AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

Last year, I gazed into my crystal wine glass and made a few bold predictions about the state of the wine world in 2025. Now, The Great Fixellini is back to predict the inevitable wine truths of 2026 for S. Pellegrino's Fine Dining Lovers!

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

Skip the splurge without sacrificing the sparkle. These traditional-method wines from Italy, Spain, the U.S., and France deliver Champagne-level finesse for a fraction of the price.

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

A good bottle of wine not only says, "I appreciate you, Mom,” but also, "Let's share something delicious together." It speaks volumes more than flowers or a scented candle ever can, and allows for you to share more meaningful moments beyond the holiday. If your mother’s wine rack looks like the discount bin at a 7-11, Mother’s Day is your opportunity to do something truly special for your Most Important Person.

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

With a little general knowledge and a few insider tips, you, too, can confidently curate your virtual cart and discover some truly exceptional bottles on your own—and without breaking the bank, too. All it takes a quick study of the blueprint for the ecosystem that is the knotty digital vine—one I’ve laid out for you, my friends, below. (As they say, "Teach a man to fish"…) 

AS PUBLISHED BY FINE DINING LOVERS

Gather 'round, ye thirsty masses, for 'tis I: The Great Fixellini, emerging from a wine-induced slumber to bestow upon you my divine prophecies! Gaze into my crystal wine glass and peer into the swirling mists of wine future, as I uncork this year's inevitable wine truths for S. Pellegrino's "Fine Dining Lovers."

AS PUBLISHED BY CASKET BEER

Having trouble navigating the world of wine as a beer lover? Fear not — I am here to bridge the gap, pairing six popular, accessible beers with equally approachable wines. Learn what to grab for your next party without breaking the bank (or your palate)!

AS PUBLISHED BY VICE

I’ve taken Maynard James Keenan to New York’s downtown restaurant Manhatta, where two Master Sommeliers have built a musical meal around his wines. To help us all get a better understanding of Keenan’s work, Chef Jason Pfeifer and John Ragan—Wine Director for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group in New York City—have paired unique dishes with five of Caduceus Cellars’ cuvees. Meanwhile, Andy Myers—Wine Director for José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup in Washington DC, and a well-versed metalhead and musician himself—has curated a soundtrack for each course. Best of all, Keenan will have the chance to play critic for once in his over-scrutinized life, giving feedback on every pairing.

AS PUBLISHED BY FOOD & WINE

Fickle Nebbiolo is perfect for expressing subtle differences in terroir—especially in the Langhe subregion of Piedmont, where soils and microclimates can differ greatly within a few footsteps. In fact, as in Burgundy, a single Langhe plot might be divided up amongst multiple vineyards. Thus, growing the grape in Barbaresco or Barolo will produce very different wines—even though the two famous DOCGs are only fifteen miles apart.

These four wineries not only represent some of the best Piedmont has to offer—they also help illustrate the greatest differences between Barolo and Barbaresco, and the range of unique qualities one can find within each.

AS PUBLISHED BY WINE ENTHUSIAST

As it happens, some of the most noteworthy cider in the United States comes from its greatest wine regions.

“Not every plot of land in a famous wine-growing appellation is perfectly suited to grapes,” says Dustin Wilson, master sommelier and co-founder of Verve Wine. “Often, you’ll see other types of plants in areas that might not be as well-suited for quality grape growing.”

Here are five cider makers from the nation’s greatest wine regions.

AS PUBLISHED BY THRILLIST

Can we be honest with each other? Is this a safe space? We know that you like your off-dry Yellowtail Riesling or sweet Barefoot Moscato — but what you really like is spending $8 or less for a bottle of easy-drinking white wine. Did you know that for just a few bucks more, you can upgrade your experience twentyfold? Meet Torrontés: the aromatic Argentinian grape variety capable of producing the ultimate summer sipping wine.

AS PUBLISHED BY MR. PORTER

My propensity for wine snobbery is normally high. But when it comes to summer drinking, we should be looking for two things: drinkability and value. Summer wine ought to be easy. It should be refreshing, ready to drink and, most of all, affordable. Here are five of the best inexpensive yet individual wines that will deliver the most quality for the least amount of money this summer.

AS PUBLISHED BY TASTING TABLE

Convinced he could open my eyes to a new frontier of American wine, Josh Niernberg, chef and owner of Bin 707 Foodbar in Grand Junction, Colorado, sent me a box of vinos from his home state. And after crushing each unique bottle, I said to myself again and again, “Hot damn—this is from . . . Colorado?”

As Published By Beverage Media

Burdened by its reputation as a polarized region—one producing nothing but unaffordable Classified Growths or cheap, generic blends—Bordeaux has seen better centuries. But the tides are undeniably shifting. Thanks to a wave of younger, globally conscious winemakers, the rise of smaller appellations, and expanding consumer tastes, Bordeaux has more to offer Americans today than ever before.

As published by Food & Wine

We all want to drink like we’ve got Zuckerberg money. But the truth is, expensive wine doesn’t even taste as good as we think it does. According to science, we should be paying less attention to the price of each bottle, and more attention to what’s on the label. Fortunately, your friendly neighborhood Master Sommelier not only knows how to read a wine label—he or she can tell the difference between good stuff and total plonk. And as the guy or gal buying wine for your favorite restaurant or retail store, an M.S. also knows a thing or two about value. So I’ve asked four well-respected Master Somms from around the country to target some of the best wine steals in the seven most prestigious wine regions of France.

As published by Food & Wine

While Burgundy gets most of its notoriety—both in price and quality—from its Premier Cru and Grand Cru classified wines, these bottles only make up a combined total of less than 20 percent of the region’s output. The real value can be found in Village wine (about 36 percent of all production), which is less refined than cru wine made from grapes grown on specifically designated plots of land, but generally more complex than regional Bourgogne (about half of all production). Of course, you can’t just pick any old village at random, as some present a very inconsistent range of quality. But a few appellations in particular reliably offer excellent wines that won’t require you to declare bankruptcy on your way home from shopping. Here's what you need to seek out, from north to south.

AS PUBLISHED BY KERRANG!

Metallica’s new whiskey is crafted by spirits legend Dave Pickerell (former master distiller for both Makers Mark and Whistle Pig who, sadly, only very recently passed away), and blasted with “black noise” via Metallica’s music while aging in black brandy barrels. The obvious musical accompaniment to drinking such a dram is, of course, a Metallica album – but which one?

Storied spirits journalist Ethan Fixell and tipsy Metallica fanboy Chris Krovatin sat down together and created a comprehensive pairing of Blackened drinks and Metallica albums.

As published by Food & Wine

I fell in love with Cognac not only for its similarities to barrel-aged whiskey, but also for the importance its provenance contributes to its identity. It’s a craft product that can be imitated, but not replicated anywhere else in the world. If you’re as intrigued as I was, check out the following tips – and product suggestions – for enjoying your Cognac like a well-informed pro.

As published by Quartz

David Stewart, The Balvenie’s master of malt, and the longest-serving master blender in the Scotch industry, claims that roughly 70% of whisky flavor comes from wood. Over the last half of a century, he has discovered, through trial and error, just how different types of oak containers can drastically shape the profile of a whisky. Now, Stewart is taking all that he has learned—and distilled—over the years to create some of the highest quality, rarest Scotch ever produced. And while the drams can be described in myriad ways, “affordable” isn’t one of them.

As published by Supercall

As a cocktail lover in a steakhouse town (New York City), I’m often wracked with doubt when deciding which blended, stirred or shaken concoction to order with a beef-based meal. As I know there are others with the same problem, I convinced five friends of mine to accompany me to five different Manhattan steakhouses to determine the ultimate cocktail for pairing with steak. Classics, modern twists and experimental inventions were all fair game―so long as the liquid contender was high in alcohol and had the potential to taste wonderful alongside a Flintstones-sized slab of charbroiled cow. This was my journey—kidneys and liver be damned.

As published by Quartz

Thirty minutes outside of Park City, Utah, High West Distillery’s brand new 25,000-square-foot compound sits amidst vast stretches of open wilderness and magnificent mountain views. Blending modern and rustic aesthetics, the stunning construction set on a 3,500-acre luxury cattle ranch called Blue Sky Utah is any whiskey distiller’s dream-come-true. And yet, the apparent irony of this gorgeous new state-of-the-art facility–complete with a built-to-order Scottish Forsythe Copper pot still–is that High West has best come to be known for blending whiskey, rather than distilling it.

As published by Men's Journal

We all dream of amassing a Scotch collection worthy of Ron Burgundy, but the required cash is cost prohibitive for most of us. Fortunately, one need not sell a kidney to enjoy some of the finest whisky on Earth. Single-malt producers in each of the five major Scotch regions put out legitimately top-notch spirits that retail for $50 or less. Here are our favorite affordable options from the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Islay, and Islands. Pick up all five bottles for a tour of Scotland that lays out the different flavors and character that define each. 

AS PUBLISHED BY KERRANG!

On paper, the pairing might sound a bit puzzling: a seminal melodic hardcore-turned-pop punk band from the turn of the millennium touring with a darling indie-punk outfit born a full decade later. But it’s the yin and yang of Chris Conley and Barry Johnson – respective frontmen of Saves The Day and Joyce Manor – that make their two bands such perfect partners for a co-headlining tour.

AS PUBLISHED BY KERRANG!

In today’s oversaturated punk rock culture — one that includes subgenres and artists that have been commercialized, parodied and meme-ified – the legend of Jeromes Dream might sound like satire to an uninformed outsider: Performing with their backs to their audiences, with a singer who yelps without a microphone over frenzied guitar riffs and drum fills, the band released two albums in the span of two years, and promptly broke up with no sign of ever reforming. But any true hardcore punk fan knows that it’s the other way around: Jeromes Dream were the OGs, and all the watered-down “screamo” bands who followed just bastardized the band’s trademarked violent style….

AS PUBLISHED BY KERRANG!

For most rock fans, Woodstock ’99 is remembered within the frames of breaking MTV News updates, interrupting episodes of Daria with terrifying images of an apocalyptic hellscape in flames. But for a relative few, Woodstock’s third incarnation will forever live as a series of gnarly, grody, jarring experiences that they can feel as much as see in their memories.

I know – I was there. While Woodstock ’99 was a cautionary tale for a lot of rockers, it was three days of total madness for me. And looking back on it, what’s even more troubling than how gross it all got (the greed and lack of foresight of its promoters; the subsequent sexual misconduct, arson, and theft of its frustrated attendees), is that it was also the most fun I’d ever had in my life.

AS PUBLISHED BY KERRANG!

In Brooklyn’s industrial Bushwick neighborhood, Aphex Twin recently played New York for the first time in two decades, surely drawing one of the most diverse crowds a single artist showcase ever has. Yet, even beyond Richard D. James, electronic music has proven it’s no longer just for ravers and DJs. Hip-hop and heavy metal have both never been so mainstream; rock is much more than just guitar, bass, and drums. Thank the internet, the home recording evolution, or the endurance of the punk rock ethos: however you attribute it, music fans in 2019 — The Golden Age of Crossover — know no boundaries. Thus, it makes sense that here in Bushwick, at two-year-old venue Elsewhere, goth kids, metalheads, and indie rock fans would coalesce for a completely sold out show headlined by Los Angeles industrial noise rock outfit, HEALTH.

AS PUBLISHED BY KERRANG!

Jeremy Enigk is haunted by ghosts. They’re not all bad – some are quite friendly, in fact. And by talking to him backstage before his most recent performance at New York City’s Le Poisson Rouge, one thing is for sure: he is at peace with all of them. The former frontman of seminal post-hardcore band Sunny Day Real Estate – often cited as inspiring an entire modern “emo” movement, a credit Jeremy has seemingly come to reluctantly accept – has parlayed a career as an enigmatic, brooding rock star into one as an accessible, demonstrative singer-songwriter. It’s a transition most hardcore, metal, or alt-rock musicians are unable to successfully make as they age, but Jeremy has done so with grace and beauty.

AS PUBLISHED BY KERRANG!

….When I finally meet Chris and Jeremy backstage before their show at Brooklyn’s Elsewhere, I can’t keep the feels from flooding back. Though Mineral now take up far less of my attention than they once did, the mere sight of them in the flesh reflexively brings up the longing, sadness, and frustration of my late teen years. Immediately and involuntarily, I find myself promising my heroes that I won’t punish them in the interview that’s about to transpire, despite the impact their work had had on me as an impressionable high schooler….

AS PUBLISHED BY VICE

I’ve taken Maynard James Keenan to New York’s downtown restaurant Manhatta, where two Master Sommeliers have built a musical meal around his wines. To help us all get a better understanding of Keenan’s work, Chef Jason Pfeifer and John Ragan—Wine Director for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group in New York City—have paired unique dishes with five of Caduceus Cellars’ cuvees. Meanwhile, Andy Myers—Wine Director for José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup in Washington DC, and a well-versed metalhead and musician himself—has curated a soundtrack for each course. Best of all, Keenan will have the chance to play critic for once in his over-scrutinized life, giving feedback on every pairing.

As Published By Kerrang!

This our definitive, objective, indisputable list of the single best heavy metal band from every U.S. state, complete with a playlist at the bottom of the page, too. (Though, if you do have any issues with our picks, you can take it up with our man in the United States, Ethan Fixell. Just know that he lost six pounds and four nights of sleep putting this list together – so be gentle.)

As published by Kerrang!

That rock bands collaborate with breweries to create their own beers is no news. A few rock and metal acts with especially discerning taste are finally getting it right, partnering with top notch breweries from around the world to produce beers worthy of their likeness. I’ve had the privilege of tasting the majority of these beers, and have rounded up the very best for you below.

As published by Food & Wine

Usually when people talk about metal's effect on beer, it's in the context of discussing canning versus bottling. And while some of you out there are surely turned on by "under lid gassing" and "seam calibration," there's another metal influencing the brews we drink that most will find much more interesting than aluminum. All around the country, brewers are finding inspiration from and collaborating with legendary metal musicians – and the results are often exceptional.

As published by MTV News

Rob Cantor, the man behind the "29 Celebrity Impressions" viral video, has struck again with another multimedia masterpiece – this time, with the help of an actual celeb. His new live performance video for the original song "Shia LaBeouf" recounts a horrific story involving the "actual cannibal" Hollywood superstar through interpretive dance and choral singing, and features a cameo from the actor who has recently been in the news for some…shall we say, "touchy" behavior. I sat down with Cantor for an exclusive interview on how -- and why – this production came to fruition.

As published by Thrillist

The long-awaited Second Ave subway is finally open (partially), and every underground station now has Wi-Fi and cell phone service. And hey, we get that transporting nearly 8 million people every day in America's busiest, toughest city is no simple task. But if you’re going to hike fares on us again -- we’re going to have to ask for some more stuff in return. In exchange, we can promise to duck the turnstile less often, and maybe even stop blaming you for all of the world's problems. Here are some MTA improvements we’d like to see moving forward.

As published by Vanity Fair

Lewis Black arrives at Brooklyn Winery a little after two P.M. on a Tuesday. I introduce myself and explain that we’ll taste a flight of some of the urban winery’s best products, get his thoughts on each, and perhaps learn a thing or two about him in the process. “Yeah, you’ll learn that it’s too early for me to be drinking,” he mutters as he removes his coat. “And that spitting thing is bullshit.” The Grammy Award–winning comedian, New York Times best-selling author, and Daily Show contributor has one résumé credit few are aware of: amateur wine connoisseur.

As featured in Travel + Leisure

As a touring comedian, I travel more than a fugitive flight attendant. And if you get around even a fraction of as much as I do, you know that when arriving in a new country, few things are as jarring as that first encounter with local television programming. Flip on the TV in your hotel room, and bam!: you're barraged with an overwhelming stream of incomprehensible foreign inflections and vocalizations. Americans aren't the only funny ones out there (remember Gérard Depardieu in Green Card?), but without the context of a nation's unique culture, a Yank will have difficulty understanding the comedic references in any sitcom, stand-up show, or casual conversation while abroad. Thankfully, at long last, one need not speak a foreign language to bust a gut while traipsing across the globe. That's because I've taken the time to compile a comedic road map of the brands of wit and clowning that Americans can expect to encounter when visiting various different travel destinations. Prime yourself with the International Guide to Humor below, and you'll be laughing along like a local on every voyage to come:

As published by Cosmopolitan

So, my wife was watching this movie on TV the other day called Pitch Perfect. You might have seen it? Well, I haven't. I left the room after witnessing 20 seconds of some sort of gender-based West Side Story-inspired a cappella sex-song battle. But if you don't have the time to watch it, or simply aren't interested in committing to a 112-minute screening, I can still fill you in on what this film is probably all about.

As published by Tasting Table

By now, it's no secret North Carolina is a culinary destination to be reckoned with. Cities like Charlotte, Asheville, Raleigh and Durham have all come into their own over the last decade, offering some of the best and most innovative food and drink to be found in the South. But I've been hearing murmurs of a scene beyond the scene: a growing number of restaurants, breweries, bakeries and farms cropping up miles outside city limits in previously uncharted pockets throughout the state. So my wife, Debbie, and I decided it was time to head down to NC to explore the spots most tourists don't know about. And through some intensive research—i.e., irresponsibly devouring everything in our way—I've determined the best off-the-beaten-path food-and-drink destinations in North Carolina.

As published by Food Republic

When my wife expressed interest in embarking on a ski weekend trip to Stratton Resort in Vermont with her best friend her husband, I wasted no time researching all of the restaurants, activities and shops that the resort and its surrounding areas had to offer. Fortunately, my planning paid off, and I even had the foresight to document the entire successful adventure. Allow me to share the details so that you might create your own similarly awesome Dream Couples’ Ski Trip Extravaganza with your friends of choice.

AS PUBLISHED BY FOOD REPUBLIC

Having performed at hundreds of colleges across the country, my comedy partner Dave and I are experienced travelers. Like a Lewis and Clark armed with penis jokes instead of rifles, we’ve explored 48 states within the continental U.S., but had yet to set foot in Alaska. So when we were at last offered a show at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, naturally, we jumped at the opportunity.

Here’s an hour-by-hour breakdown of how to occupy your time when you make it up north to Juneau, Alaska.

As published by Men's Journal

Seattle’s come a long way since its 1962 World’s Fair. If the 10 million visitors who flocked to the Space Needle that year had any foresight, they’d have never left, as Seattle now offers every type of food, drink, and activity an inhabitant could possibly ask of an urban center. But if you’re not yet ready to commit to a permanent move, here’s how to spend four days in a town one could easily devote a lifetime to exploring.

As featured in Travel + Leisure

As a touring comedian, I travel more than a fugitive flight attendant. And if you get around even a fraction of as much as I do, you know that when arriving in a new country, few things are as jarring as that first encounter with local television programming. Flip on the TV in your hotel room, and bam!: you're barraged with an overwhelming stream of incomprehensible foreign inflections and vocalizations. Americans aren't the only funny ones out there (remember Gérard Depardieu in Green Card?), but without the context of a nation's unique culture, a Yank will have difficulty understanding the comedic references in any sitcom, stand-up show, or casual conversation while abroad. Thankfully, at long last, one need not speak a foreign language to bust a gut while traipsing across the globe. That's because I've taken the time to compile a comedic road map of the brands of wit and clowning that Americans can expect to encounter when visiting various different travel destinations. Prime yourself with the International Guide to Humor below, and you'll be laughing along like a local on every voyage to come:

As published by Travel + Leisure

As a touring comedian, I ate terribly on the road for years. Pre-show dinners at university mess halls regularly consisted of frozen veggie burgers, pizza, veggie burgers, and veggie burgers. But following one especially disruptive on-stage emergency ("Let's all take a bathroom break, folks!"), my comedy partner Dave and Ifinally decided that we needed to take better care of ourselves: as a single concession of comfort from the grueling traveling that was slowly taking its toll on our ragged bodies, we made it a policy to enjoy a nice, quality meal before every show whenever possible* (*in some far-flung American food deserts, it just ain't getting much fancier than Applebee's). Since making this decision, we've enjoyed some of the finest meats, vegetables, and shellfish (don't tell Dave's rabbi) nearly every continental U.S. state has to offer....