Where do those magical wine ratings come from? Who are the experts, and what qualifies them to pass judgment on wine and recommend it to you (or not)? Mark surveys the history of wine criticism in America over the past three or four decades, describes the major players, and examines how the critical scene is being transformed by social media. He also takes a close look at celebrity wines. Would you buy a bottle because the label depicted a golfer (Greg Norman), a race car driver (Mario Andretti) or a tall guy (Yao Ming)? There are two stories on Bizarre Beverage News: a recent study indicating that people who drink moderate amounts of wine are less prone to depression, and the 2012 vintage of Victory White, a wine dedicating to encouraging Hillary Clinton to run for President in 2016.

LINKS:

Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History—Link to:
http://www.iconicspirits.net

Mark Spivak
Author of Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History
(www.amazon.com/Mark-Spivak)