If you’ve been doomscrolling the “wine is over” headlines, you’d have been pleasantly humbled by the line snaking through Times Square on Oct. 16. The New York Marriott Marquis threw open its ballroom doors for Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience, and more than 265 wines (all 90 points or higher) were ready to meet the people. Translation: wine might have a sales wobble, but the passion is still ripping.
Mitch Frank’s reporting for Wine Spectator frames the energy perfectly. The Critic’s Choice Grand Tasting brought winemakers, owners, sommeliers and consumers shoulder-to-shoulder—literally—around tables loaded with the good stuff. Some attendees arrived with color-coded maps and score spreadsheets; others went full “surf the vibe” mode, letting serendipity decide the next pour. Honestly, you couldn’t go wrong.
Start with bubbles? The lineup read like a who’s-who: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2013 and Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 2014 for classic Champagne power; Italy answered with Franciacorta from Bellavista and Ca’ del Bosco. If you’re the kind who likes your celebration to last as long as a perfect set, this was your wave.
White wine lovers had a masterclass opportunity. California vs. Burgundy, right there in the glass: Mark Aubert pouring his Sonoma Coast CIX Chardonnay 2023 (98) next to Maison Louis Jadot’s Corton-Charlemagne 2022 (95). Same grape, different accents—like two surfers reading the same break with totally different styles. Throw in Italy’s Gorgona, Spain’s Godello, New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc, and even Carmelo Anthony’s white Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a little NBA crossover swagger. Not mad at that.
The reds were a flex. California brought Arista’s Russian River Pinot, Brewer-Clifton’s Machado Pinot (classic-scoring and buzzing), and Schrader’s Oakville Cabernet that made a lot of eyes widen. If you wanted to taste the 2024 Wine of the Year without camping in a seminar, Enrique Tirado poured Viña Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 in person—rockstar move.
Italy showed up deep: Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto 2019, Sassicaia 2020, Gaja’s Barbaresco royalty, plus Barolo that taught patience a lesson. This was the kind of lineup that would make a Nebbiolo nerd forget about dinner (don’t; hydration and snacks are your friends).
Beyond the labels, the connective tissue was people. One of the coolest aspects of the Grand Tasting is the face behind the bottle: winemakers, owners, principals—folks who can tell you why that hillside throws shade like a critic and why the clone selection matters. As Frank reports, the room felt like a reunion and a discovery all at once. And the quotes tell the story:
“Everyone is here,” said Meghan Zobeck (via Wine Spectator, Mitch Frank).
“Whenever I get around Riesling, I do a little dance,” said Prince Robert of Luxembourg (via Wine Spectator, Mitch Frank).
That vibe—connection, celebration, curiosity—was everywhere. Chef José Andrés hugging Carmelo Anthony before pouring Melo’s wine for guests? That’s the kind of spontaneous joy that makes big tastings feel less like trade shows and more like a festival for adults who can pronounce “terroir.”
So how do you tackle a room like this without losing the plot?
- Pick a starting theme: bubbles, Chardonnay, or a regional sprint (Barolo brigade, Bordeaux blitz).
- Alternate styles: high-acid whites between big reds to reset the palate.
- Ask questions at the table: the human stories make the wine stick.
- Spit sometimes—it’s not sacrilege, it’s strategy.
- Hydrate, snack, and wear shoes you’d stand in for a concert.
My favorite takeaway: amid the noise about shifting categories and younger drinkers going hard on other beverages, the New York Wine Experience proves wine isn’t just liquid; it’s a language. This grand tasting wasn’t a nostalgia act—it was forward-looking, with producers comparing notes, consumers discovering new regions, and everyone remembering why we show up: to taste, to learn, and to be together.
Call it the power of a great communal table. Or, as Frank’s piece captures, the simple truth that wine is a bridge—between regions, styles, and people. Headlines come and go, but a room full of 95-point bottles and grinning strangers? That’s the kind of signal you can trust.
Original reporting by Mitch Frank for Wine Spectator.
