Why try something besides your favorite kind of wine? One reason is that Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon are often on the expensive side due to their popularity. Another, you might just want to change it up.
This is focused on alternatives made in California.
There are numerous free events and other ideas for the warm months of 2026.
The idea for this post came about after reading for the hundredth time in a Napa social media group, "We're going to Napa for our first time! I love Riesling, where do we go?" I didn't reply, but I'm thinking, you go to New York or Washington State. You don't go to Napa.
Following along with that idea is this, "I like ____. Where can I find it?" Not all-inclusive, but I hit some of the major ones.
White wines are in the midst of a boom cycle as U.S.sales surpassed red wines in 2024. That same year global white wine sales were up 3% while red wines were down 3%. Why is this and what might red wine producers learn?
Sonoma County growing areas such as Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Petaluma Gap are known for Pinot Noir. Following is a timeline for the growth of Pinot in the county.
Kenwood Vineyards, located in the village of Kenwood in Sonoma Valley, has been a fixture of Sonoma County winemaking for over 50 years. The site has been home to winemaking for 120 years.
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| Spring in Alexander Valley image from sonoma.com |
Fourteen wineries in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley will offer free wine tastings and ten percent off of wine purchases during the month of April 2026. There are also some special rates on nearby lodging.
Some big name wineries are among the fourteen, including Jordan, Robert Young, and Silver Oak.
Don't miss out!
Info at Alexander Valley Winegrowers
For other wine tasting deals in Sonoma County, see this previous blog post.
A look at the wine market in a few graphs.
Every Picture Tells a Story, Don't It? Rod Stewart, 1971.
Where are the best spots to grow Zinfandel? Here's a look at the top growing areas, or American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).
Pinot loves a cool growing season. The grapes are thin-skinned, ripen early, and want slow maturing to retain their acids. A warmer climate means the thin skins get damaged by the hot sun, the acids are degraded, and the grape sugars shoot up before the flavors can develop. You wind up with a flabby, soft, simple wine.
It seems like now might be a great time to change up the traditions in the wine biz.
