12 under 20: River Road Pinot Gris & Markham Merlot

Time for another installment of 12 under 20: my selections for 12 wines (or wine brands) to enjoy as "go-to" wines under $20. The wines I want to share today, spots #5 and #6 in the series, are two of my hands-down favorite wines from this summer.

12 under 20: River Road Russian River Valley Reserve Pinot Gris

This wine comes to us from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, CA. I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Napa/Sonoma in July and am a little sore, despite a great trip, that we missed this vineyard. Next time!

This wine is unoaked and aged in 100% stainless steel. It is crisp and full of fruit (peach and citrus). The maker's notes suggest a hint of minerality, but to me, it is hardly noticeable in contrast to the the clean, refreshing fruit playing first fiddle. Chicken dishes, cheeses, melons or peaches, salmon or white fish...you can pair this wine with so many different dishes or even just enjoy on it's own (as I've been known to do ;))! It has been my go-to white wine of the season.

At Total Wine, this baby goes for $13.99. www.riverroadvineyards.com

12 under 20: Markham Vineyards Merlot
When in Napa, one of the vineyards we happened across was Markham Vineyards. Truth be told, we had not heard of it before, but our accommodations gave us a free wine tasting there as part of our package. We popped by Markham's tasting room between our appointments at Silver Oak and Duckhorn and frankly, we left California more impressed with Markham than any of the wineries we visited. A true diamond, but one you can actually afford!!

The group favorite from this tasting experiences was the Merlot. It was lush with layers of cherry and raspberry and an undertone of vanilla oak (I'm serious - You can taste the subtle vanilla). A few extra notes of dark coffee give it a really full, rich flavor. It is intense, but ohhhhh so good. Do your filet mignon or dark chocolate dessert a real favor by pairing it with this wine.

This wine just makes it into our 12, because on Total Wine it's listed for $19.97. We have found it at Costco as well for around $16.99. We signed up for the Wine Club at Markham SPECIFICALLY because of this wine, if that tells you anything (Members get 30% off!). www.markhamvineyards.com

If there are any two wines I can convince you to go invest in right now, it is these two. You will not be disappointed, no matter the occasion that arises. Enjoy!

12 under 20: Dr Heidemanns Riesling QbA

Well readers, since my last 12 under 20 post on Cupcake Vineyards, I attended my very first "Wine 101: The Fundamentals of Wine Tasting" class at my local Total Wine. It was an awesome experience and I feel like I learned a lot in just 2 hours for only $20. Clearly, $20 and under is a theme for my overall life, not just my blog!

This class reviewed proper temperatures at which wine should be stored, the different classifications of white and red wines, the "rating" system for evaluating wines, and of course the tastings themselves, which we got to evaluate on our own. I still have a lot to learn (most specifically, I need to get a handle on discerning the flavor styles) but I am more enthusiastic than ever to keep learning.

#2. Dr Heidemanns Riesling QbA

This fantastic little Old World riesling is new to me as of the aforementioned class. It was enjoyed immensely by all in our party (ladies and gentlemen alike) and was only -$9.99-.

Dr Heidemanns is renowned as one of the finest estates in Mosel, Germany. The family-owned and operated winery dates back as far as 1156, so they have had extensive experience crafting a great wine.

This semi-dry (sweet) wine was fermented in stainless steel barrels and holds no characteristics of oak. Sweeter wines tend to be fuller in body, but lower in alcohol, making them easier to sip on rather than necessarily just pair with food. It's low in acidity and fruitful with notes of apple and pear (The description they gave said peach flavors, but I personally experienced more pear than peach). This would be a great wine to sip chilled on your back porch in summer while eating fresh fruit or enjoy on date night with a spicy thai dish.

As a note, this Riesling has a Stelvin (screw) cap instead of a cork. This method of capping a wine can actually prolong a wine's life better than a cork. Many finer wines are switching to screw caps for this reason, but the cork will not completely be done away with -- The machines required to fashion the Stelvin caps are incredibly expensive which can be a hard sell, especially if you are not sure how a screw cap vs. a cork will affect the bouquet and flavors of your particular wine.

Chill your white wines at a temperature between 48 and 53 degrees. Also, 80% of what you taste in wine is what you smell, so be sure to breathe in the bouquet (aromas) before you sip!

For $9.99 at Total Wine, you honestly cannot go wrong with this Riesling. It's sweet (but not in a 'hurts your tooth' kind of way), fruity, refreshing, and would pair well with many different aperitifs.

Welcome to my list of favorite "go-to" wines, Dr Heidemanns Riesling QbA!