Corte Giovanni Extra Brut Prosecco

Though Prosecco is made throughout the northeastern Italian regions of Veneto and Friuli, there are two areas that produce wines with more vibrancy and complexity to them and that are solely elevated to DOCG status as a result: Conegliano-Valdobbiadene and Colli Asolani. A very dry version of Prosecco (the meaning of Extra Brut) is as modern as it gets, but it reflects the growing awareness of Colli Asolani as producing wines.

Corte Giovanni Frizzante Prosecco

I suppose to most people, Prosecco is all the same. But it’s not. There are all styles of the wine, especially as it has grown to dominance within the everyday sparkling wine category. Though we once called the grape Prosecco, we now use the more traditional name of Glera, and Prosecco refers to the area of northern Italy where Glera is grown and made. In this case, it’s a frizzante style that you can think of as fizzy Prosecco.

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

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 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.

Domaine Priou Pinot Noir

François et Jean-François Priou mostly grow Sauvignon Blanc along the River Cher; their Touraine Sauvignon Blanc is a great value. Certain places that didn’t used to be able to ripen certain grapes are finding it easier to show off. While you might not think of the Loire Valley for Pinot Noir, it’s routinely grown there and, if you haven’t had a chance to drink any of the ethereal versions of the grape in this region, now it’s your chance.

Domaine Priou Sauvignon Blanc

Sure, most people think that France is neatly laid out, codified and completely explored but, outside of Burgundy and Bordeaux, there are still plenty of vineyards that deserve more attention. The Loire Valley demands that kind of recognition and, in the era of climate change, it is increasingly a source of delicious wines. Sauvignon Blanc used to be notable only from Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé. Equal measures of fruit and mineral.

Dosoris Lane Blanc

Sometimes you just have to embrace the mystery of wine; truth be told, we don’t know which grapes are in this wine. They wouldn’t tell us, but we didn’t care after we tasted it. Neither merely crisp or full and rich; the wine straddles a really nice place that is refreshing and patio-perfect, but that has some weight and character to handle rich fish or even grilled chicken.