Top Wine Wanderings Newsletters – First Half of 2023

Which Wines and Newsletters Were the Most Popular? Where Do Our Subscribers Live?

Jun 20, 2023

Subscribers: 2023 is a fast-moving year. Wine Wanderings was launched in January of 2021. Since that time over 130 newsletters have appeared. Wine Wanderings is read across 42 US States and 45 countries. I am fortunate that my Substack platform collects so many significant statistics. See Wine Wanderings Subscriber Map above.

Thank you for your active interest and comments. Your favorite wines? See which wines were the “most clicked” Recommended Wines. Let me know your new favorites.

New subscribers: Check out the newsletters you may have missed January to June 2023. These are the top “viewed” articles by Wine Wanderings subscribers, and those with significant feedback and comments. See My Favorite Newsletter to Write this half-year.

Top Newsletter Choices for Wine Wanderings Subscribers (Most Views)

“Message in The Bottle- Book Review, Author Tim Gaiser, MS,” April 4, 2023

“’Live’ from the Newly Launched Bourbon Distillery at Bending Branch Winery,” March 28, 2023

“Hosting a Blind Wine Tasting in Your Home – Italian Style,” March 1, 2023

An Italian Blind Tasting in Your Home, Bob and Erin Botsford

3 Wine Wanderings Newsletters with Significant Comments

State Dinner, Bidens and Macrons, Dec. 1, 2022

“Wine and the Presidents: History and Current Dinner Selections,” May 9, 2023

Introduction: The history of wine and the Presidents evolves with each passing decade and administration. Each President and his sommelier have their own preferences when it comes to wine. Since the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, many US Presidents have preferred serving all USA-produced wines. The choice of a bottle for a White House function, especially a State Dinner, carries a particular political significance in many cases. State dinners are intimate affairs with only 120 guests seated. Can you imagine trying to chart the seating arrangements given today’s political maneuverings?

President Biden has hosted several important state dinners since the Pandemic. We’ll look at the France and South Korea state dinners, the latter occurring only last week. This subject is a favorite of mine, so you will see additional newsletters on this topic in the future…..(continue using the link above.)

“Fun article! They need to use some other great wines from around the country though!” – P. A.

“Uruguay: Wine and Travel,” Jan. 17, 2023

Introduction: I am anxious to travel to Uruguay in the next few years for a number of reasons. Its national grape, Tannat, makes one of my favorite bold and full-bodied wines. Its great Atlantic beach location, laid-back culture, viticultural gastronomy, and nature trails signal a wonderful place to explore on a South America tour.

Although the grape Tannat is most famous for being grown in Madiran, in Gascony in Southwest France, it is now being grown in many world wine regions. Tannat is the “National Grape” of Uruguay….(continue using the link above.)

“A really nice write up. I’d love to visit and learn more about Uruguayan wines! I have yet to try a Pais on the white side too.” – D.S.

Bending Branch Winery vista, Comfort, Texas, Linda Spina, Photographer

“Texas Wineries Get Smart: Tourism and TEX-MED Wines,” June 6, 2023

Introduction: With the Texas state population at 29.5 million people and a growing list of fine wineries in the state, several winery trends are happening to attract Texas wine drinkers to the new wave of state-made wines. Texas ranks as the 5th largest state in wine production in the US. Texas makes wine, you say? Of course! Actually, wine has been in Texas since the mission days of the early Spanish explorers in the mid-1600’s when priests made sacramental wine.

Two award-winning Texas wineries are making the most of establishing their tasting rooms near major urban centers like Dallas-Ft. Worth, Austin, and San Antonio. Visit William Chris near Fredericksburg in Hye, Texas, and Eden Hill Vineyard and Winery just north of Dallas in Celina, Texas. Smart locations….(continue using the link above.)

“Great story! One of my Texas favorites is McPherson’s Viognier, which I discovered on a tasting visit to Lubbock.” – L.S.

My Favorite Newsletter to Write

“Napa Valley’s 1881 Wine Museum and Oakville Wine Merchant,” May 23, 2023

Introduction: A trip to Napa Valley is not complete without visiting the 1881 Napa Wine History Museum and Oakville Wine Merchant. The museum and wine merchant is housed in a 150-year-old Victorian House located next to the also historic Oakville Grocery, founded 1881, and was purchased and created in 2019 by Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of the Boisset Collection…. Jean-Charles Boisset is one of my top five interview subjects. He is a wonderful and flamboyant ambassador for Napa, Sonoma, and the French Burgundy wine regions.

Stay tuned for more information on Napa Valley...traveling there in this Fall during “crush.”

Most Popular Wines “Recommended Wines” According to Wine Wanderings Readers ( # Link Clicks)

Rosé wines were recommended in several articles this year, and they were the big subscriber “favorites”. It’s no wonder that the rosé wine category is growing 40% per year according to the The Wine Economist. Other listed wines had significant “clicks to links” as well. These are the top-clicked this half-year.

2022 Chateau Miraval, Cotes de Provence, France, $25 – The Most “clicked” link in 2023 (so far.)

Robert Parker, 90 Points. The original Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie collaboration produced along with the famous Perrin family of winemakers.

2022 Craggy Range Winery Te Muna Road Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, $24

Wine Spectator, 93 Points.

2020 Bending Branch Tannat Frizzante Rosé, Texas High Plains, $25

A slightly sparkling rosé that is fruity and fanciful made from the Tannat grape--beautiful dark salmon colored.

2020 Bodega Garzón Uruguay Reserva Tannat, $17

Wine Enthusiast, 90 Points

Vielle Ferme Rose, France, $7

One of the original great value rosé wines.

2020 Château d’Esclans Rock Angel, Provence, France, $43

Decanter Magazine, 92 Points