Calera is best known for its compelling Pinot Noirs, but the limestone soils of the Gavilan Mountains east of Monterey Bay work their magic on Viognier too. That’s the genius of the site founder Josh Jensen chose for Calera Wine. This Viognier comes fr…

Barbaresco doesn’t usually come in under $30 — and when you find a Barbaresco of this quality at this price, jump on it. One of the great bargains in Piedmont is the Paitin “Serra” from the Elia Pasquero family, which has been farming these hills…

It was an intrepid group of winemakers who saw potential in the cool climate. Now second generations are taking over. In 1966, Eyrie Vineyards founder David Lett planted Pinot Noir vines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, hoping he’d found a place that sha…

Arneis was a grape that was practically extinct when Alfredo Currado of Vietti and Bruno Giacosa brought it back from obscurity in the early ’70s. Theirs are still benchmark examples, but I also like very much the Arneis from Giovanni Almondo.

Hankering for a Chianti? The 2009 from Fèlsina is a beautiful mouthful, everything you want in a Chianti Classico — an explosion of cherries with mellow tannins and a chiseled structure. Lovely finish too. Delicious drinking from a consistently …

2009 Delas Frères Crozes-Hermitage “Le Clos”

Looking for something different in terms of red wine? Try this lovely 100% Mencia aged in French oak from the tiny, highly regarded Algueira winery in Galicia.

Need a bottle of kosher wine for the holidays? Look no further than this second vintage of Red C Sauvignon Blanc from Covenant Wines. Made with fruit from the Dry Creek Valley’s Allan Nelson Vineyard, this is a beautiful example of Sonoma Sauvignon Bla…

A fascinating beauty fromPortugal’sDouro, the 2009 Quinta do Crasto reserve comes from old vines (average age 70) and 25 to 30 different grapes. In other words, it’s a field blend, hand-harvested from the steeply canted vineyards along the Douro River.

Galicia in the northwest corner of Spain is renowned for its seafood, which is some of the best on the planet.

Montalcino enjoyed a very good vintage in 2009, and this pretty Rosso di Montalcino from Tenute Silvio Nardi shows why. Bright and youthful, with a taste of dark cherries and spice, this junior Brunello makes delicious drinking now — or a few yea…

This is the first vintage for Jack Hammer Wine Co., and they’ve come out with a terrific Pinot Noir for the price. The grapes come from all three Central Coast counties — Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara — and the juice sees some…

Hungarian wines encompass much more than sweet Tokajs. Consider this lovely dry red from J&J Eger Wine Co. in the hills 60 miles west of Tokaj. The grape is the indigenous kékfrankos , and it’s made by the winegrower Janos Stumpf in partnership with …

Here’s an exceptional white wine made by genius Port producer Dirk Niepoort — and it’s priced well under $20.

Château de Beaucastel produces a stupendous Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc, and its Paso Robles property, Tablas Creek Vineyard, turns out a white in a similar spirit called “Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc.” It’s no mistake that so many Central Coast winemake…