2026 Grand Tastings Bring 269 Wineries and 90-Point Wines to New York
Close to 2,000 guests attended 2 evenings of Wine Spectator’s Critics’ Choice Grand Tasting, where 269 wineries presented wines rated at least 90 points.
269 wineries across 2 evenings
On 22 and 23 October 2026, close to 2,000 people attended Wine Spectator’s Critics’ Choice Grand Tasting during the New York Wine Experience. In 2 ballrooms at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, owners and winemakers from 269 wineries poured wines previously awarded at least 90 points by the publication’s tasting team. Gaja was among the participants, and guests also queued for photographs with Angelo Gaja.1
Attendees could discover unfamiliar wines, revisit classics and meet the people behind the labels, while producers could speak with established and prospective customers. With wine sales declining, the event gave vintners an opportunity to present their case that quality and value were improving, as well as to renew professional and personal relationships.1
Véronique Drouhin-Boss, who was pouring Domaine Drouhin Oregon wines, described wine as a bond among people. She said the gathering reaffirmed culture, history, heritage and tradition during a period of change, and highlighted its energy, enthusiasm and reunions among friends.1
Routes through regions, vineyards and vintages
The selection offered several ways to explore. A total of 28 wineries poured Pinot Noir from the United States, ranging from Brewer Clifton in Santa Barbara to Bergstrom in Oregon. Piedmont was represented by 10 leading wineries, including Elvio Cogno, Aldo Conterno, G.D. Vajra and Ratti. Visitors could also focus on To Kalon: 4 California producers—Schrader, Paul Hobbs, Robert Mondavi Winery and To Kalon Vineyard Company—presented wines from the vineyard that Wine Spectator describes as the best-known in the United States.1
Another route was vintage: 29 wines from 2016 allowed visitors to assess about 10 years of development. The named examples were Harlan Estate Napa Valley 2016 (97 points); Antinori Toscana Tignanello 2016 (97); Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram Blancs North Coast 2016 (95); Fontodi Flaccianello 2016 (97); Vega Sicilia Unico 2016 (97); Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2016 (97); and Château Haut-Brion 2016 (98).1
The older selections included Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley 1999 (95 points), Dow’s Vintage Port 1994 (97) and Sandeman 50-Year-Old Tawny Port (96).1
New guests and returning attendees
Wine Spectator introduced a discounted Young Connoisseurs ticket for guests aged 21–35. John Conover, managing partner of California’s PlumpJack Group, supported the initiative after meeting several groups of young tasters whom he found intensely interested in wine. Erick Orozco Santamaria, a manager of hotel beverage programs in Costa Rica who was attending for the 1st time, called the experience exceptional and said he would return.1
For veteran attendees, the event combined a wine tasting with the atmosphere of a reunion. Washington winemaker Bob Betz said his affection for the Wine Experience kept bringing him back. Separately, he assessed the wines poured in 2026 as being at a higher level than before, although he could not determine whether that impression resulted from the vintages or the wines themselves.1
Bernie Gluckstein of Toronto, aged 90, was outside the 21–35 range for the Young Connoisseurs ticket. He has attended the Wine Experience for more than 4 decades without missing an edition during the event’s 45-year history, a period he described as 1/2 of his life.1
Sources
Written by the Dionysus editors from the sources above.