FIFEMerlot
(medium bodied dry red)
• PRINCIPAL GRAPE: Merlot
• ORIGIN: Napa Valley, California
• PRICE: $25
Fife Vineyards is my husband’s winery, and I’m its toughest critic. When it comes to this sensational merlot, though, all I could say to my husband was: bravo. Aromas of cassis, dried cherries, and dried cranberries waft out of the glass, and the vanilla, cherry, and cocoa flavors are pure hedonism. Best of all, the sublime texture is not unlike melted chocolate. One memorable evening, we drank this wine with nothing more than a platter of simply grilled baby lamb chops.
GLEN FIONAViognier
(medium-bodied dry white)
• PRINCIPAL GRAPE: viognier
• ORIGIN: Walla Walla Valley, Washington
• PRICE: $19
Who knew that Washington’s Walla Walla Valley was such a haven for excellent viognier? Glen Fiona’s is sensational. Hugely expressive aromas of honeysuckle and jasmine. And flavors that seem like a medley of bergamot, mandarin orange, kaffir lime, and other exotic citrus fruits. Impeccable balance and freshness. Just a sip of a viognier like this makes me want to rush into the kitchen and start cooking curry or Thai noodles.
CASTELLO MONTAUTOVernaccia di San Gimignano
(light-bodied dry white)
• PRINCIPAL GRAPE: vernaccia
• ORIGIN: Tuscany, Italy
• PRICE: $13
One of Italy’s easiest-drinking whites comes from Tuscany, from the area around the hillside village of San Gimignano, known as much for its medieval towers as for its wine. That wine is called vernaccia, and it’s vibrant, zesty, aromatic, and light. A bit grassy with red apple and pear aromas, it’s the perfect wine for, say, fried calamari or a traditional Italian antipasto with olives and salami.
CHEVIOT BRIDGEShiraz
(medium-bodied dry red)
• PRINCIPAL GRAPE: syrah
• ORIGIN: Southeastern Australia
• PRICE: $8
Many Australian shirazes possess a texture somewhere between pancake syrup and molasses. And while that can be pleasant, there are times when you want a shiraz that’s a little less weighty. This one from Cheviot Bridge is a good choice. With its simple, juicy blackberry and red cherry aromas and flavors, it would be a good partner for a humble meat loaf or pot roast.
CLOS DU BOIS“J. Garcia” Cabernet Sauvignon
(full-bodied dry red)
• PRINCIPAL GRAPE: cabernet sauvignon
• ORIGIN: Sonoma County, California
• PRICE: $15
For the price, this cabernet sauvignon from Clos du Bois offers loads of cabernet character—aromas and flavors packed with black currant, berries, sage, and thyme notes. Plus, the tasty sweet oak comes across as vanilla-y, chocolaty, and coconuty (like a Mounds Bar!). A definite find and a good partner for simple winter fare—beef stew, roast chicken, and so on.
HOGUEChenin Blanc
(light-bodied off-dry white)
• PRINCIPAL GRAPE: chenin blanc
• ORIGIN: Columbia Valley, Washington
• PRICE: $9
Sometimes the perfect wine isn’t one you ooh and ah over, but rather one that goes perfectly with what you’re eating—even if it’s leftover Chinese takeout. This chenin blanc’s easygoing, soft, honeydew melon flavors, slight floral notes, and light crispness make it a worthy partner for stir-fried vegetables, sesame noodles, fried rice, pot stickers, and probably even fortune cookies.
DOMAINE VACHERONSancerre
(light-bodied dry white)
• PRIMARY GRAPE: sauvignon blanc
• ORIGIN: Loire Valley, France
• PRICE: $27
Sometimes a wine makes you crave a certain food. I, for one, can barely sip Sancerre without visions of fresh-shucked oysters dancing in my head. Why they’re such a superb match is hard to say. Is it the tangy, minerally character of the wine? The pure oceanic freshness of the oysters? I’ve eaten dozens of bivalves and gone through numerous bottles trying to figure it out. One thing is for sure: This vibrant Sancerre from Domaine Vacheron is a must-have the next time you’re at an oyster bar.
