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Style Magazine

Stellar Cellar

We asked six oenophiles from some of the region’s top wine bars for their go-to bottles under $25 and a special-occasion splurge. Raise your glasses to Matthew Oliver of House of Oliver (houseofoliver.com), Tahni Voelz of Reset: Café By Day (resetfolsom.com), Marc Sanders of The 12 Wine Bar & Kitchen (lincolnwinebar.com), Jeff Back of Back Wine Bar & Bistro (backbistro.com), Raj Sachdeva of Cloud Bar (cloudbarz.com), and Lisa Gomez of Citizen Vine Folsom (citizenvinefolsom.com).

 

Steal

Dora Dain Wines Sauvignon Blanc, $25  “This wine—featuring hints of fresh passion fruit, white peaches, and green apples—is a steal of a deal. Sip it on a hot day by the pool or while watching the sun set,” says Oliver. doradainwines.com

Sobon Estate 2021 Chardonnay, $18  “Barrel fermented and intensely tropical, this bottle combines the elegance of chardonnay with the structure of the barrel—lush textures and buttery with a long finish. It's a huge hit at Reset: Café By Day!” says Voelz. sobonwine.com

Skinner 2019 Native Red, $24  “This field blend of red and white grapes is fun and flirty. Delicious at room temperature or chilled, it pairs perfectly with just about any type of food (although it definitely finds its groove with pizza!). Juicy red fruit and plum, a touch of orange peel and sweet spice notes make it a go-to wine any day of the week,” shares Sanders. skinnervineyards.com

Broadbent Vinho Verde Rosé, $8.99  “Light, crisp, bright, and clear with notes of strawberries and pomegranate, this is a beautiful poolside sipper and somewhat dry with a slight spritz to keep it zippy. Order it to-go at Back Wine Bar and get $15 off the wine list price,” says Back. broadbent.com

Due Ragazze Vineyards 2021 Albarosa, $22  “This aptly named albarosa, which translates to ‘pink sunrise’ in Italian and is a grenache rosé, features hints of strawberry and honeydew melon with fresh flowers on the nose. It pairs well with grilled salmon or margherita pizza,” says Sachdeva. dueragazze.com

Domaine Les Chenevières Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay, $25  “Pale golden in color, with aromas of citrus, honey, pear, and white flowers, this chardonnay is round and unctuous, with lemon peel notes and a slight sweetness that is balanced by acidity,” says Gomez. duboeuf.com

 

Splurge

Rancho Roble Vineyards “The Romance” Red Blend, $34  “The best way to end the day is with romance, and this seductive wine from Lincoln’s Rancho Roble Vineyards pairs two sexy varietals—barbera and syrah—and leaves you breathless. It pairs perfectly with a firepit and some decadent cheeses,” says Oliver. ranchoroble.com

Steiner Family Vineyards 2020 “Cooper Ranch” Barbera, $32  “Loaded with cherry and cassis aromas with a sprinkling of clove, this barbera features dark cherry with nutmeg on the finish, a firm acidity, and moderate tannin. It also won a Double Gold in the ‘Best Microwinery Red’ category at the 2022 CA State Fair,” says Voelz. red19wine.com

Vineyard 29 CRU 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, $75  “Vineyard 29 is one of California’s original cult cabernet sauvignon producers and has made its name by producing highly rated, highly collectible cabs. This offering is dark, rich, and elegantly styled with black cherry, chocolate, and mocha aromas. Velvety and lush on the palate, sip it alongside a great book or a grilled ribeye slathered in blue cheese butter,” says Sanders. vineyard29.com

Obsidian Ridge 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, $38  “Dark and intense with black fruits and a tight tannin structure with classic cabernet notes of cassis, black currant, and leather on the nose, give this wine a bit of time in the glass to really shine. Order it to-go at Back Wine Bar and get $15 off the wine list price” says Back. obsidianwineco.com

Sinegal Estate 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, $79  “Cherry, mocha, spice, and tobacco flow with velvety tannins in this fruit-forward, bold wine that boasts an incredibly balanced finish. Critics, and customers, rave about it,” says Sachdeva.  sinegalestate.com

Champagne Collet Esprit Couture 2012 Brut Premier Cru, $120  “Aged for a minimum of seven years, this richly complex sparkling wine is composed of pinot noir and chardonnay, resulting in aromas of brioche with good balancing acidity and a long finish,” says Gomez. champagne-collet.com/en/portfolio/esprit-couture


by MEGAN WISKUS