Eric Asimov
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Eat. Drink. Write. New York Times wine critic and author of How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto'' (William Morrow) and Wine With Food'' (Rizzoli).
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Articles by Eric Asimov
The Rise of American Chenin Blanc
American chenin blanc is back and better than ever. Dozens of top California producers, intrigued by the grape’s potential, are now making superb chenin blancs, along with a scattered few producers in Oregon, New York and elsewhere. Even so, chenin blanc remains a modestly planted grape. Back in 2015, I wrote an article that predicted this return, perhaps jumping the gun by a few years.
The Rise of American Chenin Blanc
Wine 5 hours ago This under-the-radar Wine Country restaurant has one of California’s most thrilling wine lists sfchronicle.com - Jess Lander • 5h You can taste a 121-year-old wine among the redwoods on the edge of the Bay Area, but you’ll need to hurry.
Wine: It’s the People’s Drink
5 hours ago After two decades in the business, Passaggio Wines is joining the ranks of California wineries forced to end operations. “After 20 incredible years in the wine business, I’ve made the very difficult decision to close the Passaggio Wines tasting room at Jack London Village at the end of October,” …
Wine: It’s the People’s Drink
Wine is a social beverage. It invites sharing, and once that bottle is opened and poured into multiple glasses, it warms up the gathering, even more so when food is involved. Across cultures, breaking bread and having a drink builds bridges between people and encourages feelings of connection and community. Wine, with its alcohol component, relaxes people, lowers inhibitions and quiets the internal dialogue.
California’s holy grail: The good US$20 to US$30 wine
KENNY Likitprakong grew up around the wine business in Sonoma County. He started his own label, Hobo Wine Company, in 2004, just about when Sideways came out, the film that extolled the beauty and virtues of California pinot noir. “Everybody wanted expensive pinot, US$50-plus, but I couldn’t afford those wines,” he said in an interview. “It would have been a huge splurge, and the same for most of my friends. The idea of a US$50 bottle was insane.” Likitprakong decided to do something about it.
加州的圣杯：优质的20至30美元葡萄酒
Kenny Likitprakong在索诺玛县的葡萄酒行业环境中长大。他在2004年创立了自己的品牌Hobo Wine Company，当时正值颂扬加州黑皮诺葡萄酒之美与优点的电影《杯酒人生》（Sideways）上映之际。 “当时每个人都想要昂贵的黑皮诺，售价50美元以上，但我买不起那些酒，”他在一次采访中说。“那会是一笔巨大的开销，我的大多数朋友也是如此。一瓶50美元的酒，这个想法简直是疯了。” Likitprakong决定为此做些什么。Hobo Wine Company将采用精心种植的葡萄，酿造售价低于20美元的优质平价葡萄酒。 “我们想酿造我们和像我们这样的人都能轻松接受的价格的葡萄酒，”他说，并补充道，他自己也不是那种会花100美元买一瓶酒的人。 二十年后，如今已发展成拥有约六个不同品牌的Hobo，仍在生产优质且价格适中的葡萄酒。而Likitprakong开创的这种模式，正在为加州一个新兴的葡萄酒品类指明方向。 9月21日，在加利福尼亚州圣罗莎的Hobo Wine Company，一名工人在处理用于酿造红葡萄酒的葡萄。 图片来源：NYTIMES...
California’s Holy Grail: The Good $20 to $30 Wine
California’s Holy Grail: The Good $20 to $30 Wine Cheap bottles have mostly meant bad, processed wines. The hope is that good wine from well-farmed grapes at a slightly higher price will fill a need. A few labels from Hobo Wine Company, which specializes in good, well-farmed wines for around $20 to $25. Credit...Ian Tuttle for The New York Times Oct. 1, 2026, 1:20 p.m. ET Kenny Likitprakong grew up around the wine business in Sonoma County.
California’s Holy Grail: The Good $20 to $30 Wine
2 hours ago Anne Hathaway's nails have become a source of endless inspiration this year, from her vibrant ruby gloss to her understated "coconut water" manicure. Most recently, the actress marked the arrival of autumn with a rich, dark mulberry shade, which she wore for the Verity New York premiere and …
So, how are wine shops doing these days? It depends
THE wine world has stumbled its way through a rough few years. Consumption worldwide has dropped as health warnings swirled. Inflation and tariffs are presenting unexpected challenges, while climate change continues to plague growers everywhere. With all these forces lined up against them, you might imagine wine shops hunkering down to cut their losses.
葡萄酒商店近况如何？境遇大不相同
葡萄酒世界在过去几年步履维艰。随着健康警示的增多，全球消费量有所下降。通货膨胀和关税带来了意想不到的挑战，而气候变化则持续困扰着各地的种植者。 面对这些不利因素，你可能会认为葡萄酒商店会收缩业务以减少损失。然而，在加州拥有四家分店的零售商 K&L Wine Merchants 却反其道而行之，于五月下旬在纽约市麦迪逊大道开设分店，将业务扩展至此。 到目前为止，K&L 的情况比预想的要好。其首席执行官 Brian Zucker 表示：“我现在比刚来时更看好纽约市。” 然而，从俄勒冈州波特兰市 Ardor Natural Wines 的柜台后面看，情况则完全不同。这家小型特色商店于2017年开业，当时，人们对新颖独特的葡萄酒充满渴望，该店正是抓住了这一商机。 店主 Victor Martinez 表示，起初店铺生意不错，尤其是在2019年，他称之为自然酒文化的巅峰时期，并且在新冠疫情期间也经营良好。但之后生意一落千丈，这让他感到有些困惑。...
Standing up for Cabernet Sauvignon
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Eric Asimov In my wine-drinking circles, it’s become all too common to hear people say, “I almost never drink Cabernet Sauvignon,” or, “I’m not much of a Bordeaux drinker.” As somebody who got into wine in the 1980s, as Cabernet and Bordeaux, Cabernet’s ancestral home, were ascending to the heights of their modern popularity, this seems bizarre. Yet, it’s also understandable. The world in which Cabernet achieved its commanding presence has changed.
So, How Are Wine Shops Doing These Days? It Depends.
So, How Are Wine Shops Doing These Days? It Depends. Richer, well-diversified operations are thriving. Small, storefront shops are struggling. And those in the middle are hustling harder than ever. Brian Zucker, chief executive of K&L Wine Merchants, which has four stores in California. K&L decided to expand to New York despite the downturn in wine sales. So far, so good, he said.Credit...Emon Hassan for The New York Times The wine world has stumbled its way through a rough few years.
So, How Are Wine Shops Doing These Days? It Depends.
Flying 5 hours ago Another airline in bankruptcy, all flights canceled TheStreet - Veronika Bondarenko • 5h The airline founded in 1988 has had its AOC suspended. In This Story Granted by the civil aviation authority in a given country, the air operator’s … College & University 6 hours ago College Is Coming Apart The Atlantic - By Ian Bogost • 6h Successive, overlapping crises reveal that American higher education makes no sense.
Standing up for cabernet sauvignon
IN MY wine-drinking circles, it’s become all too common to hear people say: “I almost never drink cabernet sauvignon”, or “I’m not much of a Bordeaux drinker”. As somebody who got into wine in the 1980s – as cabernet and Bordeaux, its ancestral home, were ascending to the heights of their modern popularity – this seems bizarre. Yet, it’s also understandable. The world in which cabernet achieved its commanding presence has changed. People’s tastes and perceptions have evolved.
为赤霞珠"正名" - The Business Times
在我的品酒圈里，人们常说：“我几乎从不喝赤霞珠”，或者“我不怎么喝波尔多葡萄酒”，这种说法已经屡见不鲜。 我从上世纪80年代开始接触葡萄酒，当时赤霞珠及其发源地波尔多正值其现代流行度的巅峰时期，因此这种现象在我看来有些奇怪。但细想之下，却也不难理解。 赤霞珠赖以取得主导地位的世界已经改变。人们的品味和观念已经发生了变化。那些曾经推崇赤霞珠、主导酒评界的葡萄酒刊物的集中影响力也已被分散。 就像音乐和时尚一样，潮流来了又去，即使是那些看似不可撼动的风格也不例外。 但赤霞珠和波尔多葡萄酒实在太出色，不容忽视。完全否定它们是个错误。如今人们反感的，其实是某种特定的风格——酒体厚重、橡木味浓、酒精度高且果味过分浓郁。我也反感这类葡萄酒，而且一直如此。 但这仅仅是赤霞珠的一种风格。这个葡萄品种的潜力远不止于此。当然，与30年前相比，我们现在有了更多的选择，因此降低过去对这些葡萄酒的重视程度是合情合理的。 Get insights into businesses across South-east Asia Get the free report...
Standing Up for Cabernet Sauvignon
Why Tulips Are Popping Up at Wineries Around the World There's a concrete reason for it. Frequent visitors to vineyards are used to seeing roses at the ends of rows, but of late we have also noted tulips …
Standing Up for Cabernet Sauvignon
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Standing Up for Cabernet Sauvignon It’s the most widely planted red grape in the world and the most popular red varietal wine in the U.S., so why has it fallen out of favor? Credit...Luke Wohlgemuth Sept.
12 wines to match that late-summer heat
[NEW YORK] Summer is often thought of as the season of roses and whites. They naturally come to mind because they’re served cold, but it’s a false equation. It’s not the colour of wine that determines its seasonality but the weight. As with tees and tank tops, it’s the lightness of the material that suits wines to the summer heat. People still wear plenty of blacks, greys and dark blues in the summer, but the fabrics are light, linens and cottons rather than heavyweight wools.
These easy-to-prepare drinks are cooling and delicious
The summer party is its own breed, dressed down and relaxed, and summer drinks should take a similarly seasonal approach. Especially for a crowd. The hot-weather aim is to cool, refresh and energize, which means home bartenders, who want to relax themselves, must take care not to overburden drinks with too many ingredients or too much alcohol. Light and easy are the guidelines.
A cold, no-sweat summer drink perfect for a crowd
The summer party is its own breed, dressed down and relaxed, and summer drinks should take a similarly seasonal approach. Especially for a crowd. The hot-weather aim is to cool, refresh and energize, which means home bartenders, who want to relax themselves, must take care not to overburden drinks with too many ingredients or too much alcohol. Light and easy are the guidelines.
Recipe: Kabawa rum punch
PUBLISHED: August 11, 2026 at 10:05 AM MDT Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Eric Asimov, The New York Times The summer party is its own breed, dressed down and relaxed, and summer drinks should take a similarly seasonal approach. Especially for a crowd. The hot-weather aim is to cool, refresh and energize, which means home bartenders, who want to relax themselves, must take care not to overburden drinks with too many ingredients or too much alcohol. Light and easy are the guidelines.
12 Wines to Match That Late-Summer Heat
(The Pour) Summer is often thought of as the season of rosés and whites. They naturally come to mind because they're served cold, but it's a false equation. It's not the color of wine that determines its seasonality but the weight. As with tees and tank tops, it's the lightness of the material that suits wines to the summer heat. People still wear plenty of blacks, grays and dark blues in the summer, but the fabrics are light, linens and cottons rather than heavyweight wools.
12 Wines to Match That Late-Summer Heat
Summer is often thought of as the season of rosés and whites. They naturally come to mind because they’re served cold, but it’s a false equation. It’s not the color of wine that determines its seasonality but the weight. As with tees and tank tops, it’s the lightness of the material that suits wines to the summer heat. People still wear plenty of blacks, grays and dark blues in the summer, but the fabrics are light, linens and cottons rather than heavyweight wools.
12 Wines to Match That Late-Summer Heat
Once dismissed as too cold and remote, Central Otago now commands the global stage, with 81% of its plantings in Pinot Noir. Joelle Thompson explores …
12 Wines to Match That Late-Summer Heat
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Emidio Pepe, maker of prized Abruzzo wines, dies at 94
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Eric Asimov, New York Times Emidio Pepe, an innovative grower and winemaker in the Abruzzo region of Italy whose staunchly traditional viticulture and advocacy for indigenous grapes demonstrated that the area could produce great wines without abandoning time-honored local methods, died July 28 at his home in Torano Nuovo, Italy. He was 94. The death was confirmed by his granddaughter Chiara De Iulis Pepe.
Emidio Pepe, Maker of Prized Abruzzo Wines, Dies at 94
12 hours ago She covered up with nothing but a glass of wine. Emily Ratajkowski certainly knows how to nail a vacation Instagram dump. From dreamy beachside snaps to idyllic bikini selfies, she never fails to make her trips look completely unreal. And her latest post is no different. Taking to Instagram on August …
Emidio Pepe, Maker of Prized Abruzzo Wines, Dies at 94
Emidio Pepe, an innovative grower and winemaker in the Abruzzo region of Italy whose staunchly traditional viticulture and advocacy for indigenous grapes demonstrated that the area could produce great wines without abandoning time-honored local methods, died on July 28 at his home in Torano Nuovo, Italy. He was 94. The death was confirmed by his granddaughter Chiara De Iulis Pepe. Emidio Pepe wines are prized around the world for their ability to age for decades and gain complexity over time.
Cold, No-Sweat Summer Drinks for a Crowd
(The Pour) The summer party is its own breed, dressed down and relaxed, and summer drinks should take a similarly seasonal approach. Especially for a crowd. The hot-weather aim is to cool, refresh and energize, which means home bartenders, who want to relax themselves, must take care not to overburden drinks with too many ingredients or too much alcohol. Light and easy are the guidelines.
Emidio Pepe, Maker of Prized Abruzzo Wines, Dies at 94
Emidio Pepe, an innovative grower and winemaker in the Abruzzo region of Italy whose staunchly traditional viticulture and advocacy for indigenous grapes demonstrated that the area could produce great wines without abandoning time-honored local methods, died July 28 at his home in Torano Nuovo, Italy. He was 94. The death was confirmed by his granddaughter Chiara De Iulis Pepe. Emidio Pepe wines are prized around the world for their ability to age for decades and gain complexity over time.
Kabawa Rum Punch
20 ounces aged Caribbean rum, such as Real McCoy 5-Year from Barbados 10 ounces cane syrup, see Tip 7½ ounces lime juice, preferably fresh squeezed (from about 8 limes) ½ ounce Angostura bitters 15 ounces distilled water Sliced fruit, such as pineapple, orange, pink grapefruit and lime Add ingredients to Grocery List Ingredient Substitution Guide Nutritional Information Nutritional analysis per serving (8 to 10 servings) 27 grams carbs; 239 calories; 1 gram fat; 1 gram fiber; 20 milligrams...
The summer party is its own breed, dressed down and relaxed, and summer drinks should take a similarly seasonal approach. Especially for a crowd. The hot-weather aim is to cool, refresh and energize, which means home bartenders, who want to relax themselves, must take care not to overburden drinks with too many ingredients or too much alcohol. Light and easy are the guidelines.
Cold, No-Sweat Summer Drinks for a Crowd
Wine & Spirits 1 day ago 3 Simple Ways to Elevate Your Martini, According to Bartenders VinePair - Sarah Strong • 1d The Martini is inescapable. From its origins as a gin-based take on the Manhattan to today’s zany, savory iterations, the drink has become a beloved … Wisconsin 2 days ago Milwaukee bar named 2026 Bar of the Year.
David Hirsch, Who Turned Sonoma Coast Into World-Class Wine Region, Dies at 81
Retirement 4 hours ago ‘I have a lot more life here’: She couldn’t afford retirement in the US, so she relocated from California to Portugal CNN - Tamara Hardingham-Gill • 4h Thinking back to her decision to relocate to Portugal on her own five years ago, Paula Dreyfuss jokes that many people questioned her state of mind, as she’d never even visited the European country before. But the mother of two, now based in the coastal city of Porto, famous for its Port wine and …
David Hirsch, Who Turned Sonoma Coast Into World-Class Wine Region, Dies at 81 Original
David Hirsch, who was among the first to grow wine grapes on the windswept, fogbound Sonoma Coast of California, stimulating interest in an area that would become one of America’s great wine-producing regions, died on Tuesday in Santa Rosa, Calif. He was 81. The death, in a hospital, was from respiratory failure, his family said. Mr. Hirsch was not the first to plant grapes on the Sonoma Coast.
These winemakers are starting over. Will the third time be the charm?
[FRANCS, FRANCE] Success often walks a tense tightrope. One misstep can bring it all crashing down. Consider the saga of what used to be known as Southold Farm & Cellar. This small, risk-taking, family-run producer has made wonderful wines in two entirely different places, the North Fork of Long Island and then in Texas. Judging by the wines, Southold should have ensured itself a long run in either place. And yet, after encountering unforeseen obstacles, Southold twice left it all behind.
These Winemakers Are Starting Over. Will the Third Time Be the Charm?
(The Pour) FRANCS, France -- Success often walks a tense tight rope. One misstep can bring it all crashing down. Consider the saga of what used to be known as Southold Farm & Cellar. This small, risk-taking, family-run producer has made wonderful wines in two entirely different places, the North Fork of Long Island and then in Texas. Judging by the wines, Southold should have ensured itself a long run in either place.
These Winemakers Are Starting Over. Will the Third Time Be the Charm?
Drinking 8 hours ago This $25 Bottle Is America’s Best Straight Bourbon, According to the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition FOOD & WINE - David Thomas Tao • 8h The bottled-in-bond whiskey earned 98 points and a coveted Gold Outstanding medal, an honor awarded to just 1.3% of spirits entered this year. The 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition has concluded its North American judging. After final scoring, the top straight bourbon is a Kentucky-only …
These Winemakers Are Starting Over. Will the Third Time Be the Charm?
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. These Winemakers Are Starting Over. Will the Third Time Be the Charm? Facing unanticipated problems, the owners of Southold abandoned Long Island for Texas, and Texas for France. Will success come next? Regan and Carey Meador made great wine in Long Island and Texas but couldn’t make the businesses work. Now they have relocated to Bordeaux.
Have we forgotten wine’s place at the table?
[NEW YORK] Gastronomy is classically defined as the art of eating well. For me, an essential part of eating well is drinking well. Few things improve the pleasure of a meal so much as good wine. A glass by itself can be enjoyable, but a bite and a sip together create beauty in a way that either alone can never achieve. People who love food and wine have long understood this joyous combination. But in some important ways, the connection between food and wine is fading.
Have We Forgotten Wine's Place at the Table?
EDITORS NOTE: ART ADV: With illustration. (The Pour) NEW YORK -- Gastronomy is classically defined as the art of eating well. For me, an essential part of eating well is drinking well. Few things improve the pleasure of a meal so much as good wine. A glass by itself can be enjoyable, but a bite and a sip together create beauty in a way that either alone can never achieve. People who love food and wine have long understood this joyous combination.
Have We Forgotten Wine's Place at the Table?
(The Pour) NEW YORK -- Gastronomy is classically defined as the art of eating well. For me, an essential part of eating well is drinking well. Few things improve the pleasure of a meal so much as good wine. A glass by itself can be enjoyable, but a bite and a sip together create beauty in a way that either alone can never achieve. People who love food and wine have long understood this joyous combination. But in some important ways, the connection between food and wine is fading.
Have We Forgotten Wine’s Place at the Table?
Have We Forgotten Wine’s Place at the Table? Wine has long been considered an essential part of eating well, but its place no longer seems to be with a meal. Credit...Cat O'Neil June 26, 2026, 10:47 a.m. ET Gastronomy is classically defined as the art of eating well. For me, an essential part of eating well is drinking well. Few things improve the pleasure of a meal so much as good wine.
Bordeaux was once the toast of the world. Now, even the locals don’t drink it
[BORDEAUX] The bustling streets in this elegant city are full of casual restaurants and wine bars. Bottles are open on most tables and almost everybody is sipping wine with their meals – not surprising in a world-renowned wine capital. Yet one thing seems odd: Nobody in Bordeaux is drinking bordeaux. On a recent visit this spring, I saw patrons drinking Loire Valley wines.
This Wine Was the Toast of the World. Now Even the Locals Don't Drink It.
(The Pour) BORDEAUX, France -- The bustling streets in this elegant city are full of casual restaurants and wine bars. Bottles are open on most tables and almost everybody is sipping wine with their meals -- not surprising in a world-renowned wine capital. Yet one thing seems odd: Nobody in Bordeaux is drinking Bordeaux. On a recent visit to Bordeaux this spring, I saw patrons drinking Loire Valley wines.
This Wine Was the Toast of the World. Now Even the Locals Don’t Drink It.
This Wine Was the Toast of the World. Now Even the Locals Don’t Drink It. In restaurants and wine bars in Bordeaux, plenty of other wines are open, but few bottles of the local product. Why? It’s complicated. Local wines almost always dominate wine lists in France’s wine regions, but not in Bordeaux.Credit...Philippe Lopez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images June 11, 2026, 2:16 p.m. ET The bustling streets in this elegant city are full of casual restaurants and wine bars.
This Wine Was the Toast of the World. Now Even the Locals Don’t Drink It.
1 day ago Château Lafite Rothschild | Part III: Prince of the Vines | Wine 101 YouTube • 1d In 18th-century Bordeaux, when members of the parliament passed away, their sons would assume the administrative role. As such, after Alexandre de Ségur — member of the Bordeaux parliament and proprietor of the Lafite estate — died in 1716, his son, Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur, inherited both his spot in the government and the land.
This Wine Was the Toast of the World. Now Even the Locals Don’t Drink It.
The bustling streets in this elegant city are full of casual restaurants and wine bars. Bottles are open on most tables and almost everybody is sipping wine with their meals — not surprising in a world-renowned wine capital. Yet one thing seems odd: Nobody in Bordeaux is drinking Bordeaux. On a recent visit to Bordeaux this spring, I saw patrons drinking Loire Valley wines.
20 affordable and joyous wines
These are not necessarily lesser wines Add BT as a preferred source The price of almost everything is rising, including wine. But distinctive, delicious bottles can still be found in the US$15-to-US$20 range. PHOTO: NYTIMES Published Wed, Jun 10, 2026 · 08:16 PM TWENTY dollars doesn’t buy as much petrol as it did last year nor as many tomatoes. Why should wine be different? When the price of almost everything rises, so will the price of wine. It doesn’t all happen at the same rate.
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