Category: Pairings

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

How do you follow up a project like Gus’ Sip & Dip, which earned almost every coveted bar award there is in its first year? You go super classic with tuxedo-clad bartenders, exceptional hospitality, and, of course, top-notch drinks. At Kitty’s Cosmopolitan Club in Chicago, the team, led by partner and beverage director Kevin Beary, is also taking the trendy Freezer Martini to the next level with a custom-built cold

What does it mean to be the best-selling spirits category in a world where people are supposedly drinking fewer spirits? Indeed, vodka sales, like all spirits sales, were down in 2025. And yet, vodka remains the country’s best-selling spirits category, moving some $7 billion in bottles, according to the Distilled Spirits Council, who once called it the “backbone” of the industry due to it accounting for around 30 percent of

2026 is a testing time for dive bars. As rent and operational costs tick upward, the time-tested watering holes are dwindling in number, and the niche drinks they serve could be in jeopardy, too — like the Colorado Bulldog. The drink grew in popularity among the dive bar cognoscenti in the 1990s and early 2000s, according to Phoenix-based bartender Aaron Defeo. But now, he says, the Colorado Bulldog is a