The Countdown Begins on November 10 at WineSpectator.com
New York, NY—After tasting 18,000 wines from vineyards around the globe, the editors at Wine Spectator are set to release their much-anticipated list of the Top 100 Wines of 2014. The countdown to the unveiling of the full list begins on Monday, November 10 at www.top100.winespectator.com.
Selections are based on four criteria: quality (represented by score), value (reflected by release price), availability (based on the number of cases made or imported into the U.S.) and what Wine Spectator calls the “X-factor”—or, in other words, the excitement generated by the wine.
The Top 100 countdown will be a week-long process. Each day will feature a new unveiling:
- November 10: Wines 10 & 9
- November 11: Wines 8 & 7
- November 12: Wines 6 & 5
- November 13: Wines 4, 3 & 2
- November 14: #1 Wine of the Year
- November 17: Full List of Top 100 Wines of 2014
“As more regions and countries around the world produce fine wine, the selections in the Top 100 are increasingly complex, diverse and stimulating,” said Thomas Matthews, Executive editor, Wine Spectator. “It’s been an exciting challenge to seek out the rising stars, great values and benchmark wines for this year’s list. We hope our readers will enjoy reading about the wines we chose, and will have the opportunity to try both the proven names and the bottles that are off the beaten path.”
A tradition since 1988, The Top 100 Wines reflects significant trends, recognizes outstanding producers, and spotlights successful regions and vintages from all over the world. The list serves as a guide to the top regions, wineries and grapes that should be on your radar in the coming months and years. In addition to being featured online, the full list will be published in Wine Spectator’s December 31 issue, on newsstands December 2.
New this year, website visitors can enter Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Sweepstakes. There will be several winners, with prizes including two tickets to Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour 2015, a two-night stay at Sheraton Hotels & Resort, a picnic luncheon and ATV tour at St. Supéry Vineyards in Napa Valley, and an Illy espresso machine. No purchase is necessary to enter; people simply visit www.top100.winespectator.com and type in their email address and zip code.
All of the wines are reviewed by Wine Spectator editors during the magazine’s independent blind tastings. Plus, an exclusive video at www.top100.winespectator.com provides visitors with a peek inside what goes on behind closed doors as the editors make their selections.
For any questions or to schedule an interview with a Wine Spectator representative, please contact Raquel Hochroth, Raquel@rosengrouppr.com, 212.255.6395.
About Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator is the world’s leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches more than 3 million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the Web’s most comprehensive wine site (WineSpectator.com), mobile platforms, and a series of signature events. Wine Spectator examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wine’s role in contemporary culture and delivering expert reviews of more than 15,000 wines each year. Parent company M. Shanken Communications also publishes Cigar Aficionado, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and Impact.
