“The wine world is expanding rapidly, in diversity and quality—and 2015’s Top 100 list is proof of that,” said Thomas Matthews, Executive Editor, Wine Spectator. “It’s been another impressive year for the globe’s vintners, and our team is excited to share with our readers all the rising stars, excellent values and benchmark bottles from both traditional and emerging regions.”
The winning bottles were selected from a pool of more than 18,000 wines by Wine Spectator editors in the magazine’s independent blind tastings. 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.
For additional details on the Top 100 Wines, please visit www.top100.winespectator.com. Exclusive videos are also available on the site—providing visitors with a peek inside the blind tastings and what goes on behind closed doors as the editors make their selections.
The full list can also be found in Wine Spectator’s special Top 100 issue on newsstands Dec. 1.
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 18,000 wines each year. Parent company M. Shanken Communications also publishes Cigar Aficionado, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and Impact.