Fife Vineyards: The striking black and red label reflects what's inside the bottle - deeply fruited, complex red wines made from Napa Valley and Mendocino County grapes.
There's also a jammy Reserve Shiraz from Alexander Valley at $16. Easier to find at supermarkets and wine shops are the Sonoma County Chardonnay ($14) and Cabernet Sauvignon ($22). Clos du Bois: This Sonoma County winery makes a number of vineyard- designated and reserve wines. Sonoma County Merlot ($25) and Chardonnay ($14) are good choices, as are the single-vineyard Chardonnays from the Robert Young ($25) and Belle Terre ($24) vineyards. It may be difficult to find its exceptional Cinq Cepages ($70), a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, yet everything else Steve Reeder and Margo Van Staaveren make turns to gold, including their Gewurztraminer and Johannisberg Riesling (both $15). Jean now makes reds and whites that are equally superb. Jean: Historically focused on white wines, Chateau St. Good bets are the Pacific Rim Riesling ($10), the prison-themed Big House Red ($10) and Big House White ($10) - both with screw cap - Cardinal Zin ($20) and Le Cigare Volant ($32), a Rhone blend. There are very few grape varieties from which Grahm has not tried to make wine, and he's particularly fond of Italian and Rhone varieties. Bonny Doon: No one in California tops Randall Grahm for the range of wines he makes and the esoteric sense of humor that goes with them. The bargain line is called Beringer Founders' Estate, at about $12. The Knights Valley Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, (both $26), and the Knights Valley Alluvium white blend ($16) are delicious and affordably priced. At that price, it is obviously a special gift. The flagship is the Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($80). Beringer Vineyards: Wine master Ed Sbragia and winemaker Laurie Hook make dozens of wines under the Beringer label, sourcing vineyards throughout Napa Valley and Sonoma County. If you're shopping in a fine-wine shop, don't hesitate to ask the staff for help. Prices listed are those suggested by the wineries in many cases you may find the wines for less. Put the wines in fabric or paper bottle bags, and you've got gifts that will be savored. Follow them and you'll nail much of that shopping list with just one or two stops. The recommendations here are for fairly priced California wines made by time-tested producers, readily available in Northern California and suitable for gift-giving. Most harvests in California are good, and reliable producers do well even in the difficult ones. Rather, look for wines made by California producers who put out terrific bottles year in and year out.įorget about vintage dates, and base your buying decisions on producer reputation. The trick: Don't shop for particular wines and vintages, which can be a needle-in-a-haystack excursion.
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