Wines Reviews
Best Pinot Grigio Under $15
Winner: Mezzacorona Vigneti delle Dolomiti Pinot Grigio 2009
Pinot Grigio claims noble, Italian roots, but somehow bears a less than desirable reputation in the snootier realms of the wine world. Never one to...
Best Port Wines
Winner: Fonseca Porto 10 Year Old Tawny Port
Port wine is not a typical choice for novice imbibers, but perhaps it should be. Port wine offers diversity and intrigue enough to delight the newcomer as...
Best Sweet Vermouth
Winner: Vya Sweet Vermouth
Using good quality of vermouth is essential to a tasty vermouth-based cocktail. Vermouth is basically “fortified wine that is used in mixing...
Best Dry Vermouth
Winner: Vya Extra Dry Vermouth
The quality of vermouth can make or break a cocktail. Vermouth, or “fortified wine,” is a spiced wine that is used in mixing cocktails or...
Best California Cabernet Sauvignon Wine
Winner: Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 2001
The hardiness and versatility of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes make this varietal a natural choice for vintners in practically any winemaking region worldwide....
Best Merlot under $10
Winner: Tin Roof Merlot 2005
Easily the most versatile varietal in the red wine spectrum, Merlot can be found with characteristics ranging from those of the lighter, fruitier Pinot...
Best California Chardonnay
Winner: Sea Smoke Chardonnay 2009
Chardonnay grapes are currently the most widely grown varietal in all of California, as winemakers happily cater to the ever-increasing demand for...
Best Oaked Chardonnay under $25
Winner: Chalone Estate Chardonnay 2007
If words like buttery, creamy and rich make you salivate then you are going to savor this best list. There are more Chardonnay grapes planted in the U.S....
Best Cabernet Sauvignon under $10
Winner: Columbia Crest Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Sometime around the mid 1600’s a miraculous event occurred, which largely shaped—in that instant—the history of wine with which we are familiar with today....
Best Riesling Under $15
Winner: Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Riesling 2009
Riesling has gotten a bit of a bad rap, sometimes referred to as “the other white wine” or a “non-wine drinkers wine.” Some consider Riesling to be...
Best Zinfandel
Winner: DeLoach Zinfandel Nova Vineyard 2008
For all of you who are relatively new to the wine scene, I would like to begin this Best Zinfandel list with a very important clarification; red zinfandel...
Best Sauvignon Blanc under $25
Winner: Frog’s Leap Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Originating in the acclaimed and long-standing Bordeaux wine region of France, the Sauvignon Blanc white wine varietal makes a great “starter” wine, while...
Best Chardonnay under $10
Winner: Mirassou Vineyards Chardonnay United States California Monterey County California Still Wine Chardonnay 750ml
It’s difficult to know where to begin the endless list of perfect occasions for a great glass of chardonnay. The light, refreshing essences of flowers and...
Best Pinot Noir under $15
Winner: HRM Rex Goliath Pinot Noir NV
While some believe Pinot Noir grapes to be named after a family of nobles, possibly dating all the way back to Roman times, others believe Pinot Noir...
Best Pinot Noir under $10
Winner: Castle Rock Mendocino Pinot Noir 2009
America has been having a love affair with Pinot Noir long before Paul Giamatti praised the varietal as the holy grail of grapes in the 2004 comedy-drama...
