Tastes like

Merlot gets a bad rap but for no good reason. The Merlot grown here is juicy and evocative of finger staining backyard bramble bushes. Açai, currant and soft sweet sage hints round out this pleasing red.

Perfect with

Cheddar + Triscuits, tomato salad, sautéed mushrooms.

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Basically “Minervois lite,” Coteaux de Peyriac is the IGP name for the wines grown along the ridges of the Montagne Noir just like famous Minervois wines.

Tastes like

Black currant, farmer’s market fresh plum and dark sweet cherry flavors are backed up by cracked black pepper and a hint of mint. A long and enjoyable red fruit finish typical of French Cabs.

Perfect with

BBQ, blue cheese, pork belly bao.

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Arguably the king of red wine varietals but not typically in this part of France, Cabernet Sauvignon grown here in the Languedoc is softer and more subtle, though still powerful and expressive. Call it daytime cab!

Tastes like

Carignan is much more than its typical spicy complexity, and when it’s not blended with other grapes the wine can show off ripe strawberry and plum aromas, tart cranberry flavors and little hints of savory herbs.

Perfect with

Banh mi, charcuterie, roasted squash.

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The 3rd and last part of a solo-varietal series by Château du Donjon highlighting the individual grapes typically blended together in Languedoc-Roussillon. It’s great not to blend in!

Tastes like

This indigenous Italian grape produces a light bodied red wine with delightful strawberry and tart raspberry flavors, along with a dash of pretty pink and purple flower scents.

Perfect with

Seasoned pork chops, patios and sunshine, rotisserie chicken.

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Difficult to grow yet coveted by many for its drinkability, Frappato is another reason to visit the beautiful island of Sicily. Just make sure the volcano isn’t erupting!

Tastes like

Almost a pale purple, this light bodied and ultra-lightly oaked Malbec explodes with juicy blackberry, cherry juice flavors and a handful of peony. The trendier side of Malbec - and a trend we can get behind.

Perfect with

Veggie stir fry, grilled steak, French dip sandwiches.

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The winery is built on the border of a former iron mine that closed at the end of the 19th century. Rich iron deposits accumulated over 35 million years ago when the region had a tropical climate.

Tastes like

Aromatic with big aromas of flowering fennel and juicy nectarine. The palate squeezes a fresh lime note over that floral profile and finishes with crisp and interesting notes of ginger and lime blossom.

Perfect with

Spring veggie salads, white pizza, fried appetizers.

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Xarel-lo (cha-rello) is primarily used to make Cava, but lately has been making a name for itself as a mono varietal wine. Sometimes when allowed to ripen, certain grapes completely change their profile and taste!

Tastes like

Intense aromas of tangerine and white grapefruit with a floral background. The palate is light and fresh with crisp apricot and white peach notes adding themselves to the aforementioned citrus bouquet.

Perfect with

Fried rice, pan seared fish, Greek salads.

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The Foraster family has owned vineyards in Spain since 1828. During the Spanish Civil War in 1939, a large part of the vineyard was destroyed - but starting in 1960 all that was lost was recovered.

Tastes like

A lively, fresh and textured white with attractive apricot, tart tangerine, floral honeysuckle and a whiff of wisteria notes. Just enough weight on the palate helps deliver this mélange of flavors with a lengthy finish.

Perfect with

Fancy olives, chicken tagine, dill-pickle chips.

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These Viognier grapes are grown biodynamically and harvested early, in August, so that the wine is fresh and crisp and doesn’t get “flabby” like some hot-climate Viogniers are known to get.

Tastes like

Deep pink in color and super floral on the nose with red flowers and peach blossoms. Deep pomegranate and tart currant flavors finish with that classic almond-meets-cherry floral note.

Perfect with

Kimchi-jjigae, BBQ chicken pizza, cured meats.

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Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo was formed in 2010 to carve out a region for the brightly colored, cherry-red wines. Cerasuolo means “cherry” in Italian and the wines here tend to look and taste like the summer berry.