Neal Martin is one of the top wine writers and critics in the world. When he writes, we read and listen. This week, he wrote one of the most important pieces on the wine industry this year.

Sauvignon Blanc: The Coolest Wine for Miami’s Hot Summer

Miami heat is in full swing, and Sauvignon Blanc is the crisp, refreshing wine we’re reaching for. We’re not alone—Wine Spectator calls it the hottest grape on the market, finally stepping out of Chardonnay’s shadow. Sales, imports, and popularity are all on the rise. Fun fact: Sauvignon Blanc is the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, giving it those signature bright aromas and zippy acidity. It’s the perfect white wine for summer sipping.

With a 13% staffing drop and key lab closures, the Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)—which regulates U.S. wine imports and labeling—is overwhelmed. As two major labeling changes loom, the agency is exploring AI solutions to maintain processing times. Ironically, the push comes amid government cuts led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The future of wine label approval may lie in algorithms, not people.

Whether in the bloody trenches of World War I, the packed bars of the Lower East Side, or a quiet home in the outskirts of Cincinnati, wine has been essential to unlocking our purest philosophies and bringing moral communities together in whatever circumstances. Forget the flavors, the texture, the aromas, we talk about that enough already. But when we sit down together as friends, family, and business partners to uncork a bottle, it is a metaphor for both parties opening the dams to two different lakes and allowing those waters to mix in one place. 

Rory Mcllroy's Wine of Choice is Iconic

Dom Pérignon Tastes Like Club Soda? Why Fake and Damaged Wines Are Fooling Even the Experts. In a recent tasting, a suspicious bottle of Dom Pérignon raised eyebrows with brittle foil, aggressive fizz, and lackluster flavor—prompting a serious question: was it fake? Learn how wine fraud persists, how to spot red flags, and why sourcing from trusted sellers is your best defense against counterfeit bottles.

We’ve had several conversations with large wine collectors up and down the East Coast in recent weeks. Their ages range from 60 to 75, but the bottles in their cellars are at least 20 times that number. The common thread is collectors have too much wine that may be influencing their buying. Learn more!

When we attended the annual Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux tasting in January 2023, we were quite underwhelmed by the 2021 vintage of Bordeaux. The wines lacked power and structure.

But one bottle blew our minds.

A tariff is a tax placed on goods imported from another country. It is used to protect domestic industries, generate revenue, and as leverage in trade negotiations (like what we see now). In this blog post, we break down how U.S. tariffs are affecting the wine industry.

Some of the world’s best and purest Cabernet Sauvignons can be found in the foothills of Oakville. FUTO Estate is wedged into its quiet forests and is now Napa’s best kept wine secret.

Over the course of two decades, the winery has made a stealthy rise to become one of the most desired Cabernets in the world. The most riveting part? You may not have heard of it, making FUTO the ‘cult of the cults’ in the small sect of Napa’s Cabernet elite.

Here is a recap of our visit.