOR MOBILE  Need wine-buying information on the go? Try our mobile site for smart phones at mobile.winespectator.com. Search more than 213,000 wine ratings, consult our vintage charts, and check your shopping lists and cellar inventory on your Personal Wine List.