Started in 2002, Bodegas Naia had a straightforward purpose: making high quality white wines using grapes from old, indigenous Verdejo vines. The experiment worked. The winery has succeeded in making some of the best Verdejo in the world, and its affordable Naia is no exception.
A Budget Red That’s Good for the Land
The reasonably-priced Farmhouse red first came to my attention because it was made by a family-owned California producer known for quality wines.
Give Bubbly a Regular Seat at the Table
Sparkling wines are terrific year round, not just for special occasions. Still, there is a persistent belief that the only time to drink sparkling wines is when you’re celebrating on New Year’s Eve or some other momentous event.
Behind a Family Label, a Classic Red
Famille Perrin’s Cotes du Rhone Reserve, Rouge, produced by one of the top winemakers in France’s Southern Rhone Valley, is an excellent wine to accompany a varied holiday feast.
An Alternative to Pricier Chardonnays
Rodney Strong Sonoma County Chardonnay is lightly oaked with subtle vanilla and baked fruit flavors and apple and lemon aromas, a wine with enough fruit-forward character to make it a good companion for most holiday fare.
An Italian Red, By Way of California
Ferrari-Carano 25th anniversary Siena is a dry red blend with complex flavors of plums and cherries and aromas of raspberry jam, maple and bacon (if the tasting notes are to be believed), which makes it an excellent wine to have with Thanksgiving dinner.
Leese-Fitch Pinot Noir Is Unmistakable Bargain
Leese-Fitch Pinot Noir, a light, dry red wine with layers of complex fruit flavor, is good to drink any time of year.
From Spain, a Red Blend With Charm
Laya, a rich, red wine with aromas and flavors of black fruit and berries, is made primarily from an obscure grape grown in a small wine region in high, arid vineyards in southeastern Spain.
Alamos Malbec Has Improved With Time
Alamos malbec is a fall wine, a dark, rich drink well-suited to round out autumn’s crisp, cool days and evenings.
California Wine Royalty Makes a Great Chardonnay
Gavilan Chardonnay is a distinctive golden-colored Burgundy-style wine, made from grapes grown in one of California’s oldest and most storied vineyards.
