Alison Napjus

Alison Napjus

Senior Editor and Tasting Director, New York
Italy, Champagne, Spain, South Africa

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.

Smart Buys for Smart Buyers
Tasting Reports

Smart Buys for Smart Buyers

125 bright ideas for getting the most for your money

Feb 28, 2026
2025 Wine Value of the Year
Tasting Reports

2025 Wine Value of the Year

Our editors’ top pick, a Rioja from a historic producer, from the best-priced wines release…

Feb 28, 2026
Arnaldo Caprai, Pioneering Vintner of Italy’s Montefalco Sagrantino, Dies at 92
News

Arnaldo Caprai, Pioneering Vintner of Italy’s Montefalco Sagrantino, Dies at 92

After succeeding in textiles, Caprai bought an estate in Umbria and began revitalizing …

Jan 7, 2026
Essential Seville
Travel

Essential Seville

Highlights for visitors to this culture-rich southern Spanish city

Dec 31, 2025
A Cristal Worth the Wait
Tasting Reports

A Cristal Worth the Wait

A retrospective of Cristal’s Vinothèque reveals the special character of this long-aged …

Dec 15, 2025
Champagne’s Allure
Tasting Reports

Champagne’s Allure

A tapestry of diverse offerings buoys the world’s premier sparkling wine region

Dec 15, 2025
Tuscany’s Hidden Gem: Carmignano
Tasting Reports

Tuscany’s Hidden Gem: Carmignano

Get to know the wines of Carmignano, one of Tuscany’s best-kept secrets

Dec 15, 2025
Sicily’s Hottest Spot
Opinion

Sicily’s Hottest Spot

Looking deeper into Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano and one of Sicily’s most …

Nov 30, 2025
11 Douro Valley Reds Up to 92 Points
Tasting Reports

11 Douro Valley Reds Up to 92 Points

Don’t miss these new reviews of delicious Portuguese table wines priced as low as $15

Nov 6, 2025