Cellar Notes on WYPR

We’ve seen this California winery start to lead the way in great value wines. Mollie takes a look at The Paring Wines, which are stunning bargains, line priced at $25.

Once the source of cheap jug wine, Lodi County has emerged as a reliable producer of high quality zinfandel. Al looks at three favorites.

Cellar Notes new co-host Mollie McConnell takes a look at one of the greatest of all white grapes, Riesling. She samples dry versions from three great areas.

It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on Italy. New co-host Mollie McConnell joins Hugh and Al for a quick look-see.

A growing number of people are finding it a good idea to switch to non-alcoholic beer. But are any of them any good?

Often caught in the shadow of California, the wines of Washington and Oregon continue to improve and impress. Al takes a look.

Looking for high quality wine at bargain prices? Hugh has found a wine operation that does just that. Price key: $=less than $20 $$= $20-40 $$$=$40-60 $$$$=above $60 Quality key: * = decent wine ** = very good wine *** = superb wine ****= elite VALUE = exceptional quality for the money 90+ Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Lot #130 ’23 *** $ SUPER VALUE (Rich, full bodied, creamy Russian River cha...

Red wines in summer come in all sorts of varieties. From light to full-bodied, there’s something available for every occasion. Al samples a few.

The Rhone is renowned for its red wines, but its whites have a place at the table. Hugh looks at this influential style that has spread beyond France.

A lot of people are looking for ways to enjoy wines without alcohol these days. Al has found a few that really measure up.

It’s summer but you still have a yearning for red wine. Well that’s no problem, as Hugh points out: just stick these delicious reds in the fridge and enjoy them while they’re cool.

Our neighbors to the south have made great strides in quality. Hugh has comments about some of Virginia’s most tempting wines.

One of the best white wines in the world, Chenin Blanc is something of a chameleon. Al surveys the range of styles. Price key: $=less than $20 $$= $20-40 $$$=$40-60 $$$$=above $60 Quality key: * = decent wine ** = very good wine *** = superb wine ****= elite VALUE = exceptional quality for the money Remhoogte Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch ’25 ** $ (Bone dry with good underlying fruit, would be good w...

Everybody appreciates a good buy when you’re shopping for the Fourth, so here are a trio of excellent wines that should get the job done.

When Argentina decided to up its game a few decades ago, their first important female wine maker was at the head of the movement. Hugh checks out the latest offerings from Susan Balbo. Price key: $=less than $20 $$= $20-40 $$$=$40-60 $$$$=above $60 Quality key: * = decent wine ** = very good wine *** = superb wine ****= elite VALUE = exceptional quality for the money Susan Balbo Crios Malbec, Mend...

Founded by an immigrant Frenchman in 1990, the original intent was to produce Malbecs with high quality and finesse. Fabre-Montmayou continues to turn out some of the best Argentine reds at affordable prices, including superb cabernet sauvignon. Check out this week's recommended wines on WYPR.org.

Not quite as well known as its neighbor Rioja, Ribera del Duero nevertheless is one of Spain’s most esteemed appellations. Big powerful reds with considerable complexity, these wines deserve a much bigger audience.

It’s taken a while for South African Pinotage to catch on, but they’ve really made some impressive strides lately. Hugh gives us an update on this intriguing red wine.

If you’ve spent any time in Barcelona, you would have discovered their passion for the fortified wine called Vermouth. Produced both as a red and white, they hold a unique and important position in the world of wine. It’s the “botanical” flavors that matter.

Piedmont may be the home of Barolo and Barbaresco, but it’s also home to a number of super tasty whites. Hugh conducts a survey course of these tantalizing wines.

Carrying on last week’s theme of lighter reds, Hugh talks about the King of them all, the super popular Valpolicello Ripassos from the Veneto.

With the winter-time in the rear-view mirror, we can be forgiven for wanting to lighten up our red wine selections. Al looks at a group of light reds from Italy.

It’s never the wrong season for rosé wine, as its year-round popularity attests. Al takes a look at three superb examples produced in different styles.

Once terribly obscure, Albariño has become a staple in our white wine arsenal. This Spanish Superstar has found a dedicated following here in the States.

If you can’t manage a Mediterranean cruise, you probably can manage to pick up a bottle or two of white wine from Mediterranean shores. Al looks at three winners.