As part of an ongoing expansion across its media group, Wine Enthusiast Companies has enhanced its California tasting team, adding Sonoma-based writer and taster Virginie Boone to cover the wines of Lake Counties, Central Valley, Sierra Foothills, Contra Costa County, Livermore Valley, Lodi and Mendocino (except Anderson Valley). Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast's longtime West Coast contributing editor, who is also based in the Bay Area, will continue to taste all other California wines.

Boone is the former managing editor of 7 x 7 Magazine in San Francisco, a longstanding writer for Lonely Planet and Rough Guides as well as the author of Napa Valley and Sonoma. Over the last decade she has reported extensively on the California wine scene for the New York Times-owned Santa Rosa Press Democrat and its affiliate wine and food magazine, Savor, in addition to others.

"The California wine scene is more exciting than ever and the addition of Virginie will enable us to more effectively cover the state as a whole," says Adam Strum, Editor and Publisher of Wine Enthusiast Media. "Virginie's expertise and journalistic prowess will be an essential addition to our editorial product, and her presence will also allow Steve to cover other key regions (Napa, Sonoma, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Paso Robles among them) more thoroughly."

Heimoff adds: "I welcome Virginie's assistance in helping me taste California wine. The state's production has increased so greatly that I can no longer review everything. With Virginie's help, Wine Enthusiast will be able to offer our readers even more California reviews."

The expansion is testament to an overall increase in the editorial coverage and reach of Wine Enthusiast, with tasters also in Bordeaux, Rome and South America. The magazine now boasts the most comprehensive tasting panel in the world, says Strum, with a paid audited circulation in the past 12 months that has grown nearly 40%, according to independent auditing bureau BPA.

Please refer to our FAQ: Information Sheet for all tasting and review details including contact information and shipping addresses. Our updated Wine Submission form is also available.

Contacts: Susan Kostrzewa, Executive Editor (914-345-9463, ext 4615); Joe Czerwinski, Tasting Director (914-345-9463, ext. 4618)