The Winning Wines of 2016
Dec. 27, 2016
With the close of 2016, it’s common to reflect on the “bests” of the year: best songs of 2016, best new restaurants, best movies – the list goes on. It’s no different in the world of wine, with numerous elite publications recently proclaiming their top wine picks of 2016.
Wine can be intimidating at times given that there are so many regions and varietals. With a seemingly endless assortment of wine available to purchase, choosing the perfect bottle can often be overwhelming to consumers. That’s why many consumers look to acclaimed experts to help them navigate this colossal world of wine.
Wine publications curate lists throughout the year ranging from more general groupings like “Best Buys” to more tailored or themed lists such as “The 12 Wines of Christmas." Two of the most anticipated lists, however, are the Top 100 lists from renowned wine magazines Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast.
How do these publications determine their top picks? Learn more about the magazines and how they curated their lists of standout wines.
Top 100s of 2016
Wine Enthusiast
The Magazine: Wine Enthusiast’s mission is to “taste, enjoy and communicate [their] love of the best wines, spirits and food in the world to readers in a fresh and accessible way.” In addition to thousands of tastings and reviews, Wine Enthusiast’s editors also write articles on a variety of wine-related topics ranging from how to taste wine to highlighting the various wine regions to visit and where to stay.
The List: After tasting more than 22,000 wines in 2016, Wine Enthusiast editors chose their top 100 standout wines for the “Enthusiast 100 of 2016.” The selections span 15 countries and all styles, and are great quality-to-price ratios, with an average of 94 points and $36 per bottle. Additionally, Wine Enthusiast made sure that each wine on its list was attainable. The list presents the name of the wine, its score, the region and price. Each wine is linked to a separate page that goes into more detail about the selection, including a short description, the supplier, the appellation and a short bio on the editor who reviewed the wine.
Wine Spectator
The Magazine: Wine Spectator is a widely-known, reputable magazine that focuses primarily on wine tastings and reviews. The magazine’s editors review more than 15,000 wines each year in blind taste tests. Each magazine issue boasts anywhere from 400 to 1,000 wine reviews highlighting tasting notes, drink recommendations, analyses and scores based on the magazine’s 100-point scale.
The List: With 12 months and more than 15,000 wines to sort through, Wine Spectator’s editors chiseled down a list to create a “Top 100 of 2016.” According to the publication, their editors and critics base their decisions on quality, value, availability and excitement. The list includes each wine numbered by rank, along with its vintage, score, price and a brief description from a Wine Spectator editor.
2016 American Winery of the Year
In addition to wine lists, Wine Enthusiast also hosts the annual Wine Awards, honoring individuals and companies that made outstanding achievements in the wine and beverage world over the past year. This year, Bonterra Organic Vineyards won Wine Enthusiast’s American Winery of the Year.
Bonterra is the country’s leading producer of organically farmed wine, using one-third the sulfur of conventional wines. The winery has been at the forefront of organic farming in the U.S. for 20 years and is fully committed to employing biodynamic practices.
With such high praise and rankings, it’s doubtful these winning wines will sit on the shelves for long. Make sure you’re well stocked on 2016’s top wines that consumers are looking to try now.
Talk to your Breakthru Sales Consultant today about our portfolio of award-winning wines.