1 wine this year is from the relatively new Nizza DOCG-one of the best sites for Barbera and formerly a subzone of Barbera d’Asti. While not historically considered a high-quality grape, a growing number of producers have focused their efforts on building its reputation through better vineyard and cellar practices, moving away from the simple, fruity offerings to structured, concentrated pours. This year’s top spot goes to a Barbera from Piedmont-a category that has made huge strides in the last few decades. Beyond their high numerical ratings, these boast excellent quality-to-price ratios, drinkability and availability, with an average score of just under 93 points and an average price of $36. This list of high-scorers showcases still and sparkling picks, rosés and even sweet wines. The Enthusiast 100 is the apex of our yearly round-ups, offering an impressive collection that represents some of the top wines reviewed this year. So now, here’s the best of the best: The Enthusiast 100. In the last two issues, we celebrated those that offer the most bang for your buck ( Top 100 Best Buys) as well as the wines that you need to invest in today for enjoyment tomorrow ( Top 100 Cellar Selections). Each year, we cull through this behemoth batch of wines to pull out the most exciting finds. This year, Wine Enthusiast’s tasting panel reviewed more than 24,000 wines from around the globe, exploring a multitude of regions, styles and price points.