Prosecco Trumps Champagne

As New Year's Eve approaches and people start thinking about buying bubbly, I wanted to put in my pitch for a Champagne alternative: Prosecco. Hailing from Italy, Prosecco is drier and perhaps a tidge less subtle than champagne, but is always delightful. And reasonably priced. You pay more for Champagne because it's, well, Champagne. Approved and acknowledged by the European Union as the real deal. Ranging from $9-$14 a bottle, Prosecco is a wonderful alternative. Unless you are a champagne connoisseur, you will likely not notice a difference and, in fact, you might like the Prosecco better. I do!

For more about Prosecco and its quest to become more Champagne (l'horreur!), see this article from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/business/worldbusiness/28prosecco.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&th&emc=th

Mucho Monastrell

2006 Castano Monastrell
Yep, I've recommended other Monastrells and this one also makes the cut. Hailing from Yecla, Spain, this bottle delivers alotta wine for the price. Sip with a nice blue cheese on crackers and then ponder a paella.

Veritable Valreas

2007 Valreas "Cuvee Prestige" Cotes du Rhone Villages
It's pretty easy to envision yourself sipping some vin and kicking back in southern France when you sip this wine. A little earthier than the big berry Beaujolais, yet every bit as comforting. A spaghetti carbonera would be happily eaten along with this vino from Vaucluse.

Groovy Grenache

2007 Able Clement Grenache
A Grenache is not a serious endeavor. It is young and beyond fruit-forward. But there's something refreshing about its non-complexity. If you're looking to experiment, this is a good one to start with as it's exactly what one expects. Sure, there are better ones, but for $6 a bottle, this is a good starter bottle.

A Tempting Tempranillo

2005 Venta Mazzaron Tempranillo
It's clear why Parker gave this wine 91 points. It's earthy, round and totally satisfying. You want to be sitting in a plaza in Spain when you're sipping this, nibbling on pintxos (okay that'd be in Basque country), and watching all the people stroll by. It's very good with a tortilla espanol.

Penfolds Performer

2006 Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet
This wine tastes exactly as you would expect it to. Big, full, un-subtle and thoroughly satisfying. Yes, it's a mass production type wine, but sometimes that's okay. In fact, for around $7 a bottle, that's just fine when it tastes like this.

Saucy Spanish Number

2006 The Spanish Quarter

I drink a lot of bad wine to find a good one and this is the type of bottle that makes it all worthwhile.  With 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% tempranillo, this is a full bodied wine that is at once mellow and interesting.  The label evokes villages throughout Spain as the inspiration for this little number and it's easy to see why--it's saucy yet conservative.  You could have it with food...or not.  Never more than $9 a bottle (and you can find it for $7), it is worth buying a case.

Barrelstone Believer

2004 Barrelstone Syrah
Hailing from Washington's Columbia Valley, this is a stupendous syrah. Peppery and medium-bodied, it's light while still being interesting. Pair it with truffle cheese (available at your local Trader Joe's these days and, yes, I am a truffle cheese junkie) and you've got a match made in gastronomic heaven!

A Delicious Domaine

2006 Domaine de La Reynardiere Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Murviel
Simple. Straight-forward. Sip-able. This is the wine you'd expect if you found yourself enjoying a simple meal in a brasserie in southern France's Languedoc region. Having quiche? Have a glass of this!

Oy yeah, Oyster Bay!

2007 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc
From New Zealand's acclaimed Marlborough region, this Sauvignon Blanc delivers. It's generally around $12, so a bit more than some of its counterparts (notably Monkey Bay), but if you're having, for instance, a pasta dish with shrimp and garlic, it's worth the extra couple of bucks.

Note: If you like a more tangy Sauvignon Blanc, try one from Australia.

More Monastrell Please

2006 Ole Monastrell by Salvador Poveda
At $8.99 a bottle, this is a total steal. It's got a lot of berry and then, all of a sudden, it's nothin' but pepper. But in a good way. Try it with truffle infused cheese. You will not be disappointed.

So, So Sangiovese

2006 Cavatappi Sangiovese
From Washington's Wahluke Slope, this is a wine made to sip while slurping spaghetti or munching on pizza. It needs to be decanted or at least opened for awhile as it's a bit tight when you first open it, but it really opens up and when it does, it's a treat. At 14.5% alcohol by volume one might want to pay attention to how many glasses one enjoys, but whatever glasses you do consume will be well enjoyed.

Cab + Carmenere = Yummy!

2004 Jardin Valle de Colchagua, Chile
90% cabarnet sauvignon and 10% carmenere, this is bold, bold, bold, without being annoying and in yer face. Chile is increasingly known for its Carmenere's and, although this isn't a classic example of the grape since there's only a little bit in there, it shows what it can do, even standing up to the noblest of grapes.

A+ with Asian

2007 Chateau St. Michelle Dry Reisling
If you're having Thai or Vietnamese, look no further than this tasty -- and oh so cheap! -- little number. It's got peach and mandarine, with a nice, clean finish. It's slight sweetness is the perfect counterpoint to the spiciness of Southeast Asian cuisine.

Serious Syrah

2006 Cline Sonoma County Syrah
One word: jammy. Okay two words: jammy and delicious. This is not a subtle Syrah from France. This is a in-yer-face, un-subtle California Syrah. And it's wonderful. At 14% alcohol per volume they are not messing around. Nor will you be when you drink this wonderful wine.

Bring On the Chocolate

Hyatt Vineyards Cabernet-Merlot, Rattlesnake Hills
It's tough to find an inexpensive wine that does justice to deep, dark chocolate but this one fits the bill. Maybe it's the strong cherry notes. Maybe it's the aging in both American and French Oak. Maybe it's the 60% Merlot/40% Cab combo. Who knows? Who cares? It's a treat with brownies, flourless chocolate cake, or just a plain chunk o' chocolate.

Kungfu-licious

2007 Charles Smith Wines' Kung Fu Girl Reisling, Washington State
This dry Reisling really packs a punch! It has a fruity nose, a minerally zippiness, and no unfortunate sourness on the finish. Perfect with slightly spicy food or to sip as you wait for the grill to heat up.

Bargain Bordeaux

2005 Chateau Buisson-Redon Bordeaux
2005 was a very good year for Bordeaux, but most of this prize vintage is spendy. This one is decidedly un-spendy. And yet delicious. It's fruitier than its more expensive counterparts, but yummy nonetheless. Who needs a Premier Grand Cru designation when you can pick up this little number for under $10 a bottle?

A Winning Blend

2006 Maryhill Winery Winemaker's Red
This little bit of deliciousness comes from Washington's Columbia Valley. It's smooth and round and very satisfying. It's a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, and cabernet franc. It is infinitely drinkable on its own and could also be paired with food...if you don't finish the bottle before dinner is served!

Get yer Rhone On

2005 CDR Cotes du Rhone
This is a full-bodied, full-on Cotes du Rhone. Nothing watery about this. This is 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah, and it isn't a fancy wine, but it's a satisfying one. One note: it's best drunk in one fell swoop as it turns a bit sour after being open for a day.

Pinot Gris-yum

2006 Milbrandt Vineyards Traditions Pinto Gris, Washington State
Sometimes Pinot Gris can have a sour finish, but not this one! Milbrandt Vineyards has been producing grapes for years but just started making their own. Crisp and flavorful, this has lots of the fruit you'd expect -- peach, pear, and citrus -- with a hint of honey. Excellent with a pasta of peas and pancetta.

For Fans of Spanish Reds

2004 Montechillo Rioja Crianza
This is a quintessential Spanish red. Made from 100% Tempranillo grapes, it has a fair amount of fruit, but is dry and earthy. This wine is better when it has breathed, so open it in advance and/or decant it.

Tried and True

2005 Columbia Crest Two Vines Vinyard 10 Red Wine
This wine has become a darling among value-focused wine drinkers and this year it's a doozy. A blend of Syrah, Sangiovese, and Cab Sauvignon, this wine goes with steak, pasta, and anything grilled. What more can you ask of a wine?

The First Wonder White

Ironstone Vineyards 2001 "Obsession" California Symphony
This little number is perfect for lazy summer evenings (or days...whatever!). It's a lovely aperitif, but also pairs nicely with lighter fair, like Caesar salad and crab cakes. It's a bit sweet, but not annoyingly so. Never heard of the Symphony grape? You're not alone. It's one of the newfangled grapes created by UC Davis Professor Emeritus Harold Olmo. It's a cross between a Muscat of Alexandria and a Grenache Gris. Music to the mouth.

Wonder Wine #1

2006 Red Rock Winery Winemaker's Select Merlot, California
Plum, berry, a bit of earthiness thrown in for good measure. This wine has it all. Sip it on its own or pair it with chicken or sausages. It's just yummy.