Today is World Champagne Day, although god knows, every day is Champagne Day around my house. See this week’s Wine to Know for the happy details. Our Wine Clip Video this week is with Michael Mondavi, an old friend, and someone who has been front and center when it comes to the evolution of the Napa Valley over the past 50 years. I hope you enjoy it. This week’s Deal is from an historic estate in Australia, a country that deserves to be better known for its top Pinot Noirs. I am just back from the country of Georgia (which I will write about soon); this week’s Verbatim by a Georgian vintner captures everything we all believe about wine. And finally, quizzards, just FYI, I had a great time creating this week’s Quiz.
—Oh, and don’t forget the Spotlight, Karen
For World Champagne Day (today), I thought you might like to know my “house” Champagne. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
93 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
A. St Emilion
B. St Estèphe
C. St Joseph
D. St Julien
Water with Steak
My Favorite Videos in Celebration of Come Over October with Michael Mondavi
All this month, I’m featuring interviews I’ve conducted with some of wine’s most compelling people, as we talk about wine’s ability to foster connection, sharing, and friendship.
I have known Michael Mondavi ever since I was a young journalist in New York, trying to break into wine. While his father Robert was always better known, Michael was the driving force behind the success of the Robert Mondavi Winery. Michael has played a key role in the California wine industry for the last half century. His wisdom and experiences show in this special video.
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4.8
The average percentage increase in salary across all positions in the wine industry this year, The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
13
The standard maximum percentage of alcohol percentage (ABV) allowed for Champagne. However, following an unprecedented season of spring frosts,The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
37k
Approximate number of grocery items with large-font protein claims on the front of the item’s packaging, according to The New York Times. There are protein coffees, protein waters, protein chips, protein Mac & Cheese, protein brownie batter balls, even The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
Instantly recognizable by its dark, caramelized crust and soft, custardy center, the canelé is Bordeaux’s iconic pastry. The pastry was born in the 18th century as a “byproduct” of winemaking. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
The Canelé’s Winemaking Roots
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Celebrate International Sommelier Day
Next Wednesday (June 3), we are celebrating International Sommelier Day, a holiday established by a group of passionate sommeliers in Mexico. The day commemorates the founding of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, established on this date in France in 1969 and honors professionals for their expertise in tasting, pairing, and guest service. Show appreciation for your favorite Somm with a 1-year gift subscription to WineSpeed.
* Wines recommended in WineSpeed are based on the editorial tastings and decisions of Karen MacNeil & Company and are not sponsored by the wineries. The price reported is often an average price found online at the time of publication.
All content in WineSpeed is written by Karen MacNeil and her team. No content is generated by AI.
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About Karen
Karen MacNeil—author of The Wine Bible, named as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the Wine Industry, recipient of nearly every major wine award, and considered one of America’s foremost wine teachers—conducts private wine tasting seminars for individuals, groups, and businesses around the world. Among her clients: Audemars Piguet, General Electric, Lexus, Merrill Lynch, University of Notre Dame, and several international law firms. Karen is one of America’s leading wine presenters and gives keynote speeches at industry and consumer conferences worldwide. Karen MacNeil & Company creates one-of-a-kind wine experiences for clients at exclusive wineries in the Napa Valley and other wine regions. Contact Karen here.