Bored with Chardonnay, Cabernet, and/or Pinot?

Chard, Cab, and Pinot are the Big Three in wine. If you drink only what's popular, you might be bored with these. And with demand comes higher prices. What are some alternative wine varietals that are similar and possibly less expensive?

Wine Writing from the Past

 A few wine-related articles from the last century.

Distinct Differences in Sonoma County AVAs

Definition: AVA = American Viticultural Area, aka an appellation. An AVA is an officially recognized grape-growing area in the U.S. Examples include Napa Valley and Willamette Valley.

When someone asks, What's the difference between Napa and Sonoma? I would say that Sonoma has a wider range of grapes grown and styles made. Napa is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, with Chardonnay a distant second. Sonoma County wine regions showcase the diverse climates and soils, resulting in an impressive variety of wines and styles. 

Why are Sonoma and Napa Wines Different?

The key factors in growing premium wine grapes are the microclimate and the soil. They impact the ripening and flavors, and define the characteristics of a wine. The microclimates and soils in Sonoma County are different from those in Napa, even though the two counties are side-by-side. Winemaking is also key to the properties of the finished wine, but we can assume equipment and practices are similar. 

So it's the microclimates and soils that make the wines different. Let's take a deeper dive into why the grapes coming into the winery can be different in these two neighbors.

The Difference Between Inexpensive and Premium California Wines

   The biggest difference in wine quality relating to price is in the ten and twenty dollar bottles. Premium wines start in the $20 or $30 range. Upward from there, you will usually find increasing quality, but with diminishing returns. So what are the major distinctions between the cheap and the fancy stuff?

Who Makes California's Best Zinfandel?

Ah, Zinfandel, it's sort of California's own. There's quite a history to Zinfandel that was very mysterious until about 30 years ago. The short version is Zinfandel comes from a rare Croatian grape that took off in Italy as Primitivo and in California as Zinfandel.

So who are some of the top producers? Let's take a subjective look.

Why Low/No Alcohol Wines Taste Like Crap

There are some low or no alcohol beers that are pretty good, that taste similar enough to regular beer to be enjoyable. It seems like the wines aren't good enough, yet anyway. So why are low and no alcohol wines so crappy?

Old Style Napa

This is an interesting read about a few grape growers and winemakers who are stuck in the mid-20th century, and I mean that in a good way.

Cathy Corison, a hero to some
image from wannabewino

Napa Traditionalists from The New Wine Review.

Appellation of Origin on a Wine Label

The Treasury Department sets labeling laws for alcoholic products. These are usually set and occasionally modified by feedback from interested parties, aka lobbyists. One that needs a change is for wines labeled as American, as in American Merlot. 

Picking a Value Bottle of Wine

Shopping for wine? Are there tricks to help pick out a bottle that will be great, but won't cost a fortune? Yes. The previous post from a couple of days ago talked about shopping by wine regions in California. This one talks more about the who, what, and where of buying. It's not guaranteed, but it's better than choosing a wine because of the flowers on the label or because you like Snoop Dogg.  :)

Getting Value in a Wine Purchase

Different grape growing areas of California have different wine prices. Location, location, location.

Napa Valley is the most expensive wine region in the country. Why? Supply and demand. That doesn't mean wines from other parts of the state are of lesser quality. Following are some premium California wine regions with lower priced wines.

High & Low Quality Wines

This isn't about points or awards, it's about ingredients. A more natural product vs. one manipulated by lots of chemicals. Many people check ingredient labels when grocery shopping. What about the alcoholic beverages that you consume? Well, there's a problem.

What Sonoma Valley and Washington State Wines Have in Common

It's not climate or soil or history, it's identity. It's a distant 650 miles from the Sonoma Valley AVA to the middle of Washington, but they share this commonality. Neither has a distinct identity that most well-known wine growing areas possess.

What Segments of the Wine Market ARE Growing?

With all the doom and gloom around wine sales, and it's been way overstated IMO, where are the bright spots in the wine market?

Summer Wines, Not the Usual

You may well have seen other articles on what wines you should drink this summer. They likely told you to drink rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and maybe Chardonnay, Grenache or Pinot Noir. I won't be mentioning those. These all work, but they can be kind of boring.

For the warm weather you want refreshing (that means good acid), dry, and chillable.

Following are a few whites and reds to enjoy in the warmth with lighter foods and BBQs. These wines are higher in acids and lower in tannins. Perfect for summer. You'll see that most of these grapes have their homes in warmer regions -- Spain, Italy, and southern France.

North Coast Wine Challenge 2024, the Big Winners

Yes, it's another wine judging! This one is local and allows wines from all over the region -- Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Lake, Mendocino, Solano Counties.

A Look at Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon along with Chardonnay are the most popular wines in the world. Anyone who has ever had any wine at all probably has an opinion on Cab Sauv. Anyone who considers themselves a wine aficionado / snob / expert will have an appreciation for this wine. Some only drink Cabernet. Of the 1,300 or so grape varieties used to make wine Cabernet Sauvignon is king.

For years, people have loved to dissect and offer opinions on Napa Valley Cabernet, and for much longer on Bordeaux wines.

pH in Wine

Wine is chemistry-driven. Wine writer Dan Berger has written many great, no nonsense articles on the subject of wine over many years. This one is about the influence of pH on what makes a good dinner wine or what should age well. An important bit of information for the wine drinker, even if the subject is a little nerdy.   :)

The Unforeseen Influence of pH on Wine Quality 

Has Wine Changed Over the Years? Oh Yeah

The graph below, from the American Association of Wine Economists, has been making the rounds recently. It shows in "graphic" detail the biggest change in wine over that past few decades. That is, the amount of sugar in the harvested grapes, which translates into alcohol in the wine.

Some High-Scoring Wines from Sonoma County

  The Santa Rosa Press Democrat does weekly blind tastings of local wines. I know, work, work, work. They recently published an article of their favorites titled, "18 top-scoring Sonoma County Wines" written by their wine writer, Peg Melnik.

  In case there's a paywall, and you can't get through, I've listed the wines below. All credit goes to the Press Dem.