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Dear Subscriber,
I love great Sauvignon Blanc almost any time of the year, but given the wine’s freshness, it seems especially enticing in Spring. And especially enticing now, when the quality of Sauvignon Blanc (around the entire world) is so high. My Blog this week is on my picks for the top dozen California “Super Sauvignons,” wines that have the stature of the best white Bordeaux. Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll find a juicy Cabernet that’s a steal (it’s our Wine to Know), plus my Wine Clip Video interview with Nicole Marchesi, winemaker of Napa Valley’s Far Niente winery. If you love bread (my hand is up) you’ll want to take the Food Quiz, and the Fascinating Fact is all about an emoji we didn’t know we needed (but do).
—Cheers, Karen
Dear Subscriber,
I love great Sauvignon Blanc almost any time of the year, but given the wine’s freshness, it seems especially enticing in Spring. And especially enticing now, when the quality of Sauvignon Blanc (around the entire world) is so high. My Blog this week is on my picks for the top dozen California “Super Sauvignons,” wines that have the stature of the best white Bordeaux. Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll find a juicy Cabernet that’s a steal (it’s our Wine to Know), plus my Wine Clip Video interview with Nicole Marchesi, winemaker of Napa Valley’s Far Niente winery. If you love bread (my hand is up) you’ll want to take the Food Quiz, and the Fascinating Fact is all about an emoji we didn’t know we needed (but do).
—Cheers, Karen
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If you look up spice in America, it’s quickly apparent that in the US, we love spices. Consumption of spices has skyrocketed in the last couple of decades. So I think we’re ready for this fantastic spicy wine. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
If you look up spice in America, it’s quickly apparent that in the US, we love spices. Consumption of spices has skyrocketed in the last couple of decades. So I think we’re ready for this fantastic spicy wine. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in. 95 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
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A. Philippine de Rothschild
B. Jancis Robinson, MW
C. Nicole (Veuve) Clicquot
D. Robert Mondavi
A. Philippine de Rothschild B. Jancis Robinson, MW C. Nicole (Veuve) Clicquot D. Robert Mondavi
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What the Wine World Can Learn from #PerfumeTok
Guest Blog By Jacqueline Strum Introduction from Karen: Jacki Strum is the President and Publisher of Wine Enthusiast Media. In this guest blog, she makes a fascinating and compelling case for using lessons from the perfume industry to reach young wine...
What the Wine World Can Learn from #PerfumeTok
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“No Safe Amount of Alcohol”? Not So Fast.
For those of us who love wine, recent health headlines feel like a cultural disconnect, not to mention a worrisome attack. Some organizations maintain there is no safe amount of alcohol; at the same time, some studies point to potential health benefits. To help untangle this confusing narrative, Madeline Puckette, the brilliant mind behind Wine Folly, is taking a closer look at the actual data. Puckette’s video is a must-watch because the reality of wine and health is infinitely more nuanced than a scary headline can capture. Take a look.
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0.5
Percentage of grape pomace added to chicken feed that could act as an effective antibiotic, according to a study by Cornell University. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
53k
Approximate number of coffee and tea shops in the US, according to the market research firm Circana and as reported in The New York Times. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
1.3
Approximate amount (in millions of US$) that a single acre of premier cru Chardonnay vines in Burgundy’s Côte-d’Or cost in 2025, according to data from the French agency SAFER. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
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If you’ve ever used the red wine or sparkling wine emojis (and so many of us have), it seems odd that there’s isn’t a white wine emoji. Especially odd now, at least in the US, where white wine consumption has surpassed red. New Zealand (home to lots of zesty white wines) isn’t sitting this one out. As recently reported in the ARENI newsletter (Areni is a wine think-tank), the New Zealand Winegrowers association has decided to tackle the injustice. In April 2026 they officially launched The Great White Wine Toast, a global public campaign demanding the creation of a white wine emoji. Alas, birthing a new emoji is easier said than done. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.
The Great White Wine Emojency
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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.
Disclosure: Some links in this newsletter may be affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I may earn a small commission which is paid by the retailer, at no cost to you.
If you would like to talk with us about partnerships or an Exceptional Events listing in WineSpeed, please contact us here.
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.