Cover Story: The World of Food

In this special food edition of Wine Spectator, we've created a guide highlighting 10 distinct culinary cultures. From the United States' Southern fried chicken to France's coq au vin, we explore the most important culinary contributions of each region, and tell you which wines match them best. Contributing editor Sam Gugino, author of our Tastes column, was the principal writer for this special issue.

• Wine Spectator Online  Our Web site contains a variety of food-related references, accompanied by wine-pairing advice. Our Food Encyclopedia teaches you how to select, store, prepare and enjoy everything from poultry to produce. Our Recipe Search lets you sort through our extensive database by ingredient, food type, matching wine type and any combination of these. And if you prefer dining out, our Restaurant Search lets you browse through more than 3,700 U.S. and international restaurants with award-winning wine lists.
• Bonus Video: Director of education Gloria Frazee shares pairing pointers from Wine Spectator School's latest course. Select player to watch video: Windows Media | Quicktime

Northeastern United States  Maine lobster, New England clam chowder and the wide range of international cuisines are the well-known markers of this region's foodways

• Wine in the Northeast
• Recipe: New England Clam Chowder

Southern United States  From the spicy dishes of Creole and Cajun cooking to fluffy buttermilk biscuits, the South's cuisines are distinctive and enduring

• Wine in the South
• Recipe: Southern Fried Chicken with Creamy Gravy

Western & Midwestern United States  Produce is plentiful in this land of cattle and corn, with the southern tier reflecting both native and across-the-border flavors

• Wine in the West
• Recipe: Apple Pie

France  Thank the French for the invention of the restaurant, haute cuisine and the simple pleasure of a crusty loaf of bread accompanied by wine and cheese

• Wine in France
• Recipe: Coq au Vin

Italy  Uncomplicated preparations highlighting the freshest ingredients are the foundation of Italian food, and one of the many reasons for its worldwide popularity

• Wine in Italy
• Recipe: Pizza Margherita

Spain & Portugal  The cuisines of the Iberian Peninsula are a bit more sultry than their sunny Mediterranean neighbors', and they are poised to reach culinary superstardom

• Wine in Spain & Portugal
• Recipe: Paella

The Mediterranean  From the fragrant sweetness of figs and dates to the ubiquitous use of olive oil, healthy eating is the trademark of Mediterranean cuisine

• Wine in the Mediterranean
• Recipe: Roasted Leg of Lamb

Northern & Eastern Europe  From Russian caviar to Viennese pastries to Belgian chocolate, this diverse collection of countries presents more than just hearty fare for cool climes

• Wine in Northern Europe

Asia  The alluring and exotic spices of this diverse region spurred the great era of European exploration and introduced the world to a wealth of new flavors

• Wine in Asia
• Recipes: Szechuan Chicken Salad; Saté Peanut Dipping Sauce; Roghan Josh

Latin America  Based on the successful combination of indigenous produce and European imports, this region's cuisine offers the best of both worlds

• Wine in Latin America

Features

Tasting Report

White Burgundy  The white wines of Burgundy now on the market offer something for everyone, with the New World-style Chardonnays of 2003 standing in stark contrast to the more traditional 2004s  Bruce Sanderson

• Wine Spectator Online  Bonus Video: Senior editor Bruce Sanderson provides background on Burgundy and contrasts two of the region's great Chardonnays. Select player to watch video: Windows Media | Quicktime

Departments

This Issue  Marvin R. Shanken

Upfront  Record prices for Bordeaux futures are slowing U.S. sales of 2005s; Georges Duboeuf convicted of fraud; Napa pioneer Al Brounstein dies; New York wines on center stage; Hailstorm damages Port estates; GrapeVine; Grand Award-Winning Wild Boar Restaurant goes bankrupt; Napa Valley importer Win Wilson Dies; Screaming Eagle's new owners aim high by setting a new record $500 price tag

• Wine Spectator Online  Keep up with breaking news about the wine world every day.

Tastes  Heritage lamb; a new restaurant in Carmel; Fair Trade coffee; Easy on the eyes

• Wine Spectator Online  To learn more about cooking with and matching wine to lamb, visit our online Encyclopedia of Food and/or Sam Gugino's article archive.
• To learn more about coffee, visit our online Encyclopedia of Food for coffees around the world or read Mark Pendergrast's article on how to taste this beverage.

James Laube  Thank Bordeaux for illuminating the world's values

• Wine Spectator Online  In his recent blog posts, James Laube has highlighed hot new California producers, debated the role of critics and discussed celebrity wines.

Matt Kramer  In France, the future is now

Collecting  Mets pitcher Steve Trachsel introduces fine wine to road trips; large-format bottles sell well at auction

• Wine Spectator Online  Subscribers to Wine Spectator Online can search the complete Auction Index for prices on collectibles, read analysis of the latest auction results and view a calendar of upcoming sales.

Food Talk  Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser  Eric Arnold

The Buying Guide

For complete reviews of more than 161,000 wines, use Wine Spectator Online's Wine Ratings Search, where you can sort by region, variety, vintage, price, score and tasting date.

LABOR DAY  It's the last long weekend of summer, time to say farewell to the season in style. Let us do all the work for you with our tips on how to plan a delicious outdoor meal and the wines to serve with it. 2006 HARVEST  As crush gets underway in the Northern Hemisphere, find out how the vintage is doing in the top wine regions of Europe and the United States. Visit our site to get updates on the latest news from the vineyards. WINE COUNTRY TRAVEL  Fall is a great time to head for the vineyards and see some of the harvest action. Whether you're planning a weekend trip or a whole week of tasting and touring, our new travel section provides an in-depth guide to the most popular U.S. wine destinations. Find recommendations on where to eat, where to stay and which wineries and attractions to visit. WINE RATINGS  Our online database features reviews of more than 161,000 wines, including tasting notes and drink windows. Search and sort by price, vintage or score.

BONUS VIDEOS  Wine Spectator Online's bonus videos add extra dimension to articles in the magazine's latest issues. This month, we present tips on food and wine matching, and we host a tasting of white Burgundy. You can also subscribe to our weekly Podcast on iTunes. Select a player to watch our Burgundy video: Windows Media | Quicktime Select a player to watch our food and wine matching video: Windows Media | Quicktime WINE OF THE WEEK  Sign up for our e-mail newsletter to receive a wine recommendation and advice on food and travel every week. QUESTIONS ABOUT WINE?  Want an explanation for a tasting descriptor? Wondering how to send back a corky bottle? Dr. Vinny, our Web site's resident expert, tackles all questions about wine, from how it's made to how to serve it. Check out the latest questions and answers or consult the doctor yourself on our site.