Wine

Joshua Wesson

A leading authority on the pairing of wine and food, Josh has written extensively on the subject in many books and magazines. In 1984, he won the title of Best Sommelier in French Wines & Spirits in the United States. In 1989, he was nominated for the Who's Who in American Cooking. In 1997, Food & Wine magazine named him Retail Wine Innovator of the Year. In 2003, he received the prestigious Ambassador's Award from the European Wine Council. In 2005, JetBlue Airways selected him as its official "Low-fare Sommelier." In 2009, the Wine Enthusiast honored Josh and Best Cellars with the Wine Star Award as Retailer of the Year.

Josh has been a frequent guest on CBS's The Early Show and CNN, as well as The Splendid Table. His latest book, Williams-Sonoma Food & Wine: A new look at flavor, is available everywhere lushly photographed food porn is sold.

Wine Picks for Thanksgiving

Heather John Fogarty, writer of the blog The Foodinista, shares her wine picks for Thanksgiving. These wines would beautifully accompany our Spice Scented Thanksgiving Menu. Thanksgiving Wines Under $20: Cristalino Cava ($8) Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Rose ($19) Casa Lapostolle...

Wines for Grilling

From Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor at Food & Wine Magazine Hot dogs - w/ onions, sauerkraut, relish Reds: Malbecs or red wines with a lot of fruit intensity but not a lot of tannins, big rich powerful Specifics: Crios...

Hidden Loire Gems from Joshua Wesson

Domaine de Chatenoy Menetou Salon $15 Domaine Henry Pelle Menetou Salon $15 Domaine Mardon Quincy $15 Francois Chidane Montlouis "Clos du Breuil" $17...

BFF wines (best friends forever)

Cava from Spain Segura Viudas Brut Reserva NV $12 Freixenet Carta Blanca Demi-sec NV $11 Cristalino Rose NV $13 Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 or 2010 $12 Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 or 2010...

Making Your Own Vinegar from Leftover Wine

If you've ever pondered what to do with that glass of wine you couldn't finish (it's rare, but it happens), the answer is to make vinegar! Kim Adams, one of seven Detroit area wine crazies who call themselves the Gang...

Rose Champagne for Valentine's Day

Wine guy and author Jay McInerney (Bacchus and Me), thinks Rose Champagne is the perfect sip for Valentine's Day. It's pink; it's bubbly, and just right for celebrating this day of love. Here are Jay's favorite bottles: Billecart-Salmon (about $30);...

German Wines with Simple Labels

Joshua Wesson is a sommelier turned bargain hunter. He went from convincing his customers that a $100 bottle was as necessary as air to tracking down bargains around the world. He's the co-creator of Best Cellars wine shops. Josh likes...

Italy's Hidden Gems

Vin Italy is the wine show to end all wine shows. It's where everything Italy has made from the grape is in show-off mode. Wine maverick Joshua Wesson was there and found these gems: From Alto Adige: Lageder Lagrein Rosato...

Wines to Pair with Smelly Cheeses - Josh Wesson's Picks

When serving cheeses so smelly they make gym socks resemble Chanel, forget pouring strong reds or oaky Chardonnays. Wine wizard Josh Wesson says look to Alsatian Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer or German Scheurebe. In a pinch, when his wine cabinet is...

Low-Alcohol Wines

When shopping for low-alcohol and non-alcohol wines, Joshua Wesson, of Best Cellars says to look for a sparkling variety like Ariel because the bubbles will help mask the hollow taste of these wines. If you're going to try a non-sparkling...

Holiday Champagne Picks

Mary Ewing-Mulligan and Ed McCarthy, authors of The Wine Buying Companion for Dummies, suggest the following champagnes and sparkling wines for holiday celebrations: As an apéritif: choose a lighter style from houses such as Tattinger and Laurent-Perrier or a Blanc...

Beers for Santa

Steve Beaumont, author of The Premium Beer Drinker's Guide, picks these seasonal beers guaranteed to please Santa. Our Special Ale: Each year Anchor Brewing's seasonal beer has a completely different recipe and a different tree on the label. Samichlaus: From...

Ray Isle's Holiday Wine Survival Guide

Ray Isle, senior editor at Food & Wine magazine, naturally writes a lot about wines, but this year he's out-done himself with his Holiday Wine Survival Guide. To read the article, log on to www.foodandwine.com/articles/holiday-wine-survival-guide-advice-for-the-host....

Gifts for Wine Geeks

Gifts for Wine Geeks December 16, 2006 Listen to this feature (How to listen) The Wine Spectator's Matt Kramer is possibly the ultimate wine geek himself so who better to suggest gifts for other wine geeks? Here are a...

Thanksgiving Bubblies and After-Dinner Sippers to Take When You're a Guest

When you're a guest at someone's holiday table, wine wit Josh Wesson says to think "bookends" - the starters and the dessert - when deciding what wines to take. Here are some ideas: Pre-Dinner Bubblies: Cava Cristallino: It's difficult to...

Lynne's Thanksgiving Drink Picks

No matter how hard we may try to be ecumenical, our heritage usually shows up at the table on this day. This is ours. Certainly bring yours into the mix as well. Starters Sparkling Wine and Cider Main Red...

Alternatives to Beaujolais Nouveau by Joshua Wesson

Every year on the third Thursday in November the Beaujolais Nouveau is released, with great fuss and to-do, all over the world. Joshua Wesson of Best Cellars says you can beat the rush before this date by drinking nouveau-style wines...

Beers for the Thanksgiving Table

Steven Beaumont, author of The Premium Beer Drinker's Guide, suggests beer as an alternative to all the angst over which wines will go with turkey and all the trimmings. Here are three he recommends: Lambic Gueze from Cantillon Brewery in...

Joshua Wesson's Wine Buys for Fall

Wine maverick Joshua Wesson of New York City's Best Cellars says fall is one of the greatest times of the year to match food and wine. At the height of the harvest season he especially loves red wines with an...

Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner

Wine wit Joshua Wesson of Best Cellars says to focus on the side dishes you'll serve rather than the turkey when choosing wines to accompany the complex mix of flavors found in the typical Thanksgiving dinner menu. When choosing a...

Excerpt from: Reading Between the Wines

by Terry Theise Chapter Three -- Remystifying Wine First of all, everything is unified, everything is linked together, everything is explained by something else and in turn explains another thing. There is nothing separate, that is, nothing that can...

Holiday Wine Recommendations by Mary Ewing Mulligan

Mary Ewing Mulligan & Ed McCarthy - authors of Wine for Dummies - make the following recommendations for the Holiday Season: Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne (non-vintage), about $20-$24 Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut Champagne (non-vintage), about $20-$24 1996 Beaujolais Nouveau,...

Mark Waymack's Bourbon Tasting Notes

Mark suggests a bourbon tasting as a way to become familiar with what's available and compare style and subtleties among distillers. A few to try include: Blantons: on the sweeter end, dense, intense, dark honey color with pronounced sweet vanilla...

Choosing Wine Glasses

Dear Lynne, Is there an inexpensive “right” wine glass? We are celebrating my brother's new job and his first apartment. He's getting into wine so I thought wine glasses would be a good gift. Also, do I have to do...

Read Lynne's Response about Choosing Wine Glasses

Excerpts from: Drink This: Wine Made Simple

January 9, 2010 Tasting Zinfandel | Chapter One by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl Listen to the interview Step by Step: Tasting Zinfandel Step One: Identifying Goals, Planning Where We're Going, A Brief Road-Map to Your Upcoming Zinfandel Road-Trip The plan when...

Barolo - Traditionalist vs. Modernis

It's called the Barolo Wars, the contentious debate that pits Traditionalist against Modernist producers of Barolo and has wine experts turning themselves inside out. Lettie Teague, executive wine editor of Food & Wine magazine, wrote an interesting article on...

Grüner Veltliner

Joshua Wesson of Best Cellars sings the praises of Grüner Veltliner, the centerpiece of Austria's wine industry. This lovely white has achieved cult status of late, thanks to a tasting by top-gun sommeliers that put it up against renowned Chardonnays....