Alison Napjus

Alison Napjus

Senior Editor and Tasting Director, New York
Italy: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli/Venezia-Giulia, Lazio, Lombardy, Marche, Molise, Prosecco, Puglia, Sicily, Trentino-Alto Adige, Umbria and Veneto; Spain; France: Champagne; Portugal: table/non-fortified wines; South

About

Alison Napjus joined Wine Spectator in 2000, and was promoted to senior editor in 2012 and tasting director in 2016. She is lead taster for the wines of Spain, France’s Champagne region, South Africa and wines from regions throughout Italy.

After graduating from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, Napjus moved to New York to take a position as a manager at Tribeca Grill restaurant. As tasting director, she oversees the scope and content of Wine Spectator’s annual reviews of more than 10,000 wines, working closely with the tasters and tasting coordinators in the New York and Napa offices. Currently she divides her time between New York, where she is based, with a second home in Tampa, Fla. She regularly travels abroad, both personally and professionally.

Spain on Top: 2026 Tasting Report
Tasting Reports

Spain on Top: 2026 Tasting Report

Classic reds, exciting whites and more shine a spotlight on the country’s stylistic range

Oct 31, 2026
Italy’s Greatest Grape: Sangiovese
Wine IQ

Italy’s Greatest Grape: Sangiovese

Why Sangiovese reigns as the country’s most versatile and expressive variety

Oct 31, 2026
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: A Sangiovese Sleeper on the Rise
Wine IQ

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: A Sangiovese Sleeper on the Rise

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is quietly producing some of Tuscany’s most compelling …

Oct 31, 2026
Sangiovese Through the Ages: A Timeline
Wine IQ

Sangiovese Through the Ages: A Timeline

Highlighting key dates, memorable references and innovative developments across 500 years …

Oct 31, 2026
Emilia-Romagna & Beyond: Sangiovese Expands Its Reach
Wine IQ

Emilia-Romagna & Beyond: Sangiovese Expands Its Reach

Sangiovese is Italy’s grape, not just Tuscany’s—a guide to its reach across the peninsula

Oct 31, 2026
Spain’s Steady Rise: Over 460 Wines Up to 97 Points
Tasting Reports

Spain’s Steady Rise: Over 460 Wines Up to 97 Points

Get the latest scores for recently tasted Spanish wines, including excellent bottles from …

Oct 31, 2026
Authentic Italy in the U.S.A.
Restaurants

Authentic Italy in the U.S.A.

Explore these American restaurants offering elevated Italian cuisine based on regional …

Sep 30, 2026
South Africa at the Crossroads
Tasting Reports

South Africa at the Crossroads

Quality is high across the board, but business challenges continue

Sep 30, 2026
Emidio Pepe, Pioneering Vintner of Italy’s Abruzzo Region, Dies at 94
News

Emidio Pepe, Pioneering Vintner of Italy’s Abruzzo Region, Dies at 94

Pepe demonstrated the potential of his region and the Montepulciano and Trebbiano grapes

Nov 15, 2026