Kate Dingwall

By day, Kate is a writer, editor and photographer covering the intersection between spirits, business, culture and travel. By night, she’s a working sommelier at one of the top restaurants in Canada.
She was born in Canada (eh), schooled in Georgia (y'all), and spent my adult life in Brooklyn. She started her career as a fashion editor for a now-defunct style glossy— styling and organizing the magazine’s fashion spreads and covering international fashion weeks. But booze beckoned and high heels hurt, so in 2016, she veered to the wine and spirits space. She worked through her sommelier and spirits expert certifications and completed her Masters in Brand Management in wine marketing.

She now writes about strong drinks and nice wines for Food & Wine, Worth, Maxim (sorry mom), People Magazine, Southern Living, Liquor.com, Rolling Stones, Eater, Elle, Toronto Life, Toronto Star, Wine Enthusiast, Foodism, VinePair, Porter Magazine and DuJour. She frequently appears on both CTV and NPR, has co-authored a book on gin, judges Tales of the Cocktail, and recently interviewed Vanilla Ice. She’s currently based out of Toronto, where she now lives with her partner, black cat, and a rotating cast of foster dogs.

All Articles From Kate Dingwall
The interior of CKTL & Co, a Toronto bar where prices fluctuate based on demand

You Can Bet on Drinks at This Stock Market-Themed Bar

An early aughts trend returns. Invest in and imbibe Manhattans, Sidecars and Martinis at watering holes where prices fluctuate with demand.

a sunny vineyard

The Cult Napa Winery We Can’t Get Out of Our Head

In a quiet, forested pocket of the Napa Valley, Schramsberg makes Champagne-style wines that wowed us in 2023

Tom Cruise showing his tricks as a bartender in a scene from the film 'Cocktail', 1988.

The Best Booze Movies Ever

Where to stream these intoxicating films (and what to drink while watching)

Nomadica Orange Wine in a can and in a glass

Inside Nomadica’s Quest to Make Really Good Orange Wine

The California wine company has made a drink ideal for fall — and it's in a can

Anderson Paak on the turntables at dante's hifi in miami

How Your Favorite Bar Crafts a Playlist

Bartenders and sommeliers share their secrets for setting the vibes

If you're not drinking Piquepool, Pais or Rossese, you're missing out

10 Wildly Underrated Wine Grape Varieties, According to Sommeliers

Why aren’t you imbibing Cabernet Pfeffer, Rossese or Refosk?

Several glasses and bottles of Barbeito's wine from Madeira

These Fortified Wines From Madeira Pair With Everything

Excellent, underrated wines from the tiny, semi-tropical island

Ami Ami, part of a new wave of good boxed wine

We’re in the Golden Age of Boxed Wine (Seriously)

Thanks to a new wave of producers, boxed wine has gone from trivial to terrific

Activities on the sunset. bottle of wine serving wine on two cups on the beach. Red wine is becoming more popular as a summer drink.

Chilled Red Wine Is the Drink of Summer

The wine world is experiencing a vibe shift towards light, summery reds

Four bottles from the Napa-based Mira Winery

Review: Mira Offers Up Cool and Wildly Innovative Wines

The Napa-based winery experiments with a white Cabernet Franc, underwater aging and...large wooden eggs?

the four 50th anniversary releases from Cakebread Cellars

Cakebread Cellars' 50th Anniversary Release Shows Off Chardonnay’s Range

For its 50th anniversary, the iconic Napa is rolling out some good Chardonnay

A selection of what wine pros drink when they're off-duty

What Do Wine Nerds Drink Off-Duty?

It’s not Bordeaux. Why some somms prefer to relax with vodka (neat), crisp beers and Costco wine.

Wines from winemaker Luis Seabra on a barrel

Forget Port and Try These Excellent Douro Valley Wines

“Dirt nerd” Luis Seabra is now making light and elegant red wines in Portugal

LaCrescent' grape developed by the University of Minnesota

These Lab-Grown Grapes Could Be the Future of American Wine

Baco Noir, Catawba or Cayuga? They’re elegant, exciting and climate-resistant.

Spices and wineglasses on grey background. Sommelier Beverly Crandon pairs wines with spicy foods.

7 Essential Wine and Spicy Food Pairings

A seasoned sommelier and certified spice lover weighs in on her favorite pairings (including goat curry and Cabernet Sauvignon)

Tarpon Cellars lineup of wine on a surfboard

Tarpon Cellars’ Napa Wines Taste Like Italian Holidays

After a decade of making traditional California cabs, winemaker Jeremy Carter turned to Europe for inspiration (and added a soundtrack)