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Posts in Wine

The Hidden (Affordable!) Gems of Burgundy

The Hidden (Affordable!) Gems of Burgundy

AS PUBLISHED BY FOOD & WINE

There's no gentle way to put this: Burgundy has become ridiculously expensive. By now, many menu-building sommeliers have written the entire region off, trading in their exorbitantly priced red Burgundy for Oregonian Pinot or even (yes, Gamay-based) Cru Beaujolais. And when shopping for Chardonnay, why should we sell our organs on the underground market to afford the best of the Old World when California is trading in its buttery new oak for leaner, more elegant wines at a fraction of the cost of white Burgundy? Well, don't abandon Burgundy just yet — you only need to know where to look.

WineEthan FixellNovember 5, 2026Wine, Burgundy

English Sparkling Magnums Are the New Dinner Table Flex

English Sparkling Magnums Are the New Dinner Table Flex

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

From buttery lobster rolls to marbled steak, English sparkling wine in magnum delivers bright acidity, layered complexity, and enough to go around.

WineEthan FixellOctober 9, 2026Wine, Wine Trends, Wine Advice

I Studied Wine for 12 Weeks. It Taught Me the Skills AI Can’t Replace

I Studied Wine for 12 Weeks. It Taught Me the Skills AI Can’t Replace

AS PUBLISHED BY INC.

I recently spent a concerning amount of my weekends agonizing over the sensory effects of malolactic fermentation and the strict mark allocations required to correctly identify the subregions of the Loire.

WineEthan FixellAugust 13, 2026Wine, Executive Advice, WSET

Beyond Barolo

Beyond Barolo

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

Piedmont may be famous for cellar-worthy reds, but its everyday wines are made for the way Americans eat now.

WineEthan FixellJuly 21, 2026Wine, Wine Trends, Wine Advice

The Smart Money Guide to National Wine Day

The Smart Money Guide to National Wine Day

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

Five undervalued American bottles that deliver world-class complexity, terroir, and elegance for $50 or less.

WineEthan FixellMay 27, 2026Wine, Wine Trends, Wine Advice

Wine Trends That Will Define 2026

Wine Trends That Will Define 2026

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

Last year, I gazed into my crystal wine glass and made a few bold predictions about the state of the wine world in 2025. Now, The Great Fixellini is back to predict the inevitable wine truths of 2026 for S. Pellegrino's Fine Dining Lovers!

WineEthan FixellJanuary 6, 2026Wine, Wine Trends, Predictions

Champagne Taste, Smart Budget: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Affordable Sparkling Wine

Champagne Taste, Smart Budget: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Affordable Sparkling Wine

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

Skip the splurge without sacrificing the sparkle. These traditional-method wines from Italy, Spain, the U.S., and France deliver Champagne-level finesse for a fraction of the price.

WineEthan FixellNovember 13, 2025Wine, Wine Advice, Champagne

How to Upgrade Your Mom’s Wine Game This Mother’s Day

How to Upgrade Your Mom’s Wine Game This Mother’s Day

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

A good bottle of wine not only says, "I appreciate you, Mom,” but also, "Let's share something delicious together." It speaks volumes more than flowers or a scented candle ever can, and allows for you to share more meaningful moments beyond the holiday. If your mother’s wine rack looks like the discount bin at a 7-11, Mother’s Day is your opportunity to do something truly special for your Most Important Person.

WineEthan FixellMay 10, 2025Wine, Shopping, Wine Advice

Decoding the Digital Vine: How to Shop for Wine Online Like A Pro

Decoding the Digital Vine: How to Shop for Wine Online Like A Pro

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

With a little general knowledge and a few insider tips, you, too, can confidently curate your virtual cart and discover some truly exceptional bottles on your own—and without breaking the bank, too. All it takes a quick study of the blueprint for the ecosystem that is the knotty digital vine—one I’ve laid out for you, my friends, below. (As they say, "Teach a man to fish"…)

WineEthan FixellMarch 12, 2025Wine, Shopping, Wine Advice

Sipping Into the Future: Wine Trends That Will Define 2025

Sipping Into the Future: Wine Trends That Will Define 2025

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

Gather 'round, ye thirsty masses, for 'tis I: The Great Fixellini, emerging from a wine-induced slumber to bestow upon you my divine prophecies! Gaze into my crystal wine glass and peer into the swirling mists of wine future, as I uncork this year's inevitable wine truths for S. Pellegrino's "Fine Dining Lovers."

WineEthan FixellJanuary 23, 2025Wine, Wine Trends, Predictions

From Hops to Grapes: Wines a Beer Nerd Can Bring to the Party

From Hops to Grapes: Wines a Beer Nerd Can Bring to the Party

AS PUBLISHED BY CASKET BEER

Having trouble navigating the world of wine as a beer lover? Fear not — I am here to bridge the gap, pairing six popular, accessible beers with equally approachable wines. Learn what to grab for your next party without breaking the bank (or your palate)!

WineEthan FixellJanuary 17, 2025Wine, Beer Advice

We Had Maynard James Keenan Judge Two Master Sommeliers' Pairings of His Wines

We Had Maynard James Keenan Judge Two Master Sommeliers' Pairings of His Wines

AS PUBLISHED BY VICE

I’ve taken Maynard James Keenan to New York’s downtown restaurant Manhatta, where two Master Sommeliers have built a musical meal around his wines. To help us all get a better understanding of Keenan’s work, Chef Jason Pfeifer and John Ragan—Wine Director for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group in New York City—have paired unique dishes with five of Caduceus Cellars’ cuvees. Meanwhile, Andy Myers—Wine Director for José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup in Washington DC, and a well-versed metalhead and musician himself—has curated a soundtrack for each course. Best of all, Keenan will have the chance to play critic for once in his over-scrutinized life, giving feedback on every pairing.

Wine, MusicEthan FixellDecember 21, 2018Munchies, Tool, Maynard James Keenan

4 Must-Visit Winemakers of Barolo and Barbaresco

4 Must-Visit Winemakers of Barolo and Barbaresco

AS PUBLISHED BY FOOD & WINE

Fickle Nebbiolo is perfect for expressing subtle differences in terroir—especially in the Langhe subregion of Piedmont, where soils and microclimates can differ greatly within a few footsteps. In fact, as in Burgundy, a single Langhe plot might be divided up amongst multiple vineyards. Thus, growing the grape in Barbaresco or Barolo will produce very different wines—even though the two famous DOCGs are only fifteen miles apart.

These four wineries not only represent some of the best Piedmont has to offer—they also help illustrate the greatest differences between Barolo and Barbaresco, and the range of unique qualities one can find within each.

WineEthan FixellNovember 9, 2018Food & Wine, Barolo, Barbaresco, Italy

Five Wine Regions Producing America’s Finest Ciders

Five Wine Regions Producing America’s Finest Ciders

AS PUBLISHED BY WINE ENTHUSIAST

As it happens, some of the most noteworthy cider in the United States comes from its greatest wine regions.

“Not every plot of land in a famous wine-growing appellation is perfectly suited to grapes,” says Dustin Wilson, master sommelier and co-founder of Verve Wine. “Often, you’ll see other types of plants in areas that might not be as well-suited for quality grape growing.”

Here are five cider makers from the nation’s greatest wine regions.

Cider, WineEthan FixellSeptember 19, 2018Cider, Wine Enthusiast

This Is the Delicious, Super-Cheap Wine You Need This Summer

This Is the Delicious, Super-Cheap Wine You Need This Summer

AS PUBLISHED BY THRILLIST

Can we be honest with each other? Is this a safe space? We know that you like your off-dry Yellowtail Riesling or sweet Barefoot Moscato — but what you really like is spending $8 or less for a bottle of easy-drinking white wine. Did you know that for just a few bucks more, you can upgrade your experience twentyfold? Meet Torrontés: the aromatic Argentinian grape variety capable of producing the ultimate summer sipping wine.

WineEthan FixellJuly 2, 2018Thrillist, Torrontes, Cheap Wine, Argentina