W & S Magazine Wins 2008 James Beard Award

Provided by Wine & Spirits Magazine

David Darlington, special correspondent for Wine & Spirits Magazine, Wins 2008 James Beard Journalism Award

Magazine’s fifth James Beard Award for excellence in wine writing

(New York, NY, June 09, 2008): David Darlington, special correspondent for Wine & Spirits Magazine (W&S) has received the top honor in the 2008 “Magazine Writing on Spirits, Wine, or Beer” James Beard Journalism category for the article "Postmodern Deliciousness: The World According to Clark Smith" (W&S April 2007). The awards ceremony took place in New York City’s Hudson Theater on Friday, June 6, and marks the 21^st anniversary of the James Beard Foundation Awards.

Darlington, a nonfiction writer based in Berkeley, California, is the author of four books —In Condor Country: A Portrait of a Landscape, its Denizens and its Defenders; Zin: The History and Mystery of Zinfandel (originally titled ”Angels’ Visits”); The Mojave: A Portrait of the Definitive American Desert; and Area 51: The Dreamland Chronicles. He has also written for The New York Times Magazine, Life, Outside, Audubon, Sierra, National Geographic Adventure, Bicycling, Islands, Men's Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Los Angeles Times.

Previous W&S James Beard Journalism winners include: Fiona Morrison for “Chambolle-Musigny” in 2006, David Lynch for “Total Tequila” in 2001; Rod Smith for “Purple Gold Rush” in 2000; and Michael Bonadies for “Cote de Beaune” in 1996.

Since 1996, when the James Beard Foundation initiated an award for wine writing, W&S has received 12 nominations from the influential industry body—more than any other wine magazine. Publisher and editor Joshua Greene says, “We’re pleased that David’s great work has been acknowledged by the James Beard Foundation, which continues to recognize important stories on wine.” David Darlington points out that the award “helps to shed more light on the behind-the-scenes practices that are increasingly eroding our traditional notions of wine.”

Founded in 1982, Wine & Spirits Magazine is published seven times a year and read by over 200,000 members of America’s wine community. Consumers and wine professionals read the magazine for information on wine and spirits, including articles on established and up-and-coming regions and producers, the art and science of viticulture, restaurant and industry happenings, and food and wine pairing. W&S evaluates more than 9,000 bottlings every year. Visit wineandspiritsmagazine.com for more information.