Celebrating California Wine Month

To celebrate California Wine Month, I wanted to highlight some widely available, wallet friendly California wines that are perfect for food and friends. There are so many great wines coming out of the Golden State that there’s really something for every palette, budget, occasion, and personality. With that, it was my intention to showcase wines that were 1. From larger wineries with labels we all probably recognize, 2. Distributed nationally – meaning available in most states, and 3. Priced under $20 a bottle. I hope you get as much enjoyment out of these wines – or your favorite Cali sippers – as I did doing the “research” for this post. I’d love to hear more about your favorites, so leave a comment and let’s chat.

2016 Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay – $13

It’s been the best selling Chardonnay in the United States for 25 years. You can’t miss when opening this wine. It’s loaded with citrus and tropical fruit notes, and is accented by oak and vanilla. I love this wine with crab and lobster, and it’s excellent for creamy pasta dishes like fettuccine alfredo.

2016 Hess Collection “Select” Central Coast Pinot Noir – $17

You might also see a selection of this wine with a teal label (while a little different, both are great options). This is the quintessential Thanksgiving table wine – or for your turkey (or portobello mushroom) sandwich at lunch. Undertones of pomegranate and sour cherries are accented by white pepper and subtle oak.

2015 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon – $15

If you haven’t had this affordable California Cab, run, don’t walk, to pick it up. This wine consistently delivers – year-in and year-out. I love serving this with medium rare ribeye steaks, and I think it’s even better next to a big, juicy burger, dripping with cheddar cheese and sauteed onions. Believe me, it’s a crowd pleaser.

2016 Coppola Black Label Claret – $17

I’ll save the long explanation of what “Claret” wines are for a separate post, but think of it as a lighter style Bordeaux. The 2016 vintage here offers a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. It’s a smooth, easy-drinking wine – the kind of bottle you open for yourself after a rough day at the office because it’s basically a hug in a glass.

2015 Benziger Family Sonoma County Merlot – $14

By now, you know I’m a big believer in NorCal Merlot. The 2015 Benziger is an affordable, food friendly Merlot that opens up with plum and blackberry flavors, intertwined with hints of anise, cola, and nutmeg. If you know you want red wine with your food, but you aren’t sure what to serve, this is a great option.

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut (Non-Vintage) – $20

What’s better than bubbles? Really good, very affordable bubbles. The California satellite of the French Louis Roederer Champagne house, this is the staple wine from this producer. Two ways to think about serving this wine –  with goat cheese, oysters, scallops, or sushi – OR as a toast to the weekend. {Pop, Fizz, Clink}