75 posts
2019 Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma Mountain Cuvée ($18) For six generations and over 160 years, the Bundschu family has farmed the Rhinefarm estate vineyard at the crossroads of the Sonoma Valley, Carneros and Napa Valley appellations. Mountain Cuvée ho...
2023 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Parallèle 45 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge ($15.99) Parallèle 45 is named after the earth’s 45th parallel, a famous circle of latitude that marks the midpoint between the equator and the North Pole. It also passes over the cellars of ...
2020 J Dusi Model M Red Blend ($17.99) On a recent visit to Paso Robles, I had the pleasure of spending some time in the tasting room at J Dusi with Janell Dusi, the “J” in J Dusi and a fourth-generation winemaker in the Dusi family. Janell was bo...
2021 Serial XXVI Red Blend ($35) Serial Wines is a part of the John Anthony Wine & Spirits portfolio, including John Anthony Vineyards, Serial Wines, Weather, and JaM Cellars. After decades of grape growing and winemaking in Napa Valley—first ...
2020 Fiuza 3 Castas Reserva ($8.66) This wine is from Tejo, a historic wine region in central Portugal, inland from Lisbon, and known for its diverse terroirs shaped by the Tejo River, which divides it into the Bairro, Campo, and Charneca zones. The...
2023 Puerta de Plata ($7.99) Puerta de Plata (i.e., Silver Door) wine is produced in Spain and bottled by Terra Cellars. It is made from 60% Tempranillo and 40% Garnacha. A bit of on-line searching seems to indicate this wine was aged for 12 mon...
You may have come across a wine either on a wine list or on the store shelf that’s called a “GSM” and wondered what kind of wine it is. So, let’s take a look at this funny acronym wine. A “GSM” wine refers to a blend of three specific grape varietie...
2017 Ramey Claret ($39.98) David and Carla Ramey founded their winery in 1996 and forged a new California winemaking style that paired old-world techniques with the premier fruit of Sonoma and Napa. The Ramey family has long excelled at collaborat...
“Claret” (rhymes with Carrot) is a traditional British term for red wine from Bordeaux. The term is derived from the word clairet in French which originally referred to a light-colored, pale red wine that was popular in medieval England after Bordea...
2021 A to Z Engraved Proprietary Red Blend ($10) A to Z Wineworks is owned by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE), a Washington-based wine company. SMWE acquired A to Z Wineworks, including its Rex Hill subsidiary and winery facility, in September 202...
Blending of wines plays a large role in the art of wine making. The main reason that winemakers produce blends is to make the best wine possible. Blending different grape varieties is useful in accentuating a particular grape’s virtues. But winem...
2017 Barboursville Vineyards Octagon ($95) This Barboursville Vineyards wine was named to celebrate the estate’s diverse connections with the legacy of Thomas Jefferson, symbolized in the central octagon drawing room in his design for Governor Barbo...
50 West Aldie Heights Cuvée ($70) 50 West is a farm vineyard located on Route 50 just past the historic town of Aldie in Middleburg, Virginia. (39060 John Mosby Highway). First used by Native Americans as a route to move their migrating herds, Rout...
2021 King Family Vineyards Mountain Plains Monticello Red Blend ($85) King Family Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery. They’re known as one of the best wineries in Virginia. They specialize in the production of premium wines that showc...
Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso ($34.99) According to their literature, “Like most first borns, Sandy has main character energy. She sets the standard for what boxed wine can be while knowing how to have a good time.” This wine is perfect to drink chilled...
2022 Esporão Monte Velho Reserva ($18) A new Reserva Red wine has been added to the popular Monte Velho (pronounced MON-tay VELL-yo and meaning “Old Hill” in Portuguese) wine line. The Monte Velho name is inspired by a grassy mound on the Herdade do...
Danaus Red Blend ($13) Danaus originates from the Costers del Segre DO in the Lleida province of Catalunya in northeast Spain. It gets its name, Danaus Plexippus (i.e., “sleepy transformation” in ancient Greek), from the scientific name for the mon...
In years past in the U.S., red wine blends were sold by the jug as “Red Wine” or “Table Wine.” These were inexpensive wines that were blends of grapes, vineyards or even vintages. So, today, blends are often disregarded as being of lower quality. W...
The fruit for the Bousquet Estate Vineyards was originally planted in 1998 on virgin terrain in the Uco Valley’s Alto Gualtallery zone at an altitude of about 4,125 feet. With its high-altitude wines recognized for their freshness, vibrant aromatics ...
Bluestone Vineyard is named after the “bluestone” (a type of limestone) that is a main component within the local soil. It is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery in the Shenandoah Valley AVA. Curt and Jackie Hartman began planting grapes...
2019 Jump Mountain Borderland Red Blend ($27) From the Shenandoah Valley AVA, Jump Mountain Borderland red blend is an award-winning wine having received 1st place in the Shenandoah Cup Awards! Approved in 1982 as Virginia’s first American Viticult...
2021 Jump Mountain Livia Red Blend ($27) From the Shenandoah Valley AVA, Jump Mountain Livia red blend is an award winning wine having tied for 3rd in the Shenandoah Cup Awards! Approved in 1982 as Virginia’s first American Viticultural Area, the S...
Great wines from Texas? Indeed! Flat Creek Estate Winery & Vineyard is located roughly 45 minutes from downtown Austin Texas on 80 acres. Their beautiful vineyards combine with an elegant tasting room, full-service restaurant, a covered pavilion ...
2019 Flora Springs Napa Valley Red Blend ($95) This is one of Flora Springs’ most popular holiday designs yet, their “Gnome Carolers,” spreading holiday cheer all around. The design is inspired by General Manager Nat Komes’ memory of his grandmother...
2021 C’EST LA VIE Pinot Noir + Syrah Blend ($13) C’EST LA VIE wines “invites you to simply take life as it comes.” C’EST LA VIE wines are imported from the Pays d’Oc IGP in Southern France. This region covers all the wines that are not made under ...
Dogajolo Wines by Carpineto Dogajolo (pronounced (Dog-ay-yolo) was launched in Italy in 1993 by Giancarlo Sacchet and Antonio Zaccheo Sr. of Carpineto. “This is a momentous year as we proudly celebrate 30 years of our signature Dogajolo Toscano Ros...
Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso ($35) Amy Ezrin, the founder of Sandy Giovese wine was training to be an opera singer and ended up living in Italy for 8 years. She states she“…was an ‘okay’ singer, but I was really good at speaking Italian and tasting wine...
Gaia, the Greek goddess of the Earth, has been the Bousquet family’s inspiration since founding the winery in 1997. Gaia labels depict the goddess in a festive headdress of colorful fruits and flowers. Gaia wines are crafted with French winemaking s...
In years past in the U.S., red wine blends were sold by the jug as “Red Wine” or “Table Wine.” These were inexpensive wines that were blends of grapes, vineyards or even vintages. So, blends are often discounted or disregarded as being of poorer qua...
2021 Virgen Natural Red Blend ($13) Domaine Bousquet is a family-owned winery in Mendoza, Argentina that is nestled in the mountain community of Tupungato. Their wine is organic and vegan. From the vine to the processing of the grapes to their focus...
2019 Bouza Monte Vide Eu Red Blend ($67) Red-blend wines are some of the best in the world. This is a red blend from Bouza, is produced in the southern region of Montevideo in Uruguay. The name, Monte Vide Eu, loosely translates to “I see a hill” w...
In years past in the U.S., red wine blends were sold by the jug as “Red Wine” or “Table Wine.” These were inexpensive wines that were blends of grapes, vineyards or even vintages. This history has led to some people believing that blends are of less...
There are many different types of grapes grown in Bordeaux and used in their famous wines. In the past, there were just six varietals allowed for making red wine in Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carm...
Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua Valley The Colchagua Valley is located in Chile’s Central Valley and stretches from the coastal hills that run the entire length of Chile’s Pacific coastline and to the foothills of the Andes in the east. Each of ...
2017 Vina Robles The Arborist Red Blend ($18) The Arborist is dedicated to the founder of Vina Robles, Hans Nef, and named for the arborist who saved the life of the iconic 300+ year-old oak tree featured on the label. Mr. Nef was known for his love...
Herdade do Esporão is located in southern Portugal’s Alentejo’s region and the largest wine producer in the region. Esporão is also the region’s most widely distributed winery in the U.S. and a driving force behind the revitalization of Alentejo wi...
2018 Primus “The Blend” ($18.99) Primus is a leading brand in the Chilean premium segment and a fine example of Chilean quality capabilities. The name Primus is Latin and means “the first” or “the first among its peers”, and for good reason. The win...
Wines of TILIA from Argentina Tilia’s rural origins in Mendoza Argentina connect them deeply to the land and to their community. As the first Argentine wine to carry the Bodegas de Argentina Certified Sustainable Seal, the TILIA label illustrates th...
This is the second of three Behind the Cork™ features highlighting Chilean wines that collectively underline Chile’s historic commitment to sustainable wine growing. Their focus on sustainability includes environmental, social, and economic. Chile’s...
2019 Sosie Rossi Ranch Sonoma Valley Red Blend ($43) For Sosie, France has always shaped their appreciation of wine. It has influenced the way their vineyards are farmed and in the way they treat the fruit in the cellar. They proclaim this affinity ...
Wines of Portugal’s Alentejo Region Dollar for dollar it’s hard to beat Portugal’s Alentejo region for exceptional values. With 2,000 years of winemaking experience, Alentejo delivers expertly made wines at unbeatable prices. Alentejo is internatio...
2020 Virgen Organic Wines ($13 ea) Virgen Wines, by Domaine Bousquet, only produces wines made from organic grapes and is Argentina’s largest exporter of organic-fruit wines with upward of 100,000 cases sold in the U.S. alone. With their Virgen coll...
2014 Lyeth Meritage Sonoma Red Blend ($26) Lyeth (“Leeth”) Estate was created in 1981 by founder Chip Lyeth who was captivated by the Bordeaux style of wine blending to achieve the most intriguing, inspiring wines. And a Bordeaux blend this one is...
2014 Opolo Fusion Red Blend ($28) Several years ago, I was given a bottle of Opolo Reserve Zinfandel and thought it was one of the best bottles I had ever had. I’ve remained a big fan of Opolo and have visited their tasting room during a visit to Pa...
2017 Ravines Wine Cellars Maximilien ($24.95) Ravines Wine Cellars is an artisanal winery in the flourishing, world-class wine region of the Finger Lakes, located in upstate New York. It is the passion of Morten & Lisa Hallgren, a European Winem...
2014 Amador Cellars “Farmhouse Red” ($27) Amador Cellars, located in Plymouth California (Amador County) is truly a family-run winery. It showcases Mediterranean wines, Tuscan architecture and a friendly tasting room staff that includes the family....
2013 Barton Family Wines “The Dance” Red Blend ($50) The Barton Family Wines is located in Paso Robles, California and Joe Barton is the Proprietor of “The Dance” red blend. He makes this wine in remembrance of Joseph Barton Sr., his father. In 19...
2016 Ace Kicker Big Bet Blend ($15) This Ace Kicker wine originates from Spain’s Castilla-La Mancha region which is located about 40 miles south of Madrid. This Big Bet Blend is indeed a big blend that’s produced from 34% Cabernet Franc, 27% Syrah,...
2016 Silvia Cellars Three Barrels Red Blend ($28) The inspiration for Silvia Cellars began in 1885 on a family owned vineyard in Sicily. Striving to create quality wine for his dinner table, Nonno Silvia shared a passion for vendemmia (harvesting) ...
2015 Derange ($100) I was familiar with The Prisoner Wine Company and the amazing works of Dave Phinney but had not heard of the Derange Red Blend. And, maybe that was a good thing. Because when I opened this bottle I had no idea what I was getting ...
2015 Phantom Red Blend by Bogle ($25) The Phantom is back! Last week’s Behind the Cork™ feature was the Phantom Chardonnay that was so good I went out and bought another bottle. This week feature is the Phantom Red Blend by Bogle. This Phantom Red...
2016 Federalist Honest Red Blend ($21.99) The Federalist Honest Red Blend pays homage to one of the most highly regarded American Presidents of all time, Abraham Lincoln. This is a blend of reds from the California’s North Coast appellation that in...
Écluse Blind Dog Red Blend ($17) Écluse is the French word for the locks on the canals. And, the Écluse name is very fitting for this winery that’s owned by Steve Lock. During my last visit to Paso Robles I stopped in to visit Écluse and got to mee...
While strolling through the wine section of my local grocery store, I was asked “Do you know what Jug Wine is?” My attention was drawn to a sign above the shelves that identified the section as “Jug Wine.” My first reaction was to state that it’s...
2016 Thomas Allen Generations Red Blend ($7) This was a new one to me. I’d previously tried the Thomas Allen Cabernet Sauvignon, but wasn’t aware of their red blend. Thomas Allen is owned and operated by third generation wine grape growers, Thomas ...
2012 Clayhouse Adobe Red Blend ($14) This was an interesting find. I love Paso Robles and the wines that are produced there. But, I wasn’t previously familiar with this one. The Clayhouse estate Red Cedar Vineyard is located on the east side of P...
2016 Lion Tamer Red - The Hess Collection ($45) This red blend comes from The Hess Collection of wines from Napa Valley. Hess Family wines was founded by Donald Hess in 1978. Today, Tim Persson (Donald’s son in law) and his wife Sabrina are owners ...
2016 Écluse Ensemble ($48) This Bordeaux red blend from Écluse in Paso Robles is truly an ensemble of varietals. It’s produced from 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cab Franc, 15% Petit Verdot, 14% Merlot, 14% Malbec and 7% Carignane. A little bit of eve...
2017 Ventisquero Grey [Glacier] GCM Red Blend ($20) This wonderful blend from Ventisquero comes from the La Roblería vineyard in the Apalta area of the Colchagua Valley. It is a blend of 62% Garnacha, 19% Cariñena (Carignan) and 19% Mataro (Mouvedr...
2016 Rancho Sisquoc Santa Barbara “Sisquoc River Red” ($10) Now here’s a red blend that recently caught my eye. Not because of any fancy label or special promotion in the store. According to the Rancho Sisquoc website this is 35% Cabernet Sauvignon...
I always enjoy it when someone asks me a wine question that I don’t know the answer to. It gives me another opportunity to learn. So, when I was recently asked if I was familiar with Limnio (LIM-nee-oh) I said no and started to do some research. Lim...
2013 Elevation 1250’ Paso Robles Red Wine ($7) This Elevation 1250’ is a nice blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah from Paso Robles. And, as with all Behind the Cork™ - Wine of the Week features, it’s a great value. I must admit this is a unique find a...
2015 Foggy Veil Hillside Selection Santa Barbera County Red Blend ($13) This red blend is 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, in a traditional Rhone style. And the California Central Coast, Paso Robles and Santa Barbera, are doing tremendous Rhone blends. ...
2014 14 Hands Columbia Valley Stampede Red Blend ($9) I’ve recently read some nice things about 14 Hands Winery and, never having had their wines, I thought I’d give this one a try. The Stampede Red Blend is a combination of Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet...
2013 Abadia Retuerta Selección Especial ($30) Abadia Retuerta first started producing wines in Spain in 1996. The winery and surrounding vineyards are on the former site of the 12th century Santa Maria de Retuerta Monastery in Sardón de Duero. This ...
Last time we looked at red wine blends from Bordeaux. Their blends are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. But, there is another wine region in France that produces great red wine blends, and that’s the Rhône River Valley in Southern France....
Image - Decanter.com Red wine blends have become very popular. There are several very popular and inexpensive red blends with catchy names on the grocery store shelves and on menus at restaurants. If you enjoy these red blends, let me introduce you...
2014 Foggy Veil Hillside Red Blend ($13) This blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache from Santa Barbara County is another unexpected winner. In the Rhone tradition, this blend has the big fruit, medium tannin characteristics of the Syrah with the Grena...
2013 Hook or Crook Napa Valley Red Blend ($7) I’m always curious when I come across a new label at Trader Joe’s. This one caught my eye so I brought it home. While they don’t specify the grapes used, this is a full-bodied red with a real nice set o...
During the winter months and the holidays, mulled wine is a very popular drink, especially in European countries. Partly by tradition and partly because it’s a warm drink that is enjoyed on cold evenings. There are many names for mulled wine includi...
Peachy Canyon 2012 Cirque du Vin Red Blend ($11) This red blend from Peachy Canyon in Paso Robles is a real nice combination of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Merlot, Malbec and Tannat. The 60% Syrah gives it a bold flavor while the Zinfandel and ...
In years past in the U.S., red wine blends were sold by the jug as “Red Wine” or “Table Wine.” These were inexpensive wines that were blends of grapes, vineyards or even vintages. So, today, blends are often disregarded as being of poor quality. Bu...
Lyeth 2013 Meritage ($10) This Meritage from Lyeth is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The name “Meritage” was created in 1988 when U.S. wine makers decided to form an alliance and a name for their ble...
Have you ever come across a wine labeled as Meritage and wondered what it is? It’s made in the U.S. where you can dependably know what a wine is because the label will tell you the grape varietal used to make the wine. But this U.S. made wine seems ...
Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week - Cantina Del Grifone 1967 Red Blend ($6) Looking for an attainable, affordable wine? You’ve come to the right place. Each week I feature just such a wine on the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week page of EverWonder...