It's OK to drink, really have another!

2009 One Hope California Sauvignon Blanc
Price - $18.99
Did you think that by having a glass or bottle (s) of wine could actually benefit others? We’ll how would you feel if by tipping a glass you were: helping with autism research, fight against aids, combat breast cancer, back our troops, support children’s hospitals, or even saving our planet? Probably make you feel justified for a refill!

From select vineyards in Napa Valley, Sonoma County and California’s Central Coast. Pale, golden color and flavors of pink grapefruit and bright, grassy undertones, this distinctive wine is fermented in stainless steel barrels. ONEHOPE Sauvignon Blanc is light, refreshing and finishes very crisp making it a perfect pairing with salmon, halibut, light pasta dishes, fresh fruits and a variety of cheeses.

ONEHOPE donates 50% of the profits from sales of its Sauvignon Blanc to benefit the American Forest Foundation. For every dollar that is donated, American Forest will plant a tree.

One Hope makes a variety of wines; each benefits a different cause and charity. Visit www.onehopewine.com for more charitable drinking habits.

Every night kind of wine...

2009 Backhouse Merlot

Price - $7

Backhouse Wines are relatively new on the scene, and have been designed as fruit forward wines to be enjoyed as a stand alone, or to compliment Tuesday night meals, or any casual dinner really. They make a Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and today’s feature: Merlot. All priced at a mere seven bucks.

This 2009 Merlot is garnet in color with flavors of black cherry on the palate. Soft and compliant, this Merlot can be enjoyed with rich, red pasta dishes and is a fine accompaniment to chocolate.

A New Kinda Chard, Finally

2009 Kendall – Jackson Avant Chardonnay
Price - $12.99

I don’t typically enjoy California Chardonnay, due to the heavy oak wood influence, however after spending some time with Randy Ullom, KJ’s Wine Master, I have found one I do like.

Avant takes its name from the French word for “before” and reflects the vibrant expression of the fruit before oak has the chance to impart much flavor. This Chardonnay is crafted 50% in stainless steel and 50% in older more neutral oak barrels, resulting in a less woody and more fruit forward Chardonnay.

This refreshing Chardonnay bursts with intriguing layers of fresh pineapple, bright green apple, crisp Meyer lemon, juicy pear and wildflowers. The wine's refreshing acidity and sleek mineral notes are balanced by a rounded mid-palate with a long, pure fruit finish.

********90 points and a Best Buy from Wine Enthusiast.

A Great, Affordable HQ Oregon Pinot

2009 Ken Wright Cellars

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Price – sub $30

Finally a KWC wine that you don’t mind opening when ever you feel like it! Historically Ken Wright has created Pinots that are vineyard designates only, which are worth the dollars for sure, but hard for everyone to justify enjoying more than a few times a year to the quality and cost/bottle. Over the last few years Ken has begun to develop a Willamette Valley non-vineyards specific wine, in efforts to reach more every day or at least every weekend tongues. This is an outstanding wine, Spectator even gave it a 90. “Light and satiny, with modest tannins around a delicate core of cherry, raspberry and coffee flavors, fleshing out more on the long finish.” Drink now through 2017. The blend consists of fruit from Abbott Claim, Canary Hill, Carter, Freedom Hill, Guadalupe, McCrone, Meredith Mitchell, Nysa and Savoya vineyards.

This wine was just released, and will not likely be on the shelves come 2012, so stock up now.

Off the beaten path

Gruet Blanc de Blancs $24 - New Mexico

Don't wait for a special occasion. Go off the beaten path to this New Mexico winery for some of the world's best sparkling wine! (can't call it Champagne if it does come from the Champagne region in France) This winery is closely related to Greut et Fils located in Champagne, France started by Gilbert Gruet in 1952, so closely related that the New Mexico venture was founded by Gilbert's son, so needless to say they know how to make Champagne (sparkling) in the true Methode Champenoise.

The Blanc de Blancs offers abundant aromas and flavors recalling sweet apples, pears and citrus. The three years of aging has contributed a pronounced classic toastiness with accents of roasted almonds and minerals. The palate is creamy and long, dry and crisp, with a bit complexity. Only 1,000 cases produced.

Also look for Gruet's other 6 styles of sparkling including the Grand Rose.

Château de Ségriès

Château de Ségriès

2009 Tavel Rosé - $15

I stumbled on this wine by accident at my neighborhood wine shop, and am glad I did.

This is not your grandma's pink wine. The 2009 Tavel Rosé is a dry wine served best chilled. Rosé wines traditionally come from red wine grapes that see a very short time being pressed on the skins of the grapes, that extract the pink color, if the juice were left on the skins longer the hue would turn dark red.

Tavel is a small village in France that is renowned for Rosé.

Tavel is made from traditional French red grapes made up of: 50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 15% Clairette, 5% Syrah

Grapes are pressed and left on the skins overnight, extracting the bright pink hue.

Powerful and focused, with a big core of red cherry, raspberry, intense strawberry and red currant fruit laced with spice and tobacco hints. A nice stony note weaves in on the finish, adding length and cut.

Wine Spectator gave this wine a 90 point rating, and Parker has awarded 90 points as well for the past 3 vintages.

There is no reason to hold on to this one, the new vintage just came out, so look for the 2009. This wine and all Rosés for that fact is made to be drank young.

Look for the wine at http://www.wine-searcher.com/

2008 Tuscan Moon Sangiovese $5

Tuscan Moon Sangiovese

Aromas that are reminiscent of cherry cobbler, with fruity overtones of plum and cherries, with a hint of oak. Not your Italian version of Sangiovese, but for 5 bucks, it’s on par with a skinny double soy chi macchiato in a much larger serving!

This is an exclusive Trader Joe's Selection. You can find it there as well as other Moons including...

Velvet Moon - Cabernet Sauvignon
Old Moon - Zinfandel (Red)
Purple Moon - Merlot
Honey Moon - Viogner
Purple Moon - Chardonnay
Venetian Moon - Pinot Grigio