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The essential guide for wine professionals.

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What's it take to become Wine Director at spot as awesome as @borgonyc in New York City?

In our October/November 2026 issue, @winedinewanda talks with Lee Campbell, Borgo's wine pro and who earlier this year became just the
second-ever recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service.

Check out Campbell's insights and backstory in the digital edition. by @sommjournal

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17 hours ago

Many of you reading this will know of @rexpickett of Sideways fame. And many of you would understandably assume that Pickett, given his well-known love of all things Pinot Noir, would have traveled to Burgundy many, many times.

And you'd be wrong.

Pickett had never been to Burgundy's golden slopes until just last year. Writes Pickett in our October/November 2026 issue, in retrospect about his journey from the Côte de Nuits to the Côte-d’Or: "No matter how much time you spend there, you will never be able to wholly understand its inscrutabilities and its glories. Every new vintage brings another layer of mystery, and that’s what makes its wine so endlessly captivating."

Read more about his transformative trip in the digital edition. by @sommjournal

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3 days ago

"As the winery celebrates its 150th an-
niversary, it’s worth remembering that
although Beringer is California’s oldest
continuously operating winery and a
foundational name in Napa Valley, some of its most consequential vineyard investments were made just beyond the county line in that Sonoma appellation. Today, its holdings there help make Beringer the region’s defining grower and steward."

Our October/November `26 issue is here, and in the First Press column @jcristaldi dives into the story of @beringervyds (currently celebrating its 150th year).

This isn't the traditional Napa-focused take on the iconic producer, however - in this issue, we're exploring Beringer's deep ties to Sonoma's Knights Valley.

Full story in the digital edition! by @sommjournal

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10 days ago

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15 days ago

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18 days ago

Another highlight from the August/September issue: our recap of a SommCon DC panel (moderated by SOMM Journal senior wine and beer editor Jessie Birschbach) exploring the notion of how we identify and taste terroir in fine wines.

On deck were fantastic selections from @quattrotheorywines @ironstonevineyards @frankfamilyvineyards @asonecruwines @silverado_vineyards @giovannirossowinery and @cavelugny

Details in the digital edition! by @sommjournal

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24 days ago

"For the trade, dry farming is worth understanding not only as a water conservation strategy but for its ability to influence how vines grow, how vineyards respond to drought, and how wines express a sense of place."

Think you know all there is to know about dry farmed vineyards? Think again.

In our August/September 2026 issue, Lisa Francioni pens the "The Inside Sip on California Wine" column, providing a Dry Farming 101 mini-masterclass. Details in the digital edition! by @sommjournal

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a month ago

Our August/September 2026 Sommelier Spotlight takes us to Crested Brutte, CO, where Joel Grill leads the wine service at @soupcon_crestedbutte

Grill rarely stocks more than six bottles of any single wine at Soupçon, resulting in a varied and fluid list that’s reprinted almost daily. Find out how he does it in our digital edition. by @sommjournal

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a month ago

"The big issue with American brands has always been the compulsion to produce wines that adhere to a house style. Though most Oregon producers are no different, there is a positive movement afoot... At long last, there is such a thing as American Chardonnay made with restraint and a sense of place..."

In our August/September Bottom Line column, industry veteran @randycaparoso.wineauthor explores the incredible Chardonnays of Oregon's @bergstromwines

Is Bergström ushering in a new era of premium American Chardonnay? Find out in the digital edition. by @sommjournal

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a month ago

Cab Franc fans will want to check out the digital edition of our August/September 2026 issue, stat.

"The idea of a signature variety has obvious marketing appeal: It’s easy for consumers to grasp. No wonder, then, that producers in some lesser-known regions are making concerted efforts to create such identifications in our minds."

In his Wine Line column, @dmwine discusses the pros and cons of wine regions hanging their hats on making Cab Franc their signature red wine variety, most notably in NY's @fingerlakes.wine and CA's @livermorevalleywine by @sommjournal

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a month ago

Does your beverage program offer guests wines from spots like Cahors or the Côtes du Lot? If not, you might want to rethink that stance.

In our Aug/Sept 2026 issue, columnist @erik4wine expounds on the virtues of wines from these under-appreciated SUd-Ouset French regions, which are punching way above their price weight-class:

"The broader Côtes du Lot region opens the stylistic gates. It has, pun intended, a lot to offer, from sparkling, white, and rosé wines to non-Malbec-based reds. The only thing that isn’t a lot is their price."

Read more in our current digital edition! by @sommjournal

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2 months ago

Sauvignac, Souvignier Gris,
Muscaris, Cabernet Blanc, Solaris, Regent, Satin Noir...

You've likely head little about these grape varieties, but according to @deborahparkerwong they might just be the future of fine wine in Germany. These disease-resistant hybrid grape cultivars (DRHGCs) are already being used to craft delicious, unique wines.

Read all of the details in the Scents & Accountability column in our August/September 2026 digital edition! by @sommjournal

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2 months ago