Did you know Feb.18 is National Drink Wine Day? We think the occasion calls for a toast. Or how about 18? Here are some great California wines to uncork in observance. Cheers!
2019 Priest Ranch Grenache Blanc
Originally developed in northern Spain and now a showstopper in Yountville, Calif., this is a full-bodied white wine made from the red Grenache grape known for its alluring aroma and touch higher alcohol percentage than most other white wines. This one delights with white peach, melons, and honeysuckle on the nose then explodes with flavors of stone fruit and citrus to the taste. $22
2019 Chalk Hill Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Subtle gold tones shine through in this stunner. On the nose, expect hints of marshmallow and apple pie followed by a balanced, nuanced combination of honeysuckle, orange peel, vanilla custard and crème brulee. $26
2021 Rombauer Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
This is only the second white wine to come from the winery known around the world for its award-winning famous Carneros Chardonnay. It is bright and exudes love with its fragrant aromas of key lime, mango and nectarine with a fresh and lively citrus flavored palate. $26
2020 Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc
Famously, proudly organic dry-farmed and certified organic, Frog’s Leap only uses grapes from its iconic estate vineyard in this varietal. Crispness and a wealth of minerals are on clear display here, but there are also terrifically vibrant white flower aromatics and luscious flavors of stone fruit in every sip. $27
Saldo 2019 Red Blend
The buzzy release in the award-winning brand’s lineup of red blends, this marriage of Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel offers notes of dark fruit with dried black cherries, mixed spices, with plenty of density and body. $32
2020 ONEHOPE Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe with a dense structure, both the flavors offered on the nose and to the taste come in waves, perfectly layered. First, there is a lovely touch of dried herbs. Next, expect ever-so-subtle vanilla. Finally, chocolate rounds everything out and ties both the herbs and vanilla together. $35
Sterling Vineyards Sparkling Blanc de Blancs
Aromas of green apple, lemon citrus, pear and lemon cream offer a fresh palate with fruit-forward flavors, zippy acidity and a creamy finish. Made from 100 percent Chardonnay and gorgeously fizzy, it’s the perfect wine for toasting the season. $35
2017 J Vineyards & Winery Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Complex and aromatic, this classic pinot noir from the famed Russian River Valley has a lot going on, from notes of leather and cola to flavors of blueberry, raspberry and dark cherry, it is a perfect pairing with a rich meal. $42
Gary Farrell Winery 2019 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
The aromas of red currant and strawberry are so sublime here, tempered just slightly by hints of tobacco as the glass comes toward your lips. On the palate, expect to be similarly impressed with flavors of cola, jasmine, honeysuckle, fresh cherries and sweet baking spices. $45
2016 Kendall-Jackson Stature Cabernet Sauvignon
Elegant and plush, this Bordeaux-style varietal is complex and alluring. Expect notes of notes of tobacco leaf and black currants first, followed but this really unique sweet new oak – likely from the barrel – and finally a bold mix of spices. $100
2019 Aperture Bordeaux Red Blend
If a trip to France’s oh-so-romantic wine country is not in the cards this year, why not bring wine country to you? This red blend, made in the classic Bordeaux style yet from Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, will do the trick with its elegant density, ripe fruit and structured tannins. $55
2017 Palmaz Louise Riesling
Named in honor of co-founder Christian Gastón Palmaz’s wife Jessica Louise, this white wine managed to strike the tricky balance sweet, fruity and dry, thanks in great part to its low alcohol and high acidity. Start the night right by serving this with appetizers or a salad course. $70
7 Cellars Elway’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Yes, Elway refers to football legend John Elway, who founded 7Cellars in Napa Valley along with winemaker Rob Mondavi Jr.—making this a perfect bottle for those looking to impress men in their lives. Especially those who would rather be watching the Super Bowl during Valentine’s Day weekend than sipping wine with their sweeties. Aromatic, with clear notes of dried fruit and herbs, it offers a delightful balance of plum and black cherry. $77
Booker 2018 Fracture
This seductive blend is the perfect ironic purchase given that the heathiest relationships bend but never break. Named for the limestone that causes the land in its vineyard to literally fracture, this wine is velvety smooth with a balance between sweet and earth. Expect notes of sweet beets, dark plums and even chocolate. $98
2018 J. Davies Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Named to honor Jack L. Davies–credited with turning Schramsberg vineyard into the preeminent sparkling wine house in the United States–this Cabernet is perfect for a couple who collects wine together. It boasts bold black plum, vibrant blackberry and cocoa notes followed by baking spice and mocha. $130
2018 Flowers Sea View Ridge Pinot Meunier
Why give flowers when you can give Flowers? Though Pinot Meunier is best known as one of the three varietals used in Champagne and sparkling wines, this savory and earthy expression of the grape stands impressively on its own. This surprising blend features layers of red berries, baking spices and even a touch of black tea. $100
Hamel Family Wines 2017 Nuns Canyon
The stark ruby color as this luscious varietal is poured will catch your eyes first. Supple and silky to the taste, there is a symphony of flavors – blackberry, cassis, lavender, sage, graphite, tea leaf, soy and crushed rocks – that explode from the glass. They give way to a structured minerality on the finish. $160
Patrimony Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Potent and perfect for a proposal, there is a symphony of flavor in three acts here. It starts with chocolate before building to a combination of blackberries, violets, cedar and cigar box. Finally, a chorus of blueberries, dulce de leche and rose petals come together in perfect harmony. $275