Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator, founded in 1976 and operated by M. Shanken Communications, is a leading American wine media publication that runs a proprietary 450,000+ wine ratings database, a monthly magazine, consumer events, and the global Restaurant Awards program serving wine enthusiasts, restaurants, and trade professionals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Wine Spectator does
Wine Spectator is a privately held American wine media publication founded in 1976 and operated by M. Shanken Communications, Inc., headquartered at 825 Eighth Avenue, New York. Its core product is a proprietary wine ratings database containing more than 450,000 entries, scored on a 100-point scale and accompanied by tasting notes, vintage charts, and buying guides. Each year editors blind-taste from over 10,000 wines, with more than 5,500 scoring 90+ points, producing a Top 100 list that anchors the publication's editorial authority.
The company distributes content across print magazine (12 issues annually at $69.95/year subscription), winespectator.com, the WineRatings+ and Restaurant Search iOS apps, the Insider Weekly email newsletter, podcasts, social channels (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, X), and high-touch consumer events including the NY Wine Experience and the multi-city Grand Tour. Wine Spectator also runs the Restaurant Awards program, recognizing more than 4,000 restaurants across 85+ countries annually (with 99 Grand Award holders worldwide), and the OperaWine showcase in Verona, a 150-producer Italian wine event held in partnership with Vinitaly.
Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring consumer subscriptions (print and digital), advertising across the publication's owned digital properties via partnerships with Meta, Google, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and The Trade Desk, consumer ticket and sponsorship revenue from tasting events, and B2B services via the Shanken Ratings Network for trade buyers (wineries, importers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, hotels). The underlying customer base spans wine enthusiasts and collectors (primary), restaurants/hospitality venues pursuing award-driven credibility, and wine trade professionals using ratings for portfolio and program decisions.
Wine Spectator firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wine Spectator
- Legal name
- M. Shanken Communications, Inc.
- Website
- https://winespectator.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wine Spectator, founded in 1976 and operated by M. Shanken Communications, is a leading American wine media publication that runs a proprietary 450,000+ wine ratings database, a monthly magazine, consumer events, and the global Restaurant Awards program serving wine enthusiasts, restaurants, and trade professionals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wine Spectator industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wine Media and Ratings Publications
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)
Keywords
Where Wine Spectator is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wine Spectator business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Magazine Subscriptions: Wine Spectator magazine subscription providing print and digital access to wine ratings, articles, tasting reports, and editorial content. Priced at $69.95 per year for 12 issues with a 30-day free trial offer.
- Online Memberships: Digital subscriptions providing online-only access to the wine ratings database, insider content, and web-only features
- Advertising: Wine Spectator operates as an advertising-supported media company displaying advertisements across its website, magazine, and newsletters. The company works with advertising partners including Meta, Google, LinkedIn, and programmatic advertising platforms.
- Events: Consumer wine tasting events including the NY Wine Experience and Grand Tour, which generate revenue through ticket sales and provide premium engagement opportunities
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Magazine Subscription - 12 issues for $69.95 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Wine Spectator product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wine Spectator publishes a print and digital wine magazine and operates a proprietary wine ratings database of more than 450,000 wines rated on a 100-point scale, accessible to subscribers via its website and mobile apps. It generates revenue through consumer subscriptions, advertising, sponsored wine-tasting events (NY Wine Experience, Grand Tour), and a trade-facing ratings platform (Shanken Ratings Network), while running an annual Restaurant Awards program honoring over 4,000 establishments worldwide for wine program excellence.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WineRatings+ (iOS app): Mobile application for wine ratings and vintage charts
- Wine Spectator Restaurant Search (iOS app)
- Wine Spectator Podcasts
- NY Wine Experience
- Grand Tour
- Shanken Ratings Network
Products and services
- Wine Spectator Magazine Subscription
- Online Membership (Digital Subscription)
- WineRatings+ iOS App
- Wine Spectator Restaurant Search App
- NY Wine Experience
- Grand Tour Tasting Events
- Shanken Ratings Network (SRN)
- Restaurant Awards Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Wine Spectator's Top 100 list features wines that have been blind-tasted from over 10,000 wines annually, with more than 5,500 earning scores of 90 points or higher
Companies that use Wine Spectator
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wine Spectator technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration16 records
Feature3 records
Wine Spectator partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- VinitalycoreWine Spectator partners with Vinitaly as the exclusive media partner for OperaWine, the prestigious curtain-raiser event for the world's largest wine exhibition held annually in Verona, Italy. Wine Spectator editors select the 150 Italian wine producers featured at OperaWine.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wine Spectator competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wine Enthusiast: Wine Enthusiast is a US-based wine media and commerce company publishing ratings, reviews, and buying guides alongside selling wine-related products. It is the most direct competitor to Wine Spectator in the American wine-publication and ratings space.
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The Wine Advocate is a subscription wine ratings publication built on critic-scored reviews across global wine regions. It competes directly with Wine Spectator for premium wine enthusiasts seeking authoritative, critic-driven ratings.
- Decanter: Decanter is a UK-based wine magazine and events operator publishing ratings, learning content, and the Decanter World Wine Awards. It overlaps directly with Wine Spectator's review-and-events model and is a leading international wine-media brand.
- Wine & Spirits Magazine: Wine & Spirits is a US wine magazine covering ratings, restaurant programs, and consumer buying guidance. It is a direct comparable in format and audience, though smaller in scale than Wine Spectator.
Emerging players
- VinePair: VinePair is a digitally native wine, beer, and spirits media company targeting younger consumers with daily editorial content. It competes for advertising and audience share with Wine Spectator without the legacy print/subscription model.
- SevenFifty Daily: SevenFifty Daily is a trade-focused wine and spirits publication serving the on-premise and importing community. It overlaps with Wine Spectator's trade audience and competes for B2B subscription and event sponsorships.
- Vivino: Vivino is the largest consumer wine ratings app with crowd-sourced scores and a wine marketplace. It is an emerging alternative to expert-driven ratings publications like Wine Spectator, particularly for casual consumers.
- Guildsomm: GuildSomm is a sommelier-focused education and content platform serving wine professionals and serious enthusiasts. It competes with Wine Spectator for the high-engagement professional and collector audience.
Broad incumbents
- Whisky Advocate: Whisky Advocate is a sister publication also under M. Shanken Communications, covering the spirits ratings market. It is comparable as a ratings-and-reviews subscription media property in the broader beverage category under shared ownership.
Others
- PUNCH: PUNCH covers wine, spirits, and cocktails with a digitally native editorial model. It is an adjacent competitor in beverage media, overlapping with Wine Spectator's audience around wine and food coverage without direct ratings-database competition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wine Spectator social profiles
Digital presenceWine Spectator financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wine Spectator leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Wine Spectator funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wine Spectator M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wine Spectator
What does Wine Spectator do?
Wine Spectator publishes a print and digital wine magazine and operates a proprietary wine ratings database of more than 450,000 wines rated on a 100-point scale, accessible to subscribers via its website and mobile apps. It generates revenue through consumer subscriptions, advertising, sponsored wine-tasting events (NY Wine Experience, Grand Tour), and a trade-facing ratings platform (Shanken Ratings Network), while running an annual Restaurant Awards program honoring over 4,000 establishments worldwide for wine program excellence.
Is Wine Spectator a public or private company?
Wine Spectator is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Wine Spectator founded?
Wine Spectator was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wine Spectator based?
Wine Spectator is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wine Spectator make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Magazine Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are online Memberships, advertising and events.
Who are Wine Spectator's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wine Enthusiast, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Decanter and Wine & Spirits Magazine. Emerging players are VinePair, SevenFifty Daily, Vivino and Guildsomm. Whisky Advocate is listed as a broad incumbent. PUNCH is listed as an others.
Does Wine Spectator have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wine Spectator.
What industry is Wine Spectator in?
Wine Spectator's product category is Wine Media and Ratings Publications. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAGAD, Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours. Its SIC code is 2721.