Corte Giovanni Rose Prosecco

Just a few miles south of the beating heart of Prosecco, Valdobbiadene, is the Societa Agricola Colli Asolani di Bedin where Corte Giovanni is made. This third-generation producer was founded in 1948 by Giacomo Bedin where the family has long specialized in Prosecco grown on the gentle slopes of the Colli Asolani hills. This is made from Glera, the classic grape of Prosecco, but a small amount of Pinot Noir is blended in for color and richness.

Daou Cabernet

Georges and Daniel Daou didn’t just buy land in Paso Robles, they bought the old Hoffman Mountain Ranch and its famed barn as well. Founded by Dr. Stanley Hoffman in 1964, this was the site of some legendary wines. I can go on about the 1976 and 1977 HMR Cabernet, but then that would be rude. Let’s just say that Daou wines have an excellent and established pedigree. Their Cabernet is solely from estate fruit; powerful and plump.

Darley Alexander Valley Red

Darley Chardonnay

Fresh, vibrant, and full of charm, this Chardonnay shows off juicy pear and peach, a touch of vanilla, and toasty brioche. The palate is rich yet lively, finishing long with a hint of hazelnut warmth. It’s an easy match for seafood, soft cheeses, or just sipping with friends. So smooth it might seduce your seafood.

Domaine de La Fidelite Clos de Davet Blanc

Domaine de La Fidelite Clos de Davet Rouge

This is a fairly new estate, founded by the daughter of one of the most influential figures in the region, Bernard Clement. Laurence de la Farge, and her husband, Geraud, built on Clement’s legacy; today their children, Antoine and Sophie, run this large and successful domaine. Their vineyard extends over 1300 acres, and the wines are slowly fermented and then aged in concrete for six months – so very traditional and terroir-driven.

Domaine de La Fidelite Premiere Cuvee

Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, once ubiquitous on shelves and wine lists, are getting hard to find today. Smart buyers are looking at the AOC’s next door, like Menetou-Salon, just a few miles west of those two better known areas. And just like those places, the soils are a mix of Kimmeridgian limestone and the even more famed soil, silex. Silex deserves its fame; it provides tension and complexity to the aromatic Sauvignon Blanc grape.

Domaine de Montroy

Started back in 1928 this was the first cooperative in Burgundy’s Côte Chalonnaise. Like other co-ops, it was created in a time of financial crisis as growers banded together to try to rescue the region. They weathered global storms as well as plenty of national ones too (it’s France, right?). Because of Burgundy’s fame this kind of value is rarely found these days but long-established groups like the Caves de Bissey can still deliver.

Domaine des Florets Reliance

Domaine Lerys Tradition

The family estate Domaine Lérys was founded in 1861 in Villeneuve les Corbières, with vineyards planted on steep schist soils, not such a different landscape from what you find in Spain’s Priorat. The Rhone grapes like Carignan, Grenache and Syrah grown in Fitou are more generous than they are burly. Their Tradition bottling combines 60% Carignan (tangy and almost cranberry like) with dense and deep Grenache.