9 Winemaker Dads On Favorite BBQ Wine Pairings For Father’s DayCraig McAllister, Head Winemaker at La CremaRecommended Pairing: Grilled pork chops & 2017 La Crema Russian River Valley Pinot Noir“My guess is that it will be a quiet day- we’ll probably go for a bike ride around Healdsburg- maybe stopping for ice cream and will follow it up with some grilling in the backyard. I’m thinking a perfect wine for the day will be La Crema Russian River Valley Pinot Noir which pairs fantastically with food off the grill.”

Earthy as you’d expect, as bold as you’d want, and bigger than you might imagine.

Rose petals, red berries, and orange rind precede a palate of mineral linearity and lemon-lime acidity, kumquats, cranberries, tart red cherries, and a hit of Mediterranean herbs.

Appearance: Opaque ruby with a blue tinge;Nose: Cassis, blackcurrant, cedar, vanilla;Palate: A complex bundle of fruit and herbs opens up in the mouth and leads to a long comforting finish. The tannins are velvet smooth and the acid stout enough to retain intrerest even with heavy red meat and sauces.An excellent value. Recommended.

It wouldn't be fair to visit Napa Valley without heading across the border to neighbouring Sonoma County. Sonoma is actually twice the size of Napa – and grows considerably more grapes, including some serious cabernet sauvignon.Kendall-Jackson dips into a mixture of mountain and hillside vineyards to perfect its Vintner’s Reserve. The rich black cherry aromas are joined by blackberry and cassis, with vanilla and mocha blending in to help round it off.Speaking of blending, the Vintner’s Reserve is not a pure breed, but rather softened with merlot and malbec, and enriched by cabernet franc and petit verdot. It’s a tried and tested combination that makes for an approachable and incredibly moreish wine.

Mount Veeder is the birthplace of Napa Vallery wine – it's the holy ground for California winemakers. Wine has been grown here since the early 1860s by industry pioneers including Charles Krug, Agoston Haraszthy and William S Keyes.The parcel that became Mt Brave Vineyard, in the northern reaches of the Mt Veeder AVA, was originally purchased back in 1841 – before the Gold Rushhad even begun.It was named after the native Wappo people – known as ‘the brave ones’ – who were the original inhabitants of this land.It sits high atop Mt Veeder at an elevation between 1,400 and 1,800 feet. This high altitude keeps midday temperatures cooler than those in the valley below, while the position above the fog line gives grapes longer daily exposure to sunlight. A perfect combination when it comes to making refined, elegant cabernet sauvignons.The 2013 growing season was another banger – with temperatures regularly in the sweet spot between 85°-95°F, and barely any rain.It’s not all sunbathing, though. Thin, rocky soils and steep slopes make water retention a challenge, but the vines’ beneficial struggle produces tiny berries with unusually concentrated flavors.The resulting vintage of Mt Brave is an addictive burst of blueberries and raspberries, balanced with floral notes and plenty of minerality.

Melon and white peach flavors highlight this medium-body chardonnay with bright acidity and fresh fruit character.

Bright acidity and light oak make this a good food wine. Apricot and citrus aromas with apple, pear flavors. Long finish. This wine slow to evolve in the glass, so don’t over-chill it.

10 Best Red Wines Made in the United States to Buy in 2020National Wine Day is May 25. Stock up!4. Big Little Lies fans will love La Crema, a winery partially based in Monterey, where the popular show is filmed. Its 2018 Pinot Noir is reasonably priced at $28 and features flavors of plums, cranberries, and raspberries. The winemakers highlight its “distinct minerality” and notes of barrel spice.

I'm not sure I can think of another prestige wine that gets as little respect these days as California Chardonnay. I can't tell you the number of times I've spoken with winemakers the past few years and be them from the Okanagan or Argentina, they all take great pains to claim that the Chardonnay they're making is not "California" style. What they mean, of course, if a wine that has a significant oak influence and emphasizes the buttery, tropical fruit notes of the grape when grown in warm climates. But is that really the California-style in 2020? If it's this bottle from Southern Californian powerhouse Brewer-Clifton - it's not. I don't think I've had a more delicious Chardonnay this year (and I knocked more than a few Puligny-Montrachets when I thought the world was going to end). It's fermented in neutral oak (think: minor wood influence) and doesn't see any malolactic fermentation (think: not interested in "softness"), but this isn't one of those endless new world wines that claim to be made in the Chablis tradition (think: very few of them ever pull it off). Instead this is a wine that shows the heights of new world Chardonnay: it's got 14.5% alcohol, thanks to the warm SoCal climate, but it carries that with a absolutely focussed skeleton of acidity that keeps it light and fresh while still highlighting ripe pear and crisp peach notes. People love to describe wine with terms that are only tangentially related to taste: it's austere, it's classy, it's mature. You know what this wine is? Flipping delicious. Most importantly: it's happily Californian in the best sense of the word.

A Beginner's Guide to California WinesSonomaDirectly to the west of Napa lies Sonoma. It spans 50 miles of scenic Pacific coastline and is home to 18 AVAs. The Sonoma coast is where you'll find the coolest temperatures; cold ocean air and fog create ideal conditions for bright and lean styles of pinot noir and chardonnay. Try La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2017...

Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2020: Gold

Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2020: Gold

Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2020: Gold

Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2020: Gold

Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2020: Master

What To Drink Now: Chardonnay DayWith a long growing season thanks to the influence of the Pacific Ocean in Sta. Rita Hills, Brewer-Clifton shines with citrus and lychee notes, with soft herbs, blanched almond, and salinity.

What To Drink Now: Chardonnay DayMaggy Hawk Skycrest Vineyard from the deep end of Anderson Valley in far north California highlights the effects of the diurnal temperature shift the vineyard experiences with very hot days and cool nights creating ripe fruit while locking in acidity and freshness. The round, textured wine shows herbal notes and five spice, with ripe apple and crisp Asian pear.

What To Drink Now: Chardonnay DayGran Moraine wines have an elegant finesse and refinement, allowing the fruit to shine without the need to be flashy. The Chardonnay layers orange blossom, white peach, and a note of minerality.

Chardonnay Day 2020Silky, supple, delicate and creamy with notes of apple tart, butterscotch and cinnamon toast.

Chardonnay Day 2020Supple, rich, inviting, round and dry with notes of golden apple, grilled peach, creme brulee and mushroom focaccia. A crowd pleaser.

Chardonnay Day 2020Rich, silky, fresh and dry with notes of mandarin, green apple, ripe melon, violet and toasted marshmallow.

Chardonnay Day 2020Fresh, lively and dry with both intensity and delicacy and notes of lemon bar, buttercream frosting, caramel apple and cinnamon bun.

Chardonnay Day 2020Impressive, rich, round and dry with notes of peach, grilled pineapple, mango nectar, nutmeg, vanilla and coconut. Classic old school Napa style.

Chardonnay Day 2020Full, complex, dry and delicately textured with notes of lemon zest, Fuji apple, toasted walnut, brie cheese and mushroom quiche. Ripe Burgundian style.