Wine

Wine

Natural wine is no longer just a niche obsession among sommeliers in gentrified neighborhoods and funk-loving nerds; it's a major category that has evolved into a highly giftable, drinkable universe. There are the artistically labeled pét-nats for festive toasts, elegant skin-contact bottles that look good on any tablescape, and endlessly sippable, chillable reds that feel tailor-made for long December nights.

Longtime Berkeley-based wine importer and retailer Kermit Lynch, one of the keystones of the Berkeley food world for five decades, has just expanded with its second-ever retail location, in Larkspur. It's big news for wine lovers in and around Larkspur that Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant will open a new location at the Marin County Mart tomorrow, Tuesday, December 9, just in time for holiday imbibing.

The new space brings nearly 50 years of wine-world expertise in a design-friendly corner of SoHo. Instead of feeling like a techy showroom or your grandad's dank cellar, the shop is built to look like a warm, modern home-with terracotta arches, natural wood and soft lighting. There's also a consultation nook where staff can walk through everything from picking out perfect wine glasses to selecting a bottle for a party that won't embarrass you in front of your oenophile friends.

Jaime Rojas was 44 the first time he tasted wine made from grapes he grew himself. The wine - a Pinot Noir 2016 - came from Bravo Toro, the small vineyard at his home in Santa Rosa. Nearly 30 years had passed since he first stepped into Napa Valley vineyards as a teenager, pruning and grafting for wineries that would bottle the fruit he helped grow - wines he never had the chance to enjoy.

Jaime Rojas was 44 the first time he tasted wine made from grapes he grew himself. The wine a Pinot Noir 2016 came from Bravo Toro, the small vineyard at his home in Santa Rosa. Nearly 30 years had passed since he first stepped into Napa Valley vineyards as a teenager, pruning and grafting for wineries that would bottle the fruit he helped grow wines he never had the chance to enjoy.

But for most of us, we're just trying to enjoy wine and have it on hand, and we're forever looking for ways to keep it organized within the tight space of our kitchens, dining rooms, or home bars. It would be especially appreciated if we could do so in a way that's aesthetically pleasing, but is that too much to ask?

They say wine gets better with age, but if it's not stored properly, you might wind up drinking something equivalent to vinegar. One way to ensure that your wine always stays fine is with a wine refrigerator. Sometimes called a wine cooler (not to be confused with any '80s teenagers drink of choice), these fridges come in a range of sizes, block out harmful UV rays, and provide the perfect climate for storing wines you don't plan to consume immediately.

Wine tasting never felt so cozy. The charm of apres-ski takes a decadent twist at Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor in a decked-out winter greenhouse overlooking the winery's lake. Thanks to a partnership with Pendleton, cozy blankets and pillows aboundthere's even a dog bed for folks who want to bring along their pooches. The tasting flight highlights include French onion soup paired with chardonnay, tableside raclette (atop potatoes, wild mushrooms, and more) paired with pinot noir,

Whether you're working with a specific budget, taste, or food pairing, there are some factors to consider. Even if you've narrowed it down to red wine, there are endless options available on the market. Plus, if you're hosting, chances are you want your guests to enjoy the experience and to be impressed with the selection you've put together. There's no need to be an expert on the matter thanks to this trusty guide.

Made in Italy, Asolo Prosecco features the DOCG classification, which stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, meaning controlled and guaranteed designation of origin. This is the highest classification for Italian wines, and means that the product has undergone incredibly strict quality control and testing regulations. When you see this acronym on a bottle of Italian wine, you know that the origin and varietal of grapes as well as the aging period have been carefully vetted.

Just an hour west of St. Louis, set along some of Missouri's most gorgeous scenery, is the tiny town of Augusta. The population hovers around 300 people, and it's still a hidden gem for most people not from the Show-Me State. However, this slow-paced small town is also home to one of the richest wine-making traditions in the U.S.-so much so that it actually earned the title of the first American Viticulture Area (an official wine-growing region) back in 1980.

These bottles are generally crowd-pleasers, and they pair well with a wide range of foods. And if you want more certainty that they're esteemed wines, they've also won one or several medals at wine competitions. Although countless delicious wines haven't received awards (that entails actually entering a competition), you can be certain that these bottles have received a seal of approval from plenty of wine professionals ... so your guests should be satisfied!

Every November, one of the UK's leading Italian wine importers, Liberty Wines, hosts a tasting of new-season Tuscan olive oils (and corresponding wines) over lunch at London's River Café - an event attended by the producers and a roll-call of well-known chefs (guests at this year's lunch included Jamie Oliver, Henry Harris, Tomos Parry and the River Café's own Ruth Rogers). The oils are, genuinely, straight off the presses and there's a vitality, a vibrancy to them that I find absolutely thrilling.

In the tasting room of a Bordeaux winery, a photo on the wall shows a pastoral tableau: three generations of the Dubois family, sipping wine on the patio of their Les Bertrands château, with their Australian shepherd, Namek, perched at their feet. Out the window, chestnut trees sway in the breeze, with sunlit vines stretching for acres beyond. It's this mesmerizing serenity that draws millions of tourists to southwest France every year

Domaine Carneros (NV) Cuvee de la Pompadour Brut Rose, Carneros ($47) Named in honor of Madame de la Pompadour the paramour of French King Louis XV this pale pink sparkler from Domaine Carneros is perfect for pre- (or post-) feast sipping. Comprising 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, this traditional-method sparkling wine yields aromas of orange blossom, strawberry and a hint of dried rose petals, followed by watermelon and a generous, creamy mousse on the palate. Available at Bottle Barn and other local retailers, domainecarneros.com.

I am passionate about establishing the Paso Robles region as the new benchmark for Bordeaux varietals in the U.S. market and beyond, showcasing our wines on the world stage, The significant, almost earth-shattering, results this region has achieved over the past decade are why I am thrilled to join the Paso Robles CAB Collective - to continue driving its growth and ensure the region builds an even stronger foundation for the future.

Beaujolais Nouveau is a simple, fruity red known for being the world's 'fastest' wine. It's a 'vin de primeur', best consumed as soon after harvesting as possible . It's illegal to sell 'Bojo' before 12.01am on Beaujolais Nouveau Day, so when that time finally does roll around, wine lovers rush to get their hands on a bottle and festivities erupt all over France and beyond.

Forget the stopwatch and the stress. Thanksgiving is a long, delicious stretch, more like a slow dance than a sprint. With the right bottles on hand, you can glide from appetizers to the aftermath with a glass that keeps every moment bright and buoyant. By the time guests start rolling in, the kitchen crew is deep in the trenches still. For a crowd-pleasing welcome without any fuss, reach for a palate priming sparkler - think Cava, Prosecco, Lambrusco and beyond.

The fine wine and spirits industry gathered for its most prestigious celebration as the 2025 Golden Vines® Awards were presented during an unforgettable ceremony at Miami's iconic Faena Forum on November 8, 2025. Often referred to as "the Oscars of fine wine," this year's event marked a significant evolution in how excellence is recognized within the global wine and spirits community.

Best Wine Advent Calendar Wine lovers, rejoice. Enjoy 24 days of wine from all over the world. An array of wines from France, Chile, Argentina, Australia, and California await, spanning whites, reds, and roses. A glass of wine a day seems like a pretty good way to kick off the holidays.

Now is the best time to buy premium wines in the past 25 years, says Will Harlen, managing director of Harlen Estates, a prestigious Napa Valley winery where the allocation list runs years deep. The quality of wine has improved drastically, and there's a pandemic price correction where producers are lowering their prices. But for newcomers staring at triple-digit prices, the wine world can feel impossibly daunting. Wine has more SKUs than any other product made on Earth.

Travel and wine lovers now have a new reason to stop into any of Bluestone Lane's 25 locations across the U.S. this November. The Australian-inspired café has launched a special "Sip Here, Fly There" promotion that invites guests to enjoy a taste of South Australia while entering for a chance to win a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Adelaide on United Airlines.

Saicho sparkling teas are what I serve friends at home who aren't drinking - no other brand does a better job of translating the taste of the leaf. "We believe that tea is to be revered and celebrated as a cornerstone of culture and tradition," says Natalie Winkworth-Smith, who founded the company with her husband Charlie after growing frustrated by the non-alc options in fine-dining restaurants.

With six restaurants, three books, two kids, one husband and a James Beard Award to boot Shelley Lindgren isn't resting on her laurels. Born in San Francisco and raised in West Marin, Lindgren is best known for A16, the award-winning restaurant she co-founded in San Francisco's Marina District in 2004. Now, there are four locations of the modern Southern Italian eatery, including a new Napa outpost that launched this spring.

Coterie Winery has reached a remarkable milestone with its 10th anniversary at 885 West Julian Street, highlighting the vibrant evolution of urban winemaking right here in San Jose. Founded in 2007 by Shala and Kyle Loudon, this spot has turned an old warehouse into a hub for crafting small-batch wines from acclaimed vineyards. Each bottle captures the distinct essence of its origin, drawing in locals and visitors who appreciate the blend of sustainability and community focus that defines the winery.