The Wine List

This week we talk to Marchese Lodovico Antinori, a winemaker and visionary never bound by tradition. He helped shape the reputation of Tuscany and transformed the global perception of Italian wines. Lodovico, along with his father Nico and brother Piero catapulted the centuries old Antinori family winery into legend. He eventually left the family winery to pursue his own vision. In the late ‘70’s...

This week we talk to Axel Heinz. It’s nice to be in the midst of a legendary career, right where Axel Heinz is! For over 17 years he was the winemaker and Estate Director at Tuscan icons, Ornellaia and Masseto in Bolgheri, Italy. In 2023, he went back to his roots. Axel was born in Germany but grew up, studied and worked in Bordeaux, taking over at Chateau Lascombes, a second growth in Margaux. Wi...

This week we talk to Giusto Occhipinti and his two sons, Paolo and Giovanni.  You can’t talk about thoughtful and natural winemaking in Sicily without a discussion of Giusto’s early influence in the Vittoria region at his COS winery. Paolo and Giovanni grew up around their dad in the vineyards with an understanding and respect of the soil. They followed their father in making wine, but now at thei...

This week we talk to Marco Balsimelli . Marco recently assumed the role of Production Director at two of the world’s most revered and critically acclaimed wines, Ornellaia and Masseto , Super Tuscans on the Bolgheri Coast in Italy. Marco studied oenology and viticulture in Florence and Bordeaux cutting his teeth at Gruaud Larose in St. Julien. He consulted for some of Bordeaux’s most notable Chate...

This week we talk to Alex Moreau . Burgundy does not have to be inaccessible, expensive and confusing. Five generations of Moreau’s have been making wines in Burgundy dating back to 1809. Alex's father, famed winemaker Bernard Moreau took over the family winery in the ‘60’s making reds and mostly stunning white wines in Chassagne Montrachet in the Cote de Beaune. Alex joined his father at Domaine...

The 76 Redo idea came about from winemaker Patrick Cappiello a few years ago during the beginning of tough times for the wine industry and the idea that “people need to support American wine more”. He came up with his vision to recreate the legendary Paris Tasting of 1976, an event that changed modern wine. The 76 Redo started with hundreds upon hundreds of wine submissions, dozens of judges and n...

This week we talk to Vincent Laval, the soulful, thoughtful Proprietor of Champagne Georges Laval in Cumieres, the heart of Champagne. Vincent joined his father Georges in 1991 and has run the Champagne house for three decades since 1996. The Domain has farmed organically since 1971 on 3½ hectares. His limited production, sought after, cult Champagnes are a true reflection of the Champagne terroir...

Our annual Bordeaux show. With the release of the 2023 vintage, we find one of the warmest vintages, with plenty of rain and late season heat, creating uneven vineyard challenges. The wines varied in quality and style but were balanced with moderate alcohol, fresh acidity and more of a mid-weight body. The 2023’s will be readily drinkable and priced fairly, but not to the level of the ’16, ’19, ’2...

Amy Racine started out in the middle, hit both coasts, and settled for the bustle of NYC. She is the Beverage Director and Partner at JF Restaurants , John Fraser's group, including The North Fork Table, La Marchande in the Wall St. Hotel, 701 West at the Times Sq Edition in NY, along with others in those venues. They also have properties in West Hollywood, Tampa and Boston. In addition to all of...

Let me start off by saying Maynard James Keenan is one heavy dude, one who can articulate his heaviness through music and wine. But in the end, he is a funny, creative, kinda light-hearted guy. Born in Ohio, Maynard saw his way through art school, and the United States Army, eventually gravitating to Los Angeles and its music scene. He formed Tool around 1990, A Perfect Circle in 1999 and Puscifer...

Maynard James Keenan is the singer, songwriter and front man for Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer, the critically acclaimed, award-winning and wildly successful bands with true cult followings. He now resides in Arizona where he writes, produces, and owns a winery. Maynard James Keenan is the winemaker at his Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards , yes, in Jerome, Arizona, working over twenty...

This week on The Wine List we talk to Eric Asimov . Eric is the long-time Chief Wine Critic for the New York Times. His column “The Pour” appears online at nytimes.com and also in the print edition. He focuses, of course on the sensorial pleasures of wine, but also with a discussion of wine’s culture, history, social, scientific, and environmental dimensions. It has now become a tradition that Eri...