Sara Ventiera

Los Angeles

Writer and Editor at Freelance

Digital Managing Editor at Wine Enthusiast Magazine

senior editor @wineenthusiast and freelance agriculture reporter

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Articles

Will Gen Z Ever Drink Wine?

1 week ago | wineenthusiast.com | Sara Ventiera

The latest generation, it seems, is usually to blame.
In Militarized Downtown L.A., Bars and Restaurants Are at a Breaking Point

2 weeks ago | wineenthusiast.com | Sara Ventiera

At 5:15 pm Wednesday evening, the tall steel gates to Far East Plaza are shut and locked as a crowd of what looks like hundreds marches down North Broadway in L.A.’s Chinatown, protesting against the detention and removal of suspected undocumented migrants from around Southern California. Inside the normally buzzing center, a handful of customers are eating sandwiches outside Nashville hot chicken spot Howlin’ Rays.
Cannabis Beverages Are Actually Really Good Now

2 months ago | wineenthusiast.com | Sara Ventiera

Over recent years, there has been a seemingly endless number of grim headlines for the wine and spirits industry. Supply imbalances, the rise of neo-prohibitionism and declining consumer demands continue to weaken sales and curtail growth. Throw in the current tariff turmoil, and expectations feel even bleaker. However, while wine sales dropped about 8% year-over-year in 2024, according to the latest data from Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America’s SipSource, legal marijuana is on the rise.
'Can it Kirkland?': Costco Brand Wines Are Actually Great

Feb 28, 2025 | wineenthusiast.com | Sara Ventiera

“Can it Kirkland?” asks the New Age band The Never Ending Fall in their viral Tiktok series that compares nam- brand spirits and Costco’s private label via their own (less rigorous) version of blind tasting. The group came up with the idea—and insanely catchy jingle—after discovering the beloved brand’s “ridiculously oversized, extremely cheap bottles of liquor” while trying to save money on their booze bill, they told The Seattle Times.
The Big Problem with Anti-Alcohol Studies That No One's Talking About

Feb 12, 2025 | wineenthusiast.com | Sara Ventiera

Wine’s impact on health has been under the microscope for the past few years, with numerous headlines citing its cancer-causing potential. Sales are down across the industry and consumption has dropped substantially. These stories certainly are fear-inducing, yet many don’t paint the full picture. It seems for every study that claims that a glass (yes, a glass) a day will kill you, there’s another that has found low- to-moderate consumption of alcohol is fine or can even boast potential benefits.
The Ultimate Restaurant Guide to Date Night in Los Angeles

Jan 27, 2025 | blog.resy.com | Paolo Lucchesi |Sara Ventiera

Today 2 Close Remove 2 Add Update Close Funke map Beverly Hills A meal at any of pasta maestro Evan Funke’s restaurants (which include Mother Wolf and Felix) is bound to be special. But his three-level flagship in Beverly Hills might just be his magnum opus. This romantic restaurant offers impeccable service a glass-encased pasta room that churns out a new selection of nonna-style, hand-rolled pastas, “fatta a mano,’ and world-class pastries (save room for the meringata and citrus panna...
The Los Angeles Restaurants We Love For a Celebration — Resy | Right This Way

Nov 4, 2024 | blog.resy.com | Sara Ventiera

Today 2 Close Remove 2 Add Update Close Ètra map Melrose Hill Since debuting in early 2024, this dimly-let pasta and wine haven has garnered a steady following for its comforting but upscale fare. Dishes span from bucatini al vongole and ricotta gnudi to ribeye with salsa verde and tuna crudo. Like the menu, the wine list offers a tour of Italy with stops in France, California and other respected regions, leaning toward low-intervention bottlings. The restaurant can seat up to 10 guests in...
The Best Wines for Every Zodiac Sign

Sep 23, 2024 | wineenthusiast.com | Sara Ventiera

When you buy something through our link, we may earn a small commission from our affiliate partners. Wine Enthusiast maintains complete editorial independence and all wines are blind tasted. Read more about our policy. Love it or think it’s ridiculous, astrology has increasingly worked its way into popular culture and the general psyche.
All About Cava: Everything to Know About Spain's Signature Sparkling Wine

Sep 5, 2024 | wineenthusiast.com | Sara Ventiera

When you buy something through our link, we may earn a small commission. Wine Enthusiast does not accept money for editorial wine reviews. Read more about our policy. In 1872, Shortly after returning home from a trip to Champagne, multigenerational grape grower and winemaker Josep Raventós made Spain’s first sparkling wines via the méthode traditionnelle in the town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, in Catalonia.
Two Years Into the Russian Invasion, Ukrainian Nightlife Is Thriving

Jun 12, 2024 | wineenthusiast.com | Sara Ventiera

The bar scene is not the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of a war zone. Most news stories tend to focus on casualties, military strikes and other tragedies. But two years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, nightlife goes on. Investigative reporter Adam Robb has been traveling into the country to talk to locals and document everyday life for everyday citizens who have been living amongst the backdrop of war.