After two years of lockdowns and losses, social distancing and swabbing before showing up, 2022 was a year of growing optimism as many did their best to embrace a post-pandemic ‘new normal.’ Although COVID-19 continues to circulate, many people are again enjoying the pleasures of being together, preferably around a table with good friends and family—and, of course, great food and wine.
Even though many restaurants closed during the pandemic, those that survived or recently opened are seeing diners eager to return to old favorites and explore new arrivals, especially establishments with a track record for vinous excellence among our Restaurant Award winners. Wine drinkers are feeling adventurous; they’re keen to explore new regions and overlooked bottlings, especially if they offer tremendous value, even as they resume travel to beloved destinations, Italy chief among them. Despite all this, people remain attached to the comforts of their favorite grape varieties and a hearty meal at home, always looking for good buys among new releases and fresh twists on go-to recipes. All told, 2022 was a year of people coming back together after too long apart—a worthy reason to raise a glass and be thankful.
Here are the most-read WineSpectator.com feature articles and tasting reports published in 2022.
With wine providing a virtual way to experience new places until traveling was appealing again, wine drinkers have been eager to explore unknown, overlooked and out-of-the-way regions, styles and grape varieties. We asked 11 top somms about their favorite wines that have unjustly fallen out of fashion. From Madeira and Vintage Port to Chenin Blanc and even Chianti, these unsung wines are poised for the spotlight and offer tremendous drinking pleasure—and, in many cases, great value.
As dining out and entertaining larger groups at home came back into full swing, readers also turned to sommeliers for advice on the most versatile wines for pairing with a variety of dishes. Wine pros divulged their horror stories of guests behaving badly—good reminders of what not to do in any restaurant—and gave readers ideas for crowd-pleasing bottles to uncork at the Thanksgiving table.
With most travel restrictions lifted, people are taking trips they could only dream of at the height of the pandemic. For many wine lovers, Italy remains a top destination, with the call of la dolce vita bringing millions of visitors to the country to explore its rich art and history, thriving wine and food culture, stunning scenery and more. In the cover story of our April 30, 2022, issue, we rounded up “101 Things We Love About Italy,” including top restaurants and bars in Tuscany, Piedmont, Sicily and beyond.