A winemaker once said to me that if the Sonoma Coast had existed in the 11th century before Burgundy, the monks of Burgundy would have just thrown up their hands and said, “We give up. The greatest Pinot Noirs are already being made in California.” Hmmm. Maybe. Because Sonoma Coast Pinot can be ethereal. And YET…. Tasting three Burgundies recently, I felt the hard-to-deny pull. No other wines in the world deliver so much sensual flavor and still have a lightness of being. Here were the wines I tasted that I think can transport you. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

With Labor Day just around the corner, these wines will guarantee your final summer weekend cookouts are unforgettable. Grab a corkscrew because barbecue demands vibrant wines that can dance with smoke and char. Click on each wine to read my full review.

LUCY Rosé of Pinot Noir 2025 (Santa Lucia Highlands, CA) $24

SHYPOKE Chenin Blanc 2024 (Calistoga, Napa Valley, CA) $30

RESONANCE Pinot Noir 2023 (Willamette Valley, OR) $36

CLONAKILLA “O’Riada” Shiraz 2022 (Canberra District, New South Wales, AUS) $36

RIDGE VINEYARDS “Three Valleys” Zinfandel 2023 (Sonoma County, CA) $36

I still think of Pinot Grigio as a white T-shirt, but I also think it should have at least a touch of personality. It should be cooling. It should have a citrusy bent. It should be thirst-quenching.

All five of these fantastic wines are Steals:The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

What are hip sommeliers and wine writers drinking these days? South African Chenin Blancs. Lively, creamy, and expressive, these dry whitesThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

In my book, one of the best reds for summer is Pinot Noir—a variety that’s rich in flavor but not heavy on the palate. Pinots lean into cherry, strawberry and raspberry flavors, but those fruits never come across as baked, candied, or jammy. Instead, top Pinot has a fresh, ethereal quality and sometimes a subtle earthiness or spiciness. And since Pinot Noir is a low-tannin grape, it should be silky, never astringent or drying. Here are three great (94 Points +) California Pinot DEALS, all under $8 a glass/ $40 a bottle.

• SIDURI Pinot Noir 2022 (Russian River Valley). Cherries as silk. Long, delicate, and beautifully made.
• LA CREMA Pinot Noir 2022 (Anderson Valley). Wild strawberries and just picked crunchy cherries. Touches of spice. Gentle, very fine and silky.
• POST & BEAM Pinot Noir 2024 (Sonoma Coast). Beautiful loam and red fruit flavors. Lots of energy. Finely textured.

In Honor of (or maybe because of) upcoming Tax Day, here are five of our favorite wines under $25 so far this year. Click on each wine to read my review of it.

CAVAS HILL “Panot Gaudi” Reserva Brut non-vintage Cava (Catalonia, Spain) $12

AIA VECCHIA Vermentino 2024 (Bolgheri, Tuscany, IT) $17

ELEMENTAL Pinot Noir 2022 (California) $10

SPRING SEED WINE CO “Scarlet Runner” Shiraz 2022 (McLaren Vale, South Australia, AUS) $25

VALLADO Vinho Tinto 2023(Douro, PT) $15

What do you get when you buy a $50 red wine from Australia? A wine that tastes like it costs $100. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Penfolds, founded in 1844, changed the courseThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Sometimes a big piece of cake, a bowl of ice cream, even a cookie just The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

It’s an old habit: Compare every New World sparkling wine to Champagne.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

You could decide on one of these, OR you could invite a few friends over The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

The Douro Valley of Portugal is so well-known for stunning, long-lived PortsThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Marsanne is, for me, the hardest white grape variety to describe. Here’s my bestThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

No region of France delivers more delicious, complex, dry white wines The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Is someone you know getting married this year? Give them the ultimate wedding gift: A collection of wines chosen just for them. Whether the happy couple are seasoned wine lovers or just starting their wine journey, Karen can curate a fantastic collection of wines geared to the couple’s lifestyle and tastes. For more details about A Wedding Wine Collection by Karen MacNeil and pricing contact [email protected].

Think German Riesling, and many people think summer because the wines are so damnedThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

The best Syrahs in the U.S. come from wineries in Washington State.The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

I don’t know how many wineries in California make a small amount of exquisite extra The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

One wine, more than any other, is strongly associated with the history The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.