There are as many different types of wine parties as there are wines. Through the years, we have hosted numerous wine parties. Regular readers are familiar with our regular Wine Tasting Dinners and have probably read about our Digging into the Cellar Parties, Tasting Groups, and Open That Bottle Nights.

Recently, we had the opportunity to host a wine party in a beautiful wine cave. Rather than having one of our normal tasting dinners in which we taste six wines of the same variety or type in a blind tasting, we decided to pull some wonderful bottles out of our cellar and pair them with a four course dinner.

Here’s a rundown of the food and wine pairings from the evening to give you some food ideas if you are inclined to host a similar dinner with friends:

Aperitif
As our guests arrived, we greeted them with a glass of bubbly.

2002 Argyle Extended Tirage Sparkling Wine (Willamette Valley, Oregon): 73% Chardonnay, 21% Pinot Noir, and 6% Pinot Meunier. Small, very fast bead of bubbles. Pale, straw yellow. Very aromatic with apple, minerality, and nutty notes on the nose. Apple, pear, and nuts come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a very long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Total Wine & More (Bellevue, Washington), $59; Available elsewhere, $63 to $75

Soup
For our first course, we served tomato basil soup paired with Gewurztraminer.

2011 Dowsett Family Winery Gewurztraminer (Celilo Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, Washington): Pale, greenish straw yellow. Nice nose with apple, pear, and lychee aromas. More lychee and pear as well as lemon notes come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity. Clean and fresh. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $20; Available elsewhere, $16 to $18

Salad
For the salad course, we served a mixed green salad with candied walnuts, dried cranberries, and Gorgonzola tossed with raspberry vinaigrette paired with Pinot Noir.

2009 Brittan Vineyards Basalt Block Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon): Deep red. Beautiful with red cherry and strawberry aromas. Strawberry, red cherry, and spice comes through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity and smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $40; Available elsewhere, $35 to $47

Entrée
For the main course, Mom (LaGayle) prepared prime rib, gratin potatoes with asiago cheese, and braised kale paired with two different wines, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

2005 Leonetti Cellar Merlot (Columbia Valley, Washington): 85% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Petit Verdot. Deep, dark red. Gorgeous nose with cinnamon and black plum aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Compass Wines (Anacortes, Washington), $75; Available elsewhere, $80 to $90

2005 Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot. Dark, dense purple. Nice nose with aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, earth, and caramel. More black fruit, earth, and licorice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high, dry tannins. Well-balanced with a very long, silky finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $120; Available elsewhere, $190 to $380

Dessert
We topped off the dinner with creme brulee paired with Riesling Ice Wine.

2010 Milbrandt Vineyards The Estates Riesling Ice Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium gold in color. Very aromatic with honey and apricot on the nose. Honey, apricot, and white peach come through on the palate. Sweet and medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a very long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of five)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $25 [375ml]; Available elsewhere, $26 to $30

It was a fabulous evening of delicious food, amazing wines, and great friends. Cheers!

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? If so, you might want to check out the 2012 William Cole Vineyards Albamar Sauvignon Blanc from the Casablanca Valley of Chile.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20
• Must be widely available

William Cole Vineyards, founded in 1999, lay deep within Chile’s prestigious Casablanca Valley. Owned by Bill Cole and his Chilean family, the winery specializes in cool climate varieties. The winery makes two lines of wine: Albamar and Columbine Reserve. The Albamar wines invoke the influence of the Casablanca Valley’s foggy sunrise (alba) and the cooling breezes of the ocean (mar).

“Yellow color with green hints. This expressive Sauvignon Blanc provides notes of white flowers such as orange blossoms and jasmine and the citrus fruits grapefruit and lime. On the palate, it is fresh and easy to drink with a light yet vibrant acidity and a low to medium persistence. ” –William Cole Vineyards

2012 William Cole Vineyards Albamar Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley, Chile): 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Pale, greenish straw yellow in color. Aromatic with white peach and Granny Smith apple on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $10 to $12

Riesling has become known as Washington State’s signature white variety. Washington is the largest Riesling producing state in the United States. And, Washington State’s own Chateau Ste. Michelle is the largest Riesling producer in the world. While Washington Riesling has been around for many years, the big leap forward came in the late 1990’s when Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Ernst Loosen of Germany began collaborating on an effort to produce truly great Riesling in Washington’s Columbia Valley. Eroica is the result of that partnership, and it has raised the bar for the entire Riesling category in Washington.

Winemakers Bob Bertheau and Ernst Loosen work together every step of the way to produce world-class Riesling from Washington State grapes. The partnership launched in 1999, and the 2012 vintage, the current release, is Eroica’s 14th vintage. Eroica is named for Beethoven’s Third Symphony. We have found Eroica to be consistently excellent from vintage to vintage. With the 2012 vintage, the partnership also introduced a new wine to the Eroica line, Eroica Gold. Eroica Gold maintains the trademark acidity of Washington State found in the regular Eroica and combines it with German botrytis influence.

Recently, we had the opportunity to try both the 2012 Eroica and the 2012 Eroica Gold in a blind samples tasting. Both wines are excellent, but we were especially impressed with the Eroica Gold. The botrytis influence found in the Eroica Gold gives it ripe fruit flavors and sweetness. These wines are different so it may be a matter of personal preference for you, though. For us, we will gladly open either of these wines at our dinner table. Which one we choose on a given night will depend on what we are eating and whether we are in the mood for a drier or sweeter style of Riesling.

2012 Eroica Gold Riesling [Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen] (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium golden yellow in color. Beautiful nose with apricot and orange aromas. Apricot, orange, and a touch of honey come through on the palate. Sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a very long finish. Residual Sugar: 7.54%
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $28; Available elsewhere, $22 to $30

2012 Eroica Riesling [Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen] (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale greenish straw yellow. Aromatic with white peach and floral notes on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with very crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a very long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 1.66%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $20; Available elsewhere, $15 to $24

Chris Camarda made his first wines in the basement of his mother’s house on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Washington. After spending 20 years in the restaurant industry, Chris had developed a good palate and decided to try his hand at winemaking. He founded Andrew Will Winery in 1989 and named it for his son Will and nephew Andrew. At first, the winery was located in an industrial space in Seattle. Chris knew the basics of winemaking, he knew a few winemakers whom he called upon for guidance, and he visited California to learn even more about the industry. In 1994, Chris moved to Vashon Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, where he built his home and the Andrew Will Winery facilities.

Today, Andrew Will sources fruit primarily from four vineyards: Two Blondes Vineyard, their estate vineyard in the Yakima Valley; Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, in which they are a part owner; Discovery Vineyard also in the Horse Heaven Hills; and Ciel du Cheval Vineyard on Red Mountain. Andrew Will produces “white label” single-vineyard blends as well as “black label” wines, which are typically varietally-labeled and offered at a lower price point. Andrew Will Winery currently produces about 5,000 cases per year.

Recently, we had the opportunity to try Andrew Will’s current releases in a blind samples tasting. All seven wines were good, but we were especially impressed with the 2010 Sorella and the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. My personal favorite is the Sorella, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from Champoux Vineyard. Sorella means “sister” in Italian, and this wine honors the memory of Chris’s sister who passed away in the mid-1990’s. The “black label” Cabernet Sauvignon is also an outstanding wine and delivers serious bang for your buck.

Andrew Will wines are sold though their mailing list and select restaurants and retail shops.

2011 Andrew Will Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark purple in color. Very aromatic with black fruit and licorice on the nose. More black fruit and licorice as well as earth come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $30; Available elsewhere, $25 to $32

2010 Andrew Will Sorella Red Wine (Champoux Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark purple. Gorgeous nose with black fruit, spice, and coffee aromas. Black cherry, coffee, spice, and a hint of leather come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, and medium to high, velvety tannins. Well-balanced with a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $75; Available elsewhere, $63 to $80

2010 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine (Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, Red Mountain, Washington): 52% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Franc. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with red fruit and floral aromas. Red and black fruit, earth, and herbs come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and high tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $55; Available elsewhere, $47 to $48

2010 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard Red Wine (Champoux Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 42% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 26% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark red. Very aromatic with beautiful black fruit on the nose. Black cherry, blackcurrant, and earth come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $62; Available elsewhere, $56 to $70

2011 Andrew Will Cabernet Franc (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Cabernet Franc. Deep red in color. Nice nose with cedar and black fruit on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, medium tannins, and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $30; Available elsewhere, $25 to $29

2010 Andrew Will Discovery Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Discovery Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark purple. Aromatic with red fruit and oak on both the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $50; Available elsewhere, $56 to $61

2010 Andrew Will Two Blondes Vineyard Red Wine (Two Blondes Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 43% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec. Deep, dark purplish red. Nice nose with black cherry and oak aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied and smooth with medium tannins and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $55; Available elsewhere, $47 to $63

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? If so, you might want to check out the 2012 Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc from the famed Marlborough region of New Zealand.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20
• Must be widely available

Brancott Estate, located in Blenheim, New Zealand, was founded in 1934. Originally known as Montana Wines, Brancott Estate got its current name from Brancott Vineyard, which is its original Marlborough vineyard and home. In 1973, Brancott Vineyard was the site of the first Sauvignon Blanc plantings in Marlborough. Chief winemaker Patrick Materman joined Brancott Estate in 1990. Brancott is a founding member of New Zealand’s original sustainable winegrowing initiative established in 1995. Regular readers know that we are big fans of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, the country’s flagship wine. Brancott Estate has long been one of our favorite producers. We had the pleasure to visit the winery when we were in New Zealand in 2005.

“Aromas of sweet, ripe fruit reminiscent of white stone fruit and citrus blossom are apparent with a crisp nettle freshness. The wine displays full fruit intensity with hints of pungency complementing the ripe fruit flavours and balancing well with the crisp acidity of the style. A well-rounded expression of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, showing all the natural characteristics of this world-famous region.” –Patrick Materman, Chief Winemaker

2012 Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand): Pale straw yellow in color. Aromatic with grapefruit and orange peel on the nose. More grapefruit as well as lime and freshly cut grass come through on the palate. Dry and light-bodied with tart acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to Buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12.99; Available elsewhere, $7 to $15

Managing partner Marty Taucher and winemaker/partner Chris Peterson founded Avennia Winery in 2010. Located in Woodinville, Washington, Avennia made an impressive debut with their first releases in the fall of 2012. The winery name was inspired by the Roman name for the city of Avignon and is a nod to Old World winemaking. Winemaker Chris Peterson, who spent eight years crafting award-winning wines at DeLille Cellars, is passionate about Old World winemaking techniques and strives to make wines with structure and elegance.

Recently, we had the opportunity to try Avennia’s new releases, the 2011 Arnaut Syrah, 2011 Justine Red Wine, and 2012 Oliane Sauvignon Blanc, in a blind samples tasting. All three wines were good, but we were especially impressed with the Arnaut Syrah. This 100% Syrah is produced with fruit sourced from Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. It is an outstanding wine and delivers serious bang for your buck.

Avennia wines are offered on an allocated basis to their mailing list members. While you may find some of their wines elsewhere, I highly encourage you to get on their mailing list now before it closes and you are out of luck. Other than release events for mailing list members, the winery is not open to the public.

2011 Avennia Arnaut Syrah (Boushey Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Dark, dense purple. Gorgeous nose with earth, black fruit, and spice rack aromas. Blackberry, black cherry, cinnamon, and a touch of smoked meat come through on the palate. Full-bodied with lively acidity and high, silky tannins. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $48

2011 Avennia Justine Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 46% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 24% Syrah. Deep, dark purple. Aromatic with earth and blackberry on the nose. More blackberry and earth as well as black cherry and smoked meat come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $38

2012 Avennia Oliane Sauvignon Blanc (Yakima Valley, Washington): 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Pale, straw yellow in color. Nice nose with peach and floral aromas and flavors. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a creamy mouthfeel.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $25

For many years, I’ve heard Barolo referred to as the “King of Wines”; but when I looked at a glass of Barolo, it looked like a wimpy wine because it was light red in color and somewhat transparent. Consequently, I had a hard time getting excited about it, especially when I looked at the price tag on what was touted as a good bottle of Barolo. However, after our trip to Italy’s Piedmont region this past summer, the home of Barolo, I’m now a believer (and I believe that the black, opaque Riedel glass is perfect for Barolo). Even though they don’t look like it, Barolos tend to be rich, deeply concentrated, full-bodied wines with pronounced tannins and acidity.

The eye opener for me came when we visited the Enoteca Regionale del Barolo. Not only did they have fantastic exhibits about the history of the Barolo zone and the establishment of the Barolo DOCG, but also they had a great tasting bar and knowledgeable English-speaking staff who could tell the Barolo story. The Barolo zone is located in the Langhe Hills of the Piedmont wine region, southwest of the city of Alba, in the Cuneo province of Northwest Italy.

One of the most significant things I learned on our visit was that the Barolo zone consists of production around eleven different communes (towns) with three distinctly different soil types. LaMorra, Cherasco, Roddi, and Verduno area vineyards are in lighter sandy soil and produce less tannic, fruity Barolos. The Barolo and Novello areas consist of a mixture of sand and clay and produce wines with a more harmonic bouquet that are fairly tannic. The soils of Castiglione Falletto, Montforte d’ Alba, Serralunga d’ Alba, Diano d’Alba, and Grizane Cavour are clay and produce the big powerful Barolos that are intense and structured.

Historically, the three main Barolo towns were Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, and Serralunga d’Alba. Even today, almost 90% of all Barolos are produced in those three plus Monforte d’ Alba and La Morra. With this new knowledge, I can match up the type of Barolo I’ll most likely prefer and buy from a producer in that commune, which will be listed on the label.

While Barolos have been made for over a century as a dry red wine, vintage variation was historically high because the Nebbiolo grape (Barolos are 100% Nebbiolo) is a slow-ripening grape with harvest taking place in mid to late October. In more recent years, global warming has had a beneficial influence on the Barolo zone with increased summer temperatures followed by mild autumns, contributing to a string of successful vintages over the last twenty years.

Traditionally, Barolos were produced by fermenting the Nebbiolo grapes on the skins for at least three weeks, and then aging them in large, wooden casks for years. To be labeled as a Barolo, the wine must be aged at least 3 years; a Barolo Riserva must have 5 years of aging. In recent times, more modernist producers began to cut fermentation times to around ten days and then aged the wines in small barrels to cut down on the tannins and make the wine more approachable at a younger age. The controversies between traditionalists and modernists have been called the “Barolo Wars.” From the Barolos that I’ve tasted, it appears that weather along with advances in viticulture, such as better canopy management and controlling yields, have led to riper grapes being harvested earlier with more developed tannins, while preserving fruit flavors and aromas more than in the past.

While our resident Wine Peeps food expert, LaGayle, could give you many good pairing suggestions, I noticed on our trip that Italians typically pair their Barolos with meat dishes and heavy pastas. While good entry level Barolos often tip the scales close to $50 per bottle and the best, older vintages, in the hundreds of dollars, Barolos age very well, and many aficionados won’t drink one less than 10 to 15 years old.

Two good entry-level Barolos that I would recommend are the Paolo Conterno Riva del Bric Barolo (Montforte d’ Alba) at $37+, and the Vietti Castiglione Barolo (Castiglione Falletto) at $38+. I tried the 2008 vintage of each, which were both still a little young but have an excellent future with good aging potential. I encourage you to give Barolo a try. If you like robust red wine, I believe you’ll like it.

Cheers!

While the roasted eye of round roast was the main course for this challenging wine pairing dinner, it was the shallot sauce that added something extra to the meat. Roasted beef can get a little boring if you’re not careful. I love beef, but I do like to see what can be done to give it a little more personality. In the case of this meal, the shallot sauce was the star. It was an easy sauce to make with ingredients that included shallots, red wine, and country Dijon mustard, but it certainly added to the overall flavors of the roasted meat as well as the entire meal. In addition to the roasted eye of round roast with the shallot sauce, we had a mixed green salad with fresh raspberries drizzled with blackberry ginger balsamic vinegar, seasoned green beans with sautéed red bell peppers, and rosemary roasted tri-colored fingerling potatoes. In addition to being yummy, the various side dishes made a very colorful presentation.

As always, I referred to my favorite book, What to Drink with What You Eat, and decided to try a Cabernet Franc and a Merlot with this meal. We selected the 2009 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc and the 2009 Columbia Crest Reserve Merlot, both from Washington State. Both wines were excellent, but the unanimous choice as the best pairing was the Cabernet Franc.

What would you have paired with this meal? Your suggestions for future challenging pairings are always welcome.

Bon Appétit!

2009 Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc (Riverbend Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep, dark purple. Nice nose with black cherry and spice aromas. More black cherry and spice as well as herbs and a touch of earth come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery $30

2009 Columbia Crest Reserve Merlot (Stone Tree Vineyard, Wahluke Slope, Washington): Deep, dark purple. Nose is a bit tight at first and then plum aromas come through. Plum and black pepper dominate the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium tannins. Well-balanced with a very long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery $30

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? If so, you might want to check out the 2012 Apaltagua Unoaked Reserva Chardonnay from the Casablanca Valley of Chile.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$20
• Must be widely available

Viña Apaltagua, founded by American businessman Edward Tutunjian, produces 235,000 cases annually, which are exported to 40 different countries. Apaltagua has winemaking projects in six different valleys in Chile. This Reserva Chardonnay comes from the Casablanca Valley. The Casablanca Valley was Chile’s first cool-climate wine region. With its cool Mediterranean climate and pronounced maritime influence, the Casablanca Valley is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

“A lovely pale yellow hue, our Apaltagua Reserva Chardonnay has flecks of green, and is clean and bright. Aromatically, it reveals hints of tropical fruit, such as passion fruit and pineapple. In the mouth it leaves a persistent note of lemon peel and melon.” –Winemaker Benjamin Mei

2012 Apaltagua Unoaked Reserva Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley, Chile): 100% Chardonnay. Pale, greenish straw yellow in color. Aromatic with lemon, lime, and tropical fruit on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with tart acidity and a long, crisp finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $11 to $15

LaGayle and I sip a glass or two of wine virtually every evening, either just sitting out on the deck talking and/or as an accompaniment with dinner. Unless we are having guests or it is a special occasion, we like to keep the cost moderate on these everyday wines. Over the years, we have developed several “Go-To” favorites that seem to be consistently good from vintage to vintage. In that group there is one sparkling wine, the Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut (Columbia Valley, Washington); two white whites, the Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) and the Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington); and one red wine, the Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet (South Australia, Australia).

All four of these wines are well above average in quality, give you excellent bang for your buck, and are readily available almost anywhere you go to buy wine. We often buy one or more of these to keep in our hotel room when we are traveling to sip in the evening after a day of sightseeing.

Domaine Ste. Michelle is one of the largest sparkling wine houses in the United States, producing more than 300,000 cases each year. DSM has been producing sparkling wine for over 30 years, and Rick Casqueiro has been head winemaker since 1994. While this Brut is good enough to celebrate a special occasion, its price point makes it an excellent weeknight or Sunday brunch bubbly. Available at Total Wine and More for $7.57.

“Sparkling wine is a wonderful yet often overlooked accompaniment to food. Bright acidity and effervescence cleanses the palate, while the delicate flavors complement a wide array of dishes….” –Winemaker Rick Casqueiro

Regular readers know that as far as white wines go, we Wine Peeps love Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. But as far as LaGayle is concerned, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is the best wine period. And, Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc is one of her favorite wines from New Zealand. It is crisp, refreshing, and an excellent sipper no matter whether you are sitting on the deck on a sunny afternoon or curled up with a book on a winter’s evening. Available at Total Wine and More for $7.57.

“Intense aromas of pineapple, passion fruit and guava [and LaGayle would say grapefruit, too], complemented by flinty minerality and herbal notes of nettle and cut tomato plant. The nettle and cut tomato plant characters give richness to the palate, and there is an abundance of luscious fruit sweetness, especially passion fruit and pineapple notes. The wine has excellent presence and mouth feel, with balanced acidity and a generous finish.” –Nobilo

Riesling has become known as Washington State’s signature white variety. Washington is the largest Riesling producing state in the United States. And, Washington State’s own Chateau Ste. Michelle is the largest Riesling producer in the world. Chateau Ste. Michelle makes a number of different Rieslings of different styles and price points, including this off-dry Columbia Valley Riesling. Available at Total Wine and More for $5.97.

“Our Columbia Valley Riesling is a blend of Riesling from throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley. We craft it to be a refreshing, off-dry Riesling vintage after vintage. The wine delivers sweet lime and peach character with subtle mineral notes. This is our ‘any day Riesling’ that is a pleasure to drink and easy to match with a variety of foods.” –Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

Penfolds is one of the oldest and most well respected wineries in Australia. Today, Penfolds is most famous for its top of the line Grange wine that often sells for $500 or more. This Koonunga Hill wine is from one of their value lines. Nevertheless, according to some experts,  it is a wine that can age for 20 years, which is remarkable for a wine at this price point. Available at Total Wine and More for $7.97.

“Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet is very much a reflection of the Penfolds winemaking style and philosophy. Sourced from premium vineyards across South Australia, the wine is known for its full-flavoured style with excellent Shiraz and Cabernet fruit, firm yet well-rounded structure and balanced oak. Made as a traditional ‘Australian blend’, the Shiraz component provides fleshy fruit flavour while Cabernet provides a frame of fine grained tannins.” –Penfolds

I highly recommend that you put a few bottles of each of these wines in your cellar (wine rack, closet, or wherever you keep your wine), and you’ll have some very enjoyable evenings without breaking the bank.