Raise your glass

Join me for a journey into wine country to explore some of the wines from each region and some of the unique characteristics that make them so amazingly yummy, and, more important, things you may see and want to consider as you navigate the options on your supermarket shelf.

Passport. Check. Now boarding Flight #001 to California. Please recline your seat in the most comfortable position, extend your feet, and enjoy the flight. In the event of an emergency, keep calm and drink wine.

California winemaker Robert Mondavi once said, "Making good wine is a skill, fine wine is an art." It is this philosophy he took to making some of the most appreciated wines worldwide. Robert Mondavi pioneered winemaking to rival the French and won, which is when Californian wines started to gain widespread acceptance. He also influenced the change of labelling on the bottles to reflect the specific varietals such as merlot or chardonnay versus Chateau de Clarke, which just means it came from my vineyard, making it easier for the consumer to identify specifically what they were drinking.

California's fertile soil and optimal temperature and sunlight allow for the growing of a number of varietals (types of grapes). The sun being constant but not too hot allows for the vines to metabolise and the leaves to open and produce sugars. It is the sugars that make California wines labelled most often as fruit forward and allow for great aromas. The sun is balanced by the fog from the Pacific which helps the vines recover any water lost, which enhances flavours and acidity. I think these two factors set California apart from most other regions. If California were an independent country, it would be the fourth-largest wine-producing country. Two of the most popular and prestigious wine-producing regions in California are Napa Valley and Sonoma County, which are clearly indicated on some of the better Californian wines you may see on the shelves.

Most popular

White wines

Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonanay, and Riesling.

Red wines

Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Syrah.

Of course, one cannot ignore the presence of the ever-popular blends, some of which I spoke in my previous article 'A Marriage Made in Heaven - Red Blends'.

Take the flight with me and try the mix of both red and white wines, some lighter in body to those full-bodied, big boy wines.

These are my favourite Californian wines that I would recommend for everyday consumption, especially on a Sunday for family dinner, where there is laughter, great food, and fellowship. Given my natural bias to red wines, I start my personal selection with the Beringer Founders Estate Pinot Noir, Wente Merlot, and the Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. The ultimate flight is to try these wines in that particular order, from a lighter to more full body and appreciating all their nuances. These wines make for great pairings with food and are absolutely delicious. These might be a little more on the expensive side in relation to a typical wine budget, but certainly worth it.

Here are a few other Californian wines you may see worth giving a try and at a great price point: Bay Bridge Chardonnay, Vendange Chardonnay and Merlot, a favourite which I mentioned before from the Flip Flop family, the Beringer family and, of course, anything both reds and whites from Robert Mondavi (which include Woodbridge).

I am not an expert, merely a wine enthusiast sharing my thoughts and experiences. Feel free to share your own experiences at wineenthusiastja.com.