Simple Pleasures: Anytime Sipping for $30 or Less

Wines for weeknight sipping shouldn’t blow the beverage budget. Saturday dinner party wines shouldn’t either! With a range of producers who offer plenty of choices at affordable prices, any aficionado can find a wine that won’t tamper with the retirement fund. Whether you enjoy wine with food, with friends or with a good book by the pool, enjoy my latest finds sent to me as samples. Simple pleasures to be sure.

Head High Wines was founded by surfers and adventurers who love nature along with making and drinking good wine. But that’s not all. The winery “is dedicated to contributing to something greater than ourselves. Together, we can create a cleaner environment and stronger communities.” To that end, proceeds from wine sales are donated to their favorite charities that include Sustainable Surf and Duke’s Oceanfest. (Click here for more.) To date, contributions total $96,148.

If the phrase “adventure, simple pleasures and eco-responsibility” is the mantra of Head High Wines, it’s no wonder I appreciated each sip of those I tasted while in the mountains of Colorado.

2021 Sonoma County Chardonnay ($22) is 100% Chardonnay cultivated by select growers in two vineyards in Sonoma County. Refreshing and vibrant, aromas of juicy citrus, herbs and hint of tropical fruit led to intense flavors of golden apple and lemon with a thread of minerality and laser-beam acidity. Unoaked, the fruit notes were stunning and the wine made a brilliant pairing to an easy dinner of pasta and roasted vegetables.

Pizza night suddenly got better with 2019 Sonoma County Pinot Noir ($25) in the glass. 100% Pinot Noir was sourced from five vineyards in the Russian River, Bennet Valley, Petaluma Gap and Sonoma Valley AVAs. Aromas of cherries, earth, spice, dried herbs and black tea were a lovely entry. On the palate, plenty of spice and cherry notes were framed with bright acidity and moderate tannins.

At Qupé, the focus is on “quality, character and balance” in each wine. Their specialty is in Rhône-style wines from the sustainably farmed Bien Nacido Vineyard in the cool Santa Maria Valley, the Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard in the Edna Valley, and the organically farmed Ibarra-Young Vineyard in Los Olivos in the Central Coast of California. (Click here for more.)

2020 Chardonnay ($22), a blend of 96% Chardonnay and 4% Viognier from the Y Block at Bien Nacido Vineyard. Aged in French oak, I noted aromas of golden apples, lemon curd and wet chalk. Citrus, stone fruit, wood and just-right acidity led to a lingering finish that paired perfectly with roasted chicken with  herbs.

Grenache is one of my favorite varieties and 2018 Grenache ($30) is one I’ll find again and again. 99% Grenache and 1% Syrah from Santa Barbara County vineyards were ultimately aged for 16 months in French oak. On the nose, I found cinnamon, black cherries and earth leading to concentrated flavors of tobacco, tea leaves, black cherries, and raspberries. Framed with lip-smacking acidity and integrated tannins, this balanced Grenache was outstanding with chicken and beef quesadillas.

As a true Syrah lover, 2019 Syrah ($20) is now added to my list of affordable examples. 82% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 4% Mourvedre, 2% Viognier and 1% Tempranillo were sourced from vineyards long the Central Coast, from Santa Ynez Valley to the Adelaida District in Paso Robles. On the nose, smoke, black pepper, blackberries and balsamic wafted from the glass. Spice rang true on the palate, as did notes of black fruit compote and black pepper. Firm tannins and food friendly acidity framed this brilliant wine that was aged for 16 months in French oak. The pairing? Pork tenderloin with teriyaki sauce, of course!

Cheers! ~ Cindy

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