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In the Drop, James Lawrence reports on Rioja’s ongoing battle between tradition and modernity. “Winemakers in Rioja have been arguing about [the use of oak] for more than 15 years. But the divide isn’t just about attitudes to oak; modernizers are pushing for a number of reforms, including a Burgundy-like classification of the best vineyards.”

In Meininger’s, David Schwarzwälder also looks at Rioja and how small bodegas are changing the region’s image.

Alder Yarrow charts the evolution of Anderson Valley wines. “Those in the know (or simply intrepid enough) who venture over the Yorkville Highlands and down into the idyllic, quiet green of Anderson Valley can discover something that most of the state’s top winemakers have known for years. It’s one of the best places to grow Pinot Noir on the planet.”

In SevenFifty Daily, independent retailers across the country share their tips for efficiently running a profitable subscription-based wine club.

In Wine-Searcher, David Allen on the importance of the right wine glass.

Whatever happened to the “Peach in Champagne” drink? Robert Simonson investigates its history in VinePair.

Mike Veseth, the wine economist, thinks deeply about Laura Catena’s Grand Cru Project. “Can (or should) the Grand Cru concept be applied to the New World? And if so, how and where?”