Category: Pairings

Pairings

We Asked 15 Sommeliers: Which Expensive Bordeaux Is Worth the Splurge?

Unlike Burgundy, where most of the region’s output is price prohibitive, Bordeaux boasts a vast number of approachable bottles with many falling within the $15 to $30 range. That said, some occasions call for a bank-breaking bottle, and Bordeaux is also well-equipped with expressions that come with three- and four-digit price tags. Bordeaux’s expensive bottles are highly valued for a number of reasons. They come from one of the most

Pairings

The VinePair Podcast: Do Drinks Dupes Make Sense?

Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam and Joanna discuss whether companies that are making obvious dupes of popular drinks are being smart or just trying to cash in on a trend. Can you copy and become more premium? Does it matter if the packaging is nearly identical? Does it matter what part of the drinks space you’re in? Joanna is drinking: Foradori Teroldego Adam is drinking: Martini at Horse Inn

Pairings

Reappearing Act: Why Breweries Are Reviving Beloved Bygone Beer Brands

It was neither hell nor high water that felled 21st Amendment Brewery. Its closure last fall came from a less biblical calamity: overexpansion and underperforming sales. The canned-beer pioneer began in 2000 as a San Francisco brewpub, becoming one of America’s 50 biggest breweries and taking over a San Leandro Kellogg’s factory to produce plenty of Hell or High Watermelon wheat ale. Ambition ran into the pandemic buzzsaw, compounded by

Pairings

7 Grape Varieties to Try if You Love Cabernet Sauvignon

Big, bold, and full of personality, Cabernet Sauvignon rules the world of red wine. From the first swirl, intense aromas of black fruit, cedar, and spice leap from the glass. The wine’s grippy tannins linger along the gums and back of the jaw, creating a full-bodied richness that feels both indulgent and remarkably drinkable. Part of Cabernet Sauvignon’s perennial appeal lies in its ability to age. The thick-skinned grape naturally

Pairings

This Manhattan Riff With a Mexican Twist Swaps Whiskey for El Mexicano Añejo Tequila

For Victor Martinez, great cocktails start with a sense of place. The New York bartender has spent years building drinks that honor classic cocktail traditions while introducing guests to new flavors and perspectives. Much of that inspiration comes from his Mexican heritage, which he frequently explores through agave spirits. “I wanted to create something that felt familiar, but with a Mexican spin,” Martinez says. That approach led to the creation

Pairings

The 15 Best Places to Get a Burger and Martini in New York City Right Now

Grabbing a last-minute bar seat to spontaneously indulge in a juicy burger and a strong Martini might be one of the most quintessential New York City dining experiences. And while the city is filled with great burgers and great Martinis, not every establishment can deliver equal quality on both. Destinations like J.G. Melon might offer one of the city’s most elite burger-eating encounters, but we’re not totally confident that it

Pairings

The VinePair Podcast: Are RTDs Actually a Fad?

Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam and Joanna respond to a listener’s question: Are RTDs actually a fad? Despite emerging in the late 2010s and becoming a significant part of the beverage alcohol industry in the 2020s, is it possible that they don’t have staying power, or have they shown that there’s a significant audience for convenience, flavor, and accessibility? Joanna is reading: The Karaoke Bar Is Finally Taking Cocktails

Pairings

2026 Is Halfway There, and the Beer Industry Is Living on a Prayer

No true Scotsman would drink White Claw, but that didn’t stop the Mark Anthony Brands brand from trying to glom onto the viral tale of the Tartan Army’s unquenchable thirst last month in Boston. Was there a beverage-alcohol brand that didn’t? Boston Beer Company’s (BBC) publicists, perhaps giddy with good fortune after years of pitching into the void, were flogging that story hard the first week of the World Cup.

Pairings

Kroger Announces Wine Expansion at 147 Stores, Adding Tasting Bars and Premium Labels

Kroger is enhancing its wine selection and installing tasting bars at 147 locations nationwide. The Cincinnati-based grocer will also staff the select locations with trained stewards to guide shoppers’ wine browsing experiences. Kroger kicked off the program today in Newport, Ky., as reported by the Cincinnati Business Courier, though it did not specify the additional outposts that will offer the program. The retailer boasts over 2,700 locations in 35 states

Pairings

We Asked 12 Bartenders: Which Tequila Offers the Best Bang for Your Buck? (2026)

There is a reason people love tequila so much: It’s a complex and interesting spirit on its own and it lends itself beautifully to some of the most beloved drinks around. NielsenIQ data puts the Margarita as the most popular cocktail, and the one with the greatest volume sales in the United States in 2025. Due to this enthusiasm, tequila is a mainstay at high-end and dive bars alike, and