Zin in the blend is outlawed in Bordeaux but legal in Napa. One of California’s emerging new reds is Paraduxx, which uses Zinfandel to create the Bordeaux style with a California twist.

Start the New Year in red with Stag’s Leap Artemis. This well-structured blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a pinch of Merlot and a dash of Malbec.

DREAM OF A white Christmas where Côtes du Rhône flow into your happy New Year through almost 200 villages along the Rhine River. Endowed with all the qualities of a more expensive wine, these extraordinary Rhones from the South of France are among the world’s greatest values.

WHEN TEMPERATURES fall and holidays are in the air, red wine comes into full focus.

IT’S ALL A matter of style. Whether you prefer sauvignon blanc dry as flint and green as grass or delicate as white flowers, Cade Sauvignon Blanc straddles the line between old world and new.

CHRISTO LOT 3 is a big, beefy blend of the best grapes from the best vintages of Marietta Cellars.

STARMONT Chardonnay Carneros is a skinny summer sipper with aromas of honeysuckle opening mid-palate to subtle flavors of white peach and pineapple.

AMARONE IS RED, bold, and true Italian. Long before Napa produced big reds, Italy set the standard with its powerhouse Amarone wines.

ON OCCASION, constellations emerge, the stars align and destiny creates a lucky break that changes creates a lucky break that changes the course of human events.

ALTHOUGH MY HEART beats for the stars and stripes, I must admit the French have an amazing understanding of fashion, food and wine.

CALL ME SENTIMENTAL, but I like the soft, tender sounds of soul music and the big, bold, buttery chardonnays of years past.

THE BEST BIG and bold California cabs are about taming the tannins, smoothing the edges, and rounding the corners to create that perfect red wine.

MARIETTA CELLARS ARMÉ Lot 2 is a cherry bomb of flavor.

ALSACE SETS THE gold standard for French Riesling. Produced using basically German grapes with a French accent, these Rieslings are drier than sweet.

FOR UNPARALLELED beauty, travel Florida’s Highway 1 to Key West, California’s Route 1 through Big Sur or Louisiana’s River Road past historic plantations.

PUT UP YOUR Deutz! For romance, think French. For honeymoons, do Paris. For celebrations, demand Deutz Champagne.

PRIVATE-LABEL wines are the latest stealth marketing concept out of California. Five-star hotels like The Four Seasons do it.

CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE is distinctly elegant, but the name is totally intimidating.

IN THE Hollywood hit Sideways, the character Miles says, “If anyone orders merlot, I’m leaving.” OK, Miles, you need to leave.

SUPER BIG, super red, Super Tuscan! There is no term more misunderstood.