Red, White & Bubbles: 5 Fabulous Fourth of July Wines!

Whether you're hosting a party at home, spending the day at the beach or traveling to your favorite vacation spot it's time to select some fabulous Fourth of July wines!Since Summer celebrations often involve groups of friends and family, opt for wines that are refreshing and delicious that won't break the bank. Lets face it, it's hard to contemplate an aged Bordeaux while tending to burgers and dogs on the grill AND supervising kids doing cannonballs into the pool! From a lively, Italian sparkler to a juicy, Australian red, here are five fabulous Fourth of July wines for $15 or less:Mionetto Prosecco Brut, Treviso, Italy NV ($12): This Italian sparkler is made from 100% Glera grapes using the Charmat Method. This method allows winemakers to produce a delicious sparkling wine without the hefty price tag. Fermentation in stainless steel preserves its fresh, fruity notes of citrus, pear and green apple and crisp, dry finish. Prosecco is the perfect sparkler to enjoy on its own as an aperitif, or as a nice complement to a variety of Summer fare. It is best enjoyed fresh and young and will not benefit from additional aging. It’s also the perfect sparkling wine to use as a base for Mimosas, Bellinis or other sparkling wine-based cocktails like our Fourth of July Pomegranate-Aperol Royale!Mason Cellars Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc, California, 2014 ($12): From Sancerre to White Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is one of our Summer staples due to its crisp, refreshing nature and Summery citrus notes. So we were happy to discover Mason Cellar's Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc - a delightful wine at an amazing price!  The high elevation of the Mason Vineyard in Lake County’s Kelsey Bench and arc of rich, red volcanic soils, provides a unique growing region for ripe Sauvignon Blanc year after year. This wine opens with aromas of fragrant orange blossom, ruby grapefruit and white peach. On the palate, notes of lime zest and passion fruit really pop. As if that weren't enough, this humble little Sauvignon Blanc came in at number forty on Wine Spectator's 2015 Wines of the Year!Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay, Marlborough, New Zealand ($15): Since oak adds weight and flavors of baking spices to wine, we mainly indulge in oaked wines in the Fall and Winter months. UN-oaked Chardonnay on the other hand, is light, crisp and fruity and perfect for Summer! The grapes for this Chardonnay from Kim Crawford are from selected vineyards in Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay on the East Coast of New Zealand. The grapes were allowed to attain maximum ripeness and picked at just the right time to create a lovely, fruit-driven wine with notes of stone fruit and pear, coupled with delightful citrus character. A secondary malolactic fermentation also imparts a generous mouthfeel that will still appeal to Chardonnay lovers.Bodegas Juan Gil Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain ($14):  Spain is a wonderful place to discover amazing value wines. While you may be familiar with Rioja and Ribera del Duero, a region called Jumilla is also home to many vinous gems like this one from Bodegas Juan Gil. This wine is made primarily from Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre and Mataró), a red wine grape that was harvested from very old vines. Chalky, rocky limestone soils that are poor in nutrients make the vineyard ideal for growing Monastrell. This wine was aged in French oak for 12 months. The result is a wine with a deep, purplish-black color and heady aromas of ripe currant, red berries and smoke. Rich, juicy flavors of crème de cassis and blackberry persist on the palate along with supple, ripe tannins.Ravoire & Fils Domaine Fontanyl Côtes de Provence Rosé, Provence, France ($15): If there is ONE wine you should stock your fridge with this Summer it's rosé. No, I'm not crazy and I haven't been drinking. Ok, maybe I've been drinking, but you need to trust me here! Provence is the birthplace of dry rosé which should NEVER be confused with White Zinfandel, a purely American invention known for its poor quality (read more here). This bottle from Domaine Fontanyl is made from a blend of grapes (i.e. Cinsault, Grenache, Tibouren). It gets its color from the juice remaining in contact with the skins for a few hours to impart its glorious, hallmark rose-gold hue. This wine has notes of cherries and red berries and is incredibly food friendly. So if you haven't already, please take a chance on rosé this Summer. I promise you'll be glad you did!Yalumba "Y Series" Shiraz-Viognier, South Australia, Australia ($14): We love Shiraz's juicy lusciousness for Summer and this wine makes us like it even more! The addition of Viognier, a fruity white grape, tames the wine's tannins and imparts beautiful, floral aromatics while accentuating the wine's fruit flavors. The practice of blending Shiraz (aka Syrah) and Viognier dates back hundred of years in France's Northern Rhone wine region and is nicely represented by this Australian gem. Yalumba's Y Series offers wonderful value wines for those who adore Australia's bounty of delicious wines. This medum-bodied red is a deep crimson in color with notes of violet, plum, blueberry and dark cherry as well as plush tannins and a delightful finish.We hope you enjoy our Fourth of July wines all Summer long! Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!Cheers,