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Wine Expert’s Picks and Pairings for 2026

Raise Your Glass

Local wine experts share their best-in-class wine selections to help you pick, pair, and partake like a sommelier.

Lauren Lamacchia's Wine Picks

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPARKLING

1. Roederer Estate L’Ermitage

Anderson Valley, California

Roederer Estate was founded by the Champagne house Louis Roederer and has become one of Anderson Valley’s top sparkling wine producers. This wine earned 100 points from Wine Enthusiast, making 2019 a standout vintage. L’Ermitage is rich and elegant with fine bubbles and flavors of baked apple, citrus, and brioche. It pairs well with oysters, lobster, sushi, creamy cheeses, or roasted chicken.

 

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2. Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve

Alsace, France

Trimbach has made wine in Alsace since 1626. Known for classic, balanced wines, their pinot gris has ripe pear and stone fruit flavors with a touch of spice and minerality. It’s a good match for pork dishes, mushrooms, smoked salmon, creamy sauces, or Asian dishes.

 

RED

3. Decoy Limited Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley, California

Decoy, from the team behind Duckhorn Vineyards, produces polished Napa Valley wines with broad appeal. The Limited Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied with dark berry fruit, cocoa, and oak spice, balanced by smooth tannins. This wine pairs well with grilled steaks, short ribs, burgers, aged cheddar, or roasted lamb.

 

ROSÉ

4. Lucashof Pinot Noir Rosé

Pfalz, Germany

Lucashof is a family-owned winery in Germany’s Pfalz region known for fresh, easy-drinking wines. Their pinot noir rosé is crisp and refreshing with strawberry and watermelon notes and a dry finish. It’s great with grilled shrimp, salmon, salads, charcuterie, or lighter pasta dishes.

 

Lauren Lamacchia

Lauren Lamacchia

Fine Wines Manager, Athens Distributing

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Caleb Kneip Wine Picks

 

SPARKLING

1. Sumarroca 2CV Cava Inalterat

Penedés, Spain

For fans of bone-dry bubbly, this will be a new favorite. This wine is organic and contains no added sulfites. It is a classic cava, made with 100% xarel-lo and to some of the highest standards in the Penedés region. Vinified in the traditional method with two fermentations and extended lees time in bottle, the resultant wine is a Brut Nature (zero residual sugar) with a steely and linear feel, yet it’s textural and balanced with notes of golden apple and pastry crust. It pairs well with a variety of foods, but it’s especially good with ceviche or carpaccio.

 

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2. Tatomer Hinter der Mauer White Blend

Central Coast, California

“Hinter der Mauer” is an Austrian-German term that winemaker Graham Tatomer learned while working harvest in Austria, which roughly translates to “your back against the wall.” The space between the walls of the vineyard’s terraces and the vines he worked on was very tight, and this wine is an homage to his time in Austria working these vineyards. It is a 50/50 blend of gruner veltliner and riesling with notes of dried lime peel, orange blossom, thyme, and sea breeze.

 

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3. The Language of Yes “En Passerillage” Syrah

Central Coast, California

In 1989, Wine Spectator dubbed Randall Grahm the “Rhône Ranger,” as he was one of the chief visionaries responsible for California’s cultivation of Rhône Valley grape varietals. “The Language of Yes” is Grahm’s latest project, which utilizes organically grown, single vineyard fruit that is biodynamically farmed (not certified). Fruit in this wine is – in the Côte-Rôtie style – a blend of syrah and viognier. It evokes pink pepper, black olive, violets, licorice, plum, and pomegranate, finishing like silk.

 

ROSÉ

4. Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg Cistercien Rosé ‘24

Kamptal, Austria

Cistercian monks built this winery in the small village of Gobelsburg in 1171, and the monks continue to operate the winery today. In fact, a monk blesses every bottle on its way out. Zweigelt is a red grape that makes an impeccably dry and mineral forward rosé, with bright and electric acidity. Enjoy notes of wild cherry and strawberry-rhubarb, with vivid citrus, and a touch of salinity.

 

Caleb Kneip

Caleb Kneip

Wine Director, Imbibe Wine, Spirits & Beer

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Alison Matera Wine Picks

 

SPARKLING

1. St. Innocent Crémant Rosé

Willamette Valley, Oregon

In 1988, Mark Vlossak established St. Innocent Winery in Jefferson, Oregon. He spent five years apprenticing with Oregon wine pioneer Fred Arterberry in order to produce wines that respect the Old World traditions in one of the newest and most exciting wine growing regions – Oregon’s Willamette Valley. A 90/10 blend of Freedom Hill Vineyard pinot blanc and pinot noir, this gentle sparkler has a Wimbledon nose of strawberries and cream. Additional aromas include fig, chalkboard dust, and a mildly bitter herbal note. Strawberries return on the creamy palate, joined by lime zest and rhubarb pie. It’s a beautiful spring and summer sparkler!

 

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2. Terre di Valter Greco di Tufo

Campania, Italy

Terre di Valter Greco di Tufo is a dry, minerally Italian white wine in Campania. Made from the greco grape, it’s known for its intense aromas of peach, pear, and almond, with a crisp palate of citrus, grapefruit, and a distinct saline minerality from volcanic soils. It’s a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) wine, indicating high quality, and offers a complex profile that balances fruitiness with a sharp, clean finish. This white is ideal with seafood, fried dishes, and creamy pastas. Its crispness cuts through fats while complementing saline flavors.

 

RED

3. Hamel Family Wines Isthmus Red Blend

Sonoma, California

The 2018 Isthmus is 64% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot, 14% cabernet franc, and 4% petit verdot from the Nuns Canyon and Hamel Family Ranch Vineyards. The wine matures for 12 months in 26% new French oak barrels and is then transferred to concrete tanks for an additional 17 months of maturation. Deep ruby in color, the nose features blackcurrants and cherries with slowly emerging wafts of tobacco, charcuterie, graphite, and dried herbs. It’s elusively tart with tangy fruit at its core and strong and powerful in concentration and structure.

 

ROSÉ

4. Domaine de Mourchon Côtes Du Rhône Villages Séguret Loubié Rosé

Rhône Valley, France

Domaine de Mourchon sits between Mount Ventoux and the hilly picturesque village of Séguret, offering panoramic views over the Rhône Valley. This is a round, fruity rosé made from grenache and syrah that is refreshing on its own and with most dishes, as rosé is quite versatile. Expect wildflowers and strawberries with hints of citrus. Pair with Mediterranean food, spicy dishes, chicken, and charcuterie. It also pairs well with turkey, veal, herby fish, dressed crab, or prosciutto.

 

Alison Matera, DWSET General Manager, Riverside Wine & Spirits

Alison Matera, DWSET

General Manager, Riverside Wine & Spirits

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