Of course, there is a good number of specialized magazines, journalists, and bloggers who master the power of information. They are almost as important as the wines themselves, since thanks to them we gain both specific and general knowledge of wines from around the world. We don’t always share their opinions—naturally, as we all carry a critic inside us—but they are nevertheless an important reference.
Logically, there is also an elite here: true “wine stars.” It is indisputable that Robert Parker is the diva of this group. This former American lawyer created, many years ago, the specialized magazine Wine Advocate (https://www.robertparker.com/), and through it he made wines from any continent accessible to all lovers of this world. Parker’s scores have become a benchmark when choosing a wine. Parker’s man in our country is Luis Gutiérrez, who is also responsible for Argentina, Chile, and—curiously—the Jura.
Perhaps Parker is the most media-savvy reference, but there are other stars that shine just as brightly. James Suckling is another great critic whose opinions and scores are always worth paying attention to. Until 2010, he was editor-in-chief of the influential magazine Wine Spectator. After leaving it, he created his own portal: https://www.jamessuckling.com. For decades, Jancis Robinson—an English journalist and Master of Wine—has been another key figure, both from an educational and a critical standpoint. The same goes for Hugh Johnson, who, together with Robinson, produced The World Atlas of Wine, a must-have reference book for any wine lover. Oz Clarke and André Dominé are two other great communicators whose books provide us with a wealth of information about wines and wine regions.
In Spain, we also have a prominent critic: José Peñín, who publishes The Peñín Guide every year, dedicated to the wines of our country.
Within the world of natural wine, Alice Feiring stands out as a fervent defender of this type of wine and as someone whose approach is the opposite of Robert Parker’s. I recommend one of her books, The Battle for Wine and Love, or How I Saved the World from Parkerization. I consider it essential reading, as well as educational and very entertaining.
Finally, this entry should close by mentioning the latest “wine star,” Santiago Rivas, also known as Colectivo Decantado. Informality brought to wine. His articles are always interesting, as well as approachable and understandable for all kinds of audiences.