Wine Enthusiast
8 Saw Mill River Road
Hawthorne, NY 10532
There's not a sour grape in the bunch - of editors, that is, at Wine Enthusiast magazine. We found this group a good bet for PR execs to target. Jetting from one wine tasting event to another, the editors often are unavailable to take any PR requests. They will, however, always return calls once back in the office. This monthly has special themes in each issue, so try fermenting ideas now for April, which will cover wines of Italy and "Wines That Keep Kosher: A survey of the top kosher wines around the world." (Circulation, 82,000; median HHI, $133,000; median age, 43; 56% female)
SECTIONS: Vine Cuttings
This section includes news releases about wine events, trends and personalities in the wine world.
Managing Editor Mary Hunt will also feature any new products on the market in this section.
EDITORS/LEAD TIME: Managing Editor, Mary Hunt
Fax: 914/345-3028, Phone: 914/345-8463, ext. 8904
Lead Time: 90 days
METHODS: Hunt prefers press releases by mail or fax. This request is standard among all editors at Wine Enthusiast. Phone calls are shunned almost as much as a cheap bottle of wine.
COMMENTS: Associate Publisher Dave Talbot explained the following tactic used by PR professionals as "brilliant."
"All the illustrations and information recently has been given to us by CD-ROM, usually when wineries are introducing new products," he says.
The deadlines are the third Friday of every month, so plan your pitches early.
SECTIONS: The Buying Guide
This section rates and reviews wines, beers and spirits. All new releases of wines on the market should be sent to the "Tasting Editor." Wine Enthusiast rates about 300-400 wines each month.
EDITORS/LEAD TIME: Tasting Editor, 8 Saw Mill Road, Hawthorne, NY 10532
Lead Time: 3-4 months
METHODS: Send wines by UPS or FedEX. Talbot says the protocol for the Buying Section is to simply put "Tasting Editor" on the address. There's no need, therefore, to call and ask who the tasting editor is.
COMMENTS: Include the background and technical information with the bottles of wine, such as the percentage of grape in the blend and the suggested retail price.
Also give the editors two clean labels with the background material. Talbot says send the background information and the bottles as a package: do not send them separately.
Editorial Contacts at Wine Enthusiast
Main Number: 914/345-8463
David Talbot, Associate Publisher
914/345-8463, ext. 7700, Fax: 914/789-8022
Roger Voss, Editorial Director, based in Bordeaux, France
011/33/556-233896
Any press material on international business for European wine products can be mailed to the U.S. address for Wine Enthusiast and addressed to Voss.
Recent Stories, Dec. 15, 1998
"Best Of The Best," by Charles Laverick.
"The El Nino Crush of '98," by Terry Robar. A feature story on the notorious weather phenomenon which affected many of the world's vineyards.