Côtes de Gascogne is white wine country and responsible for a large amount of France's white wine production. The Atlantic Ocean influences the climate here and is apparent in this wine. With bright acid and a hint of pear this is a great cocktail sipper. Also pairs well with pigeon stew - a classic dish in Gascony.

Grape • Chardonnay
Place • Gascony, France
FYI • The wine-based spirit Armagnac is also from Gascony.

Punctuated with lively acidity and a hint of tropical fruit this white comes from one of California's most northern wine growing regions. A crowd-pleaser by any measure this wine is a great companion with fish tacos.

Grape • Sauvignon Blanc
Place • Mendocino County, California
FYI • This varietal originated in Bordeaux, France.

The darling grape of Argentina is unquestionably malbec. Familia Zuccardi has successfully made their Malbec as popular in Argentina as it is in the US. Delicious berries alongside some spice make this an easy sipper. Pairs perfectly with empanadas.

Grape • Malbec
Place • Mendoza Argentina
FYI • Santa Julia wines are named after the owner’s daughter.

A delicious wine from the first drop. This smooth crowd-pleasing cab is made from grapes sourced from three areas of Washington State. The resulting blend has notes of cassis, blackberry and chocolate. One of the few cabs you can drink on its own or by a nice campfire...or alongside a T-bone steak or grilled Portobello.

Grape • Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot
Place • Columbia Valley, WA
FYI • Columbia Valley is Washington’s largest wine region.

The steep hills that are common in northern Italy are also common here, after all they are neighbors and the two countries have a similar wine history in this region. A very expressive wine with bright fruity aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. Pairs well with kebabs.

Grape • Barbera
Place • Brje, Slovenia
FYI • Only 2,400 bottles of this wine are made.

At the foot of the rolling vineyards of Moulin-à-Vent, just across the road from its famous namesake windmill, Domaine Diochon has been making Beaujolais the old-fashioned way since 1935. A lush, easy texture with notes of cassis, this pairs well with chicken dishes like Coq au Vin.

Grape • Gamay
Place • Burgundy, France
FYI • Moulin-à-Vent is the most full-bodied Beaujolias style.

The land in Crozes-Hermitage is of "terraced alluvial deposits with lots of round pebbles, stones, and gravel" - which has a huge impact on this wine. With a big following, this luscious red ages in oak for 12 months resulting in aromatics of cassis and cooked cherry. Pairs well with duck.

Grape • Syrah
Place • Rhone Valley, France
FYI • Syrah is the only red grape allowed in Crozes-Hermitage

"The subtlety given by the Briguières sandy soil combined with a search for the highest maturity for a harvest with no de-stemming, offers a wine which is both elegant, complex and genuine." Notes of black pepper, black fruit, and minerality. Pair with mushroom soup or a beef stew.

Grape • Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
Place • Rhone Valley, France
FYI • Sablet became an AOC in 1974.

The granite stone of this region plays a key role in the flavor of these wines. Since Roman times this area has produced high quality wines. This richly textured red exudes layers of chocolate, blackberry, and cassis. With a long finish to match consider pairing with a big protein.

Grape • Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Alicante Bouschet
Place • Alentejo, Portugal
FYI • Peramanca means oscillating stone