Drink them yourself. Share them with family and friends. Use them for a nightly meal or holiday gatherings. Give them as gifts. Or all of the above. These wines will save you money you can use for other holiday purchases (or more wine) and they still deliver fine drinking quality.
Best alternative to Napa and Sonoma:
Central Coast (Paso Robles, Monterey, Arroyo Seco)
J. Lohr ($13-17)
2021 Chardonnay Riverstone
2021 Sauvignon Blanc Flume Crossing
2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Oaks
2020 Merlot Los Osos
2021 Pinot Noir Falcon’s Perch
2020 Syrah South Ridge
2021 Vaildiguié Wildflower
Ancient Peaks
2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Margarita Ranch ($25)
Justin
2021 Rosé ($20)
Second Best alternative to Napa and Sonoma: Lodi
7 Deadly ($16)
2018 7 Deadly Zins Old Vine
2019 7 Deadly Cab
Three Girls ($14)
2020 Sauvignon Blanc
2020 Chardonnay
Mettler ($25)
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown
2019 Zinfandel Epicenter Old Vine
Sonoma strikes back:
Balletto ($25)
2021 Rose of Pinot Noir
2021 Teresa’s Unoaked Chardonnay
Quivira
2021 Sauvignon Blanc ($19)
2021 Wine Creek Ranch Rosé ($25)
Estate quality wines at négociant prices:
de Négoce (Cameron Hughes partners with high end producers to sell direct-to-consumer, $18-29)
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2020 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2020 Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap
For organic and sustainable wine seekers (and everyone else):
Girasole (Mendocino, $18)
2020 Charlie’s Blend Red Wine
2021 Pinot Noir
Tribute (California, $20)
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
2020 Sauvignon Blanc
Vento di Mare (Italy, $12)
2020 Pinot Grigio
2020 Grillo
2021 Nero d’Avola
2021 Pinot Noir
France
2021 Domaine les Capreoles “Cossinelle” Beaujolais Villages Rosé ($19)
2021 Jean-Paul Brun “La Rose d’ Folie” Beaujolais Rosé ($18)
For the hunter (and everyone else):
Decoy (California, whites $20/reds $25)
2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
2020 Merlot
2020 Pinot Noir
2019 Red Wine
2019 Zinfandel
2021 Chardonnay
2021 Sauvignon Blanc
2021 Rosé
For pro football fans who prefer wine to beer:
Charles Woodson’s Intercept ($20)
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles
2020 Chardonnay Monterey
Blends: when the sum is greater than its parts
Conundrum (California, $25)
2021 White
2020 Red
Pinot Grigio from the source: Northern Italy
2020 Banfi Centine Toscana ($13)
2021 Banfi San Angelo Toscana ($20)
2020 Kris delle Venezie ($12)
More light, refreshing European whites:
Spain (Rias Baixas)
2020 Ethereo ($20)
2020 Deusa Nai ($19)
Portugal (Vinho Verde, Bodegas Esporao)
2021 Bico Amarelo ($12)
2021 Ameal Loureiro ($18)
French varieties from the source:
Mouton Cadet ($15)
2020 Blanc (mostly sauvignon blanc)
2020 Rosé (mostly merlot)
Fat Bastard ($14)
2020 Chardonnay
2020 Pinot Noir
For a taste of wine from one of its oldest origins: Georgia
Teliani “Saperavi” Red ($15)