Wine Spectator Grand Tour 2026

Wine scores aren’t everything. You can taste every top-scoring wine here and still miss out. As a Certified Sommelier and prior attendee, here is what you cannot skip, and what to look for.

You cannot skip these

• FR-CDV-DEVO06-2022Domaine de la Vougeraie Vougeot White Le Clos Blanc de Vougeot
  Clos Vougeot Blanc is a very rare thing, the appellation is almost always red. Incredibly delicious. You cannot miss this.
• FR-ALS-TRIM16-2017Trimbach Riesling Alsace Frédéric Émile
  An “oh wow” wine the moment you put your nose to it. If you have never smelled petrol in a wine, this is your chance. The only Riesling at the event.
• FR-BLN-LARO01-2023Domaine Laroche Chablis Les Blanchots
  Grand Cru Chablis. Enough said. Do not pass it by.
• IT-CHC-BRIC01-2022Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Gaiole Castello di Brolio Gran Selezione
  Phenomenal red, look for graphite. Young for what it is, and yet exceptional.
• PT-DOU-WINS01-2021Wine & Soul Douro Quinta da Manoella Vinhas Velhas
  A genuinely difficult wine to get your hands on outside Portugal. Evaluate it for yourself.

Good ones, don’t cry if you skip them

• FR-CBO-MAIY12-2022Maison Champy Beaune Aux Cras
  Ought to be special. Maison Champy has brought Grand Crus in prior years.
• ES-RIO-LARA02-2016La Rioja Alta Rioja 904 Gran Reserva
  American oak means it smells of coconut. A classic and testable Rioja with age.
• IT-GRU-NINE10-2020Nino Negri Valtellina Superiore Grumello Sassorosso
  Nebbiolo with a twist, a special kind of wine to show up here. Compare it against the Barolos.
• US-EAH-ZENA01-2018Zena Crown Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills Slope
  Lots of Pinot Noir representation here. Try this and compare against something younger.

Tips

• Try all the Champagnes and the Franciacorta.
• Do not move onto reds until you have had enough of the sparkling, whites, and rosés. You can bounce freely between Champagne and whites, but your palate will be gone once reds start. AU-MCV-MOLY01-2022 (Mollydooker Shiraz McLaren Vale Velvet Glove) is the final boss. You will not taste anything reasonably after it.
• You can reasonably taste 50 wines if you hustle. 20–30 is a great session.
• It is always special to taste older vintages. Sort the wine list by vintage. Standouts, save the fortifieds and Amarone for last:
  AR-MDZ-CTZP18-20062006Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza Nicasia Vineyard 95

  FR-CMP-NIFE01-20082008Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne Palmes d'Or 93

  IT-TRN-FERR01-20122012Ferrari Trento Extra Brut Trento Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 94

  US-NAP-CAYM01-20122012Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 40th Anniversary 91

  ES-RIO-PAGA03-20132013Viñedos de Paganos Rioja El Puntido Gran Reserva 94

  IT-VAP-PASQ04-20132013Pasqua Wines Amarone della Valpolicella Mai Dire Mai 91

  2000Sandeman Vintage Port 93

  2007Croft Vintage Port 92

  2013Principal Bairrada Principal Grande Reserva 92

This is the most complete guide to this event you will find. The format has been seen, the wines have been tasted, and the palate sequencing matters.

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