France

From the region of Burgundy, a Cremant rose (bubbly that uses same process as champagne) that is 100% pinot noir. Dry (not sweet) with tart cherry pie aromas and full creamy bubbles. You'll find rich biscuity flavors and notes of cranberry to finish. Grea

An organic-grapes red from about half and half Carignan and Grenache, a typical blend in the rustic, southern French region of Minervois. This is medium-bodied and fruity, but in addition to the blackberry, you get a little briar, a little wild gaminess,

Finally, an affordable half-bottle of champagne and it's good champagne! Made from equal portions of the three main grapes chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier. Spends 18 months aging on the Lees, which gives it a light toasty/briochey note. Dry, wit

A fantastic value for a biodynamic southern Rhone blend, made from Syrah, Caladoc, Merlot...It has medium body and bright red- fruit flavors with some pretty floral notes beneath. The french use the term glou- glou to describe a wine you can glug- glug, a

A biodynamic Sauternes with a biscuity aroma, full-body and apricot jam and citrus (fresh blood orange) flavors, then a long finish with a little bit of fennel or wildflower pollen to it. This vintage is a little less sweet, but the wine pairs beautifully

A great, light red from the south of France: a light-body and barely-there tannins for a red you can chill a bit (refreshingly in summer), plus cherry and herb flavors, then a finish of mineral flavors or salty sea air. Great with veggies on the grill.

Made by a female winemaker, these two grapes blend from the south of France offers a very pretty and intense nose of white peach and citrus fruits. In the mouth, the wine is pleasing/ gourmand with lemony notes and a lingering finish. No sweetness. Perfec

It's difficult to capture the heady scent of elderflowers; they only bloom for 2 or 3 weeks each year and they are picked by hand into sacks. They can't be frozen or dried, they must be macerated immediately for the freshest flavor. Add the Art-Noveau bot

From the famous Rhone winemaker Chapoutier comes this organic-grapes wine from Roussillon. Grenache, Carignan, and touches of a couple other grapes make this powerful with blackberry, herb, black cherry and coffee flavors.

Cahors is southeast of Bordeaux in land-locked France, and this is the home of Malbec, which is called cot here ("co"). It is more tannic and earthy than Argentine Malbec with briary berry flavors and lots of tobacco/tea notes. Try the original.

100% Sauvignon Blanc from the eastern Loire Region that is famous for its minerally wines. You won't get tropical fruit here, just green apple, grass, citrus, and plenty of minerally acidity. If you're tired of passionfruit flavors, try the classic!

Vacqueyras is in the southern Rhone Valley - this one is 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, and unoaked. What I like about this wine: you really taste the wild, gamy side of the Syrah - a beautiful savage. On the delicate side with ripe Grenache fruit, medium-bo